The evening times., 1900-01-25
MAIL Rates. DISCUSSED
The Matter Before the National
Board of Trade.
rbe Payments to Various Railroad
Companies the Subject of Several
ResoIutiOns-An Investigation ny
Congress SOught-FinaI Session of
the Meeung-The Addresses Made.

The National Board of Trade began its
third days session this morning at ~
o'clock. former Governor Stannard in the
chair. Business was rapidly transacted. it
being the intention of the board to close
its sessions today, if possible.
Mr.. II. E. Preston. of Boston. presented
the report OF the committee on the CUBAN
cable. The report contained resolution
to the effect that the board urged congress
TO make the necessary appropriation 10
establish a new cable line between New
York and Cuba. This report was unanl-
mousy adopted.
F. B. Thurber chairman Of the commit
tee on railroad transportation, presented
both the reports of the old and the new
committees. He spoke principally OF the
rates of transportation and freight classl-
fication. The report recommended the pas
sage of the bill in Congress presented De-
cember IL. 1899. by Senator Cullom,
amending the bill regulating interstate
commerce. The report favored the addl-
ton of clause to this bill relative to the
right of railroad corporations 10 nave as
sociations for the purpose OF hXlng rates
and freight classiications. This report was
signed by all but one of the committee
William NJ. Coates, OF Philadelphia. Mt.
Coates presented resolution In favor OF
the resolutions accepted by the board at
last years meeting.
In the discussion that followed, il was
brought out that the Cullom bill contained
all the points in these resolutions, and the
majority report was finally adopted.
The committee was continued Tor the
next year.
Mr.. Thurber spoke in behalf OF his com
mittee, recommending the adoption OF the
following resolution:
Resolved That the National Board OF
Trade reaffirms its approval OF the bill
known as the Anti-Scalping bill, now
pending in Congress. designed TO protect
both travellers and carriers against traudu-
lent and irregular practices in passenger
traffic"
This resolution was unanimously adopt
ed Mr.. Anderson. of Pittsburg, presented
the report OF the special postage commit
tee This report contained a resolution TO
the effect that the board should express
their favor OF the adoption of cent gen
eral letter postage at as early date as pos
sble, and the immediate adoption OF l-cent
local letter postage. This report was
unanimously accepted.
A resolution in favor of the adoption OF
the cheap parcel post system was also pre-
sented by this committee, and was accept
ed by the board.
Mr.. Anderson of Pittsburg made an ad-
dress in favor of TecOnsidering the vote on
a resolution in the postal report OF last
year. presented by Mr.. Acker. Mr.. Ander-
son endeavored TO show the errors in MI
Acker's judgment on the railroad mail pay
proposition. He was followed by Mr. c. 5.
Patterson OF Philadelphia, one OF the
directors Of the Pennsylvania Railroad Mr..
Patterson dealt strongly with the errors in
Eh cd
that the statement that the railroads re-
ceive between IL and 13 cents per ton per
mile mail pay all over the country, was
wrong.
Between New York and Philadelphia on
the PENNSYLVANIA road the heaviest line
of mail road in the country, Mr.. Patterson
said the company. receives only I and
cents per ton per mile from the Gov
ernment This. he said. is the average rate
on roads with heavy mail traffic He said
that he did not appear in behalf of the
railroad side of the question.
If the railroads are being paid too much,
let the rate be, reduced" said Mr.. Patter-
son. but let the Commission in Congress
decide the question and not the Board OF
Trade"
Mr.. Acker firmly defended his position
and a lengthy discussion followed
Mr. Raymond. of Detroit. cleared the
situation by presenting substitute resolu-
ton as follows:
Resolved. That while some technical er-
rors have appeared in the preamble and
resolutions concerning mail pay adopted
by this body in December, 1898, such er-
rors OF detail do not materially affect the
merits OF that question: and the National
Board OF Trade Teiterstes its demand Tor
a fuller investigation of this subject by
.SrI,
ing committee of this board upon the ques-
ton with a view TO a material reduction
in the present rates of mail pay.
4 report on reciprocity with Canada was
favorably received by the board. which
then adjourned until the afternoon session.