Evening star., 1901-02-20
Both Branches of Congress Engaged
in Their Consideration,
POST OFFICE AND SUNDRY CIVIL
American and European Railroads
Compared and Contrasted.
COST OF MAIL CARRY ING

Soon after the Senate convened today Mr..
pettigrew Is. d. offered resolution, which
was agreed 10. directing the committee on
printing TO ascertain why the public print
sr had not delivered to the Senate the in
structions and papers sent to the Paris
peace commission.
Bills 10 grant land warrants 10 descend
ants Of the New York Indians who served
in the war OF 1912. and to pay an award
OF the Secretary of the Interior In favor of
the Cherokee Indians. We're referred TO the
Court Of Claims.
Consideration OF tho post Office appropri-
alton bill was resumed at tho conclusion
OF routine business. The pending question
was the amendment OF Mr.. Butler IN. c.
TO reduce the nay Of railroads for carry
ing The malls. an aggregate of about per
cent. The North Carolina senator con-
tinued his speech begun on Monday.
MIR. Butler said he would rather see the
snip subsidy bill become a law than to
have the pending bill pass containing the
present provision for railway mail pay, as
under the pending appropriation bill a big
ger hole would be made in the treasury
than would be made by the subsidy bill.
Cost of Carrying Mail Pouches.
Mr.. Butler pointed out that according TO
The report OF Professor Adams. the ex-
part OF the postal commission, which he
was having read 4S per cent of the amount
paid t" the railroads for carrying the mails
actually was paid for carrying mail pouches.
He had often wondered. he said, why the
leather and the locks in the mall bags Were
50 heavy.
1T seems" he continued, that the rail-
roads have used their influence TO have
them made heavy because they are getting
arc getting for carrying mail matter He
thought there would be just az much sense
In charging the weight OF the ear against
the government.
Mr. Butler contrasted the cost of railway
mail pay in Europe and in this country to
the disadvantage of the United States.
Mr. Depsw interrupted to say that the
wages paid by European continental rail-
roads were only about one-fourth of the
rate Of railway wages in this country.
while the freight rates in this country were
only n little more than one-fourth of what
they we're in Europe.
Railroads Here and In Europe.
Does the senator mean" inquired Mr.
Butler that the American railroads are
losing money!
Il do not mean ~ say they are losing
money, responded Mr.. Depew: 81 mean to
say that IL they had anything like the
rates charged for freight in continental
Europe they could carry the mails free
a;d iii addition pay II large revenue 10 the
government
No railroads in the world have larger
profits than those of the United States"
asserted Mr.. Butler.
The capitalization OF railroads in Eu-
rope" responded Mr.. Depew. "is much
larger than 1t is here. In Great Britain 1t IS
about S;!0.OO0 mile. If that capitalize ton
be reduced to the average capitalization in
the United States you viii find that the
profits Of the English roads are nermous."
MT. Wolcott said as to European rail-
roads carrying the malls free that in Great
Britain the cost of railroad mail transporta-
tion was little less. If any. than II is here.
In continental Europe the government. ne
added either owned the railroads guar
anteed the payment of the principal and
Interest of their bonds and of o or per
cent dividends on their stock. whether they
earned ii not.
Reduction Amendment Defeated.
The amendment offered by Mr.. Butler to
reduce the pay to railways for carrying the
mail about per cent was voted down by
vote os IL to 81.