The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1897-03-18
A Gift to the Railroads.
the generalettes the Senator was
talking about.

tContinued from 1t paes.l
the eeneralettes the Senator was
talking about.
Ne. GoRDoS. May ask the Ser
ator from North Carolina que siion1
X understand his threat arght, It
IL that unless the Senate and the
committee yield to his demand be
will kill the bill by talking it to
death.
Mr.. BurLxR. am very glad to
see the Senator from Georgia. am
glad to welcome him back to the
Senate. regret that he got in j1st
in time to misunderstand me, and to
suppose that Was threatening him |
and the Southern Railroad.
Mr.. GoRDoS. When the Senator
says that unless the committee
Yields he intends to do 80 and so,
think am entitled to the interpre-
tation put upon his remarks; and
ask him for information.
Mr.. BuTLER. I will be glad to
give the Senator information:
Mr.. WILSON. hope the Senator
from North Carolina will proceed.
he started out with a proposition to
give us information about the Post
master General and the generalettes.
Now want to hear from general
cites, and l hope the Senator will
proceed.
Mr.. BUTLER. am very glad to
!, find the Senator from Washington
, in the humof to be informed; and ii
seems that there are others who
need to be informed. I will pro
coed to give them information which
will make it impossible for them to
! vote for this subsidy, unless it If
: their purpose to take this much OF
: the peoples taxes and give it to GER
tain railroads as gift.
: This morning spoke at some
n length, showing that the rates now
o paid the railroads for carrying thu
mails were unreasonably high.
% showed that we are now paying Al
much per ton for carrying the mails
: as We paid twenty years ago, ~
e during this time freight rates have
d been reduced 40 per cent and pas
3 senger rates have been reduced Owe
u IS per cent. Besides, showed tha
,e twenty years ago We paid the rail
10 roads more for carrying the mail
70 than anyone else then paid for 1
:. like service. The Senator from
. South Dakota (Mr. Pettlgrew], an
l. others also, spoke at some length Of
the same line. No Senator was abb
to controvert a single fact and prop
To osition which We laid before tn
n Senate. Besides, We showed tina
u the Government not only pays to
Fs high a rate, but that We may pa
re- for more weight than is carried. tn
N railroads pad the mails during tn
- weighing season Of one mouth, an
" then the Government pays on tina
= weight for the next forty-seve,
se months. The fraud aud robbery b.
y This method alone runs up into tn
:" millions Of dollars.
ps In short, it has been demon
It. strated, proved, and not questione
by anyone that We are today payin
an exorbitant rate, nearly twice a
t. high as should be paid to carry tn
>. mail. We now pay about $32 600
900 to the railroads for this service
One man says it is $l2 600 900 to
o. much; another says it Is $40 600 90
J.. too much; another says it is SIS 900
&c 600 too much, but every S nator O
N the floor admits that it too much
Now, that is fact which has bee
no demonstrated re-. Ev. body az
mits that it is too high; !. the COZ
>. tract price which We now pay to til
~ railroad companies for carrying tn
he mails is too high.
ne recognized it was too high by offe,
ing to investigate the exorbitan
- prices paid; the Committee on Pos
Offices and Post-roads recognized
to (see majority and minority report
from the Committee on Post-om e
of and Post-roads on the Loud bill
every Senator who has spoken recoa
a nized it. Yet this morning, when
= offered an amendment to this apprt
~ prlation bill providing that the Pos
master General should not pay til
I'D railroads more for carrying tn
mails than express companies an
80 others pay the railroads for a lik
service, what did the Senate dc
Nv You voted down the amendment an
he gave your sanction and approval
the gigantic steal that is now goin
on.
% IT. be continued in next ISSUE