The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-02-04
POSTAL MATTERS COSIDERED--A-
oNE-CENT RATE ON LETTERS
FAVORED.
THE REPORT ON TRANSPORTATION
How the Farmer is DisctiminatcS
Against in Favor of the Big Ship
per-Committee on Waterways
Makes Its Report.

Washington, Jan. 2S.-rhe nationat
board of trade at its meeting today re-
ceived the report of the committee on
post roads and postofices, in which at
tention was called to the present irregular
rates of postage. Actual cost of letter
postage was shown to be 93 cents pea
pound, fourth class matter 1916 cents per
pound; third class t31 cents per pound.
and of second class 17.2 cents. The COM
mittee had held conferences with Chair
man Loud of the house postoffice commit
tee and others. Mr.. Loud, it was said.
had agreed with the committee that it.
was an outrage that people of the United,
States should be charged $40O0O,00O 81
year more than the cost of handling their
mail
The report concluded with the resolur
ton to the effect that as losses on second
class postage are $25,000,000 n year; as
it was never intended that books should
be carried ut l cent pound, and as tho
present evasion threatens an advance of
postage for bona fide newspapers and
compels the payment of double rates Oh,
letters the Loud bill should be passed.
| as the most practicable means of reform.
| The resolution was adopted. The COM
mittee was instructed to appear next
Saturday before the senate committee
having the Loud bill in charge. The re-
duction and REIMBURSEMENT of postal rates
ON a basis of l cent for letters was APP
proved.
Mr. +. Il. Thurber of New York, made
the report on transportation. He quoted.
from the report of the interstate com
merce commission to the effect that the
railway business of the country has suf
fered in the past year as never before
From the same source Mr.. Thurber pre-
sented statement from witness that
in thirty-five years shipping business he
had never known fair treatment of the
farmer. They are always discriminatedl
against in favor of the large shipper. It.
is asserted that when the farmer has beer
compelled to sell and their crop is in the
hands of large shippers, a reduced rate.
will be given and the crop will move.
The farmer, the witness quoted, said, is
made to pay II cents u bushel to haul
corn 200 miles, while the big shippers
are given rate of 9 cents II bushel to-
Chicago, from three to four times rs far
II tell YOU" concluded the Witness
this is what is making anarchists west
of the Mississippi river"
Mr.. Thurber said railroad managers
!. were in favor of correcting this abuse.
but the only possible way was by pool
ing. This, however, was forbidden by
the interstate commerce law 8h
: The boards committee, he said, was
divided on the subject Of an amendment
of the law permitting pooling A major
ity, however, favored it. After a spirit
ed discussion of the subject the recon-
mendation so as to allow pooling by
railroads under the direction of the inter
, state commerce commission was voted
down under tho two-thirds rule, the
board being nearly equally divided on the
| subject.
, The committee on waterways made q
report recommending that congress be
asked to make Immediately sufficient
appropriation to repair the creyasse in
Pass L'Outre for the purpose of main
tanning channel through the jettics at
the mouth of the Mississippi river, alse
that the government be asked to aid the
development of International waterways
and their protection and to provide liber
ally for coast defense The report was
adopted.
Mr.. Thurber was reelected secretary.
MIR. Stuart Patterson of Philadelphia.
the president of the independent none.
, tary convention, briefly addressed the
board urging members 10 use every prop
) er means in their power to bring about
, the reform in the currency adopted BIZ
the indianapolis convention. f~
The convention adjourned to meet in
Washington in December next.