The Advocate and news., 1898-03-23
Whv the Postal DefIclencx2

Extract from speech by Congressman J. D. Botkin'
March 8, 1895
The report accompanying this bill
states, on page 2, that the cost Of trans
porting all mail matter averages cents
per pound. Postmaster General Bissells
report for 1894, page 3S, and Wilson's
for 1896, page 81, make the same state
ment. This cents per pound, accord
ing to the same reports, is for an aver
age distance Of 448 miles
In the first volume Of the Interstate
Commerce Reports, page 351, 1t is stated
that the actual contract between the ex-
press companies and the railroads is one
under which the express companies pay
40 per cent. of their gross earnings TO
the railroads. The average rate
charged by the express companies is
cent per pound for 500 miles. Thus the
rate paid by the express companies to the
railroads for transportation is about
four-tenths Of cent per pound, while
the rate paid by the government to the
railroads is cents per pound.
If such enormous profit can be real
ized by the railroads at such low rates,
what must be their profit at cents per
pound for transporting the government
mail? 1t is stated on reliable authority
that the New York Central railroad, be-
tween New York and Buffalo, receives
from the government of the United
States compensation sufficient to pay the
interest on the cost Of a double-track
railroad every year.
But the full enormity Of the extOr-
tionate charges Of railroad companies
for carrying the mails can only be seen
by taking the aggregate annual amount.
But the enormous amount paid for the
transportation Of mail is not the only
tribute which the government Is paying
to the railroads. The amount estimated
as necessary for rental of railway cars
for the fiscal year ending June &c. 1898,
is $S,600,000. There are in use at the
present time $50 postal cars, costing at
the highest estimate not more than
$4,000. Yet the government pays an
annual average rental for each car Of
$500. The average postal car will last
twenty years. In that time, at the rate
of S3,600,000 per year, the government
pays 72,O00,000 rental for property that
cost only S3,250, 900 to build. The rail-
roads realize a profit of more than 200
per cent.
Mr.. Speaker, | submit in conclusion
that the American people should look
into this matter without delay. The Of
fetal figures and estimate quoted show
that the $S0,0OO,OOO paid the railroads
each year for transportation is at least
twice as much as should be paid. Here
we could save $4,000 900 annually un-
der a very liberal administration of our
postal department. Besides this, we pay
each year on car rental alone an average
of $500 per car, or $500 more than the
estimated cost Of the car, or $35O,00O
more than the cost OF the $50 postal
cars now In use.
When prejudice gives way to common
sense, and foolish devotion to old the
cries yields to sentiments of self-pro-
lection and patriotism; when we come
fully to understand that this govern
ment is for the people instead Of the
corporation, we shall build and own our
own postal cars, and thus save $780,
900 year. A little later on, under the
increasing light that is surely coming,
we shall own and operate the railroads,
and thus save $50 0,0OO,O 900 year now paid
IN transportation. With such economy,
the government could easily establish
a system Of free rural mail delivery, so
long the dream of millions Of our best
citizens.
In nncnncn In nOnR NMnn OREaranl M..nA0.