The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1902-12-18
Uncle Sam to a finish.

only postmaster general who ever con-
cerned himself enough about the mat
ter to endeavor to secure honest weigh
ing of the mails. He caught one rail-
way company in the act of padding
the mails, and the manager of the
company candidly confessed that he
crowded free postage matter into the
mails during the quadriennial weigh
ing period in order to get as large a
weight-basis for calculation of pay
ment as possible. The weight of mail
matter per day ascertained by the
weighing Is made the basis OF pay
ment, in accordance with certain es-
tablished rules. Routes carrying mail
the whole length receive from $50 per
annum per mile for 200 pounds OF
matter daily to 5000 per mile per an
mum for 5000 pounds daily. On the
Pennsylvania and New York Central
systems this works out to 8 cents per
ton per mile, as compared with 3-10th
of a cent per ton-mile paid for some
freight.
But this is not all the railways get
for carrying mails, and padding the
weights is venial Offense compared
with the way the government is
mulcted by it's own act for the use OF
railway mail cars. These cars are all
owned by the railways and the gov
ernment pays for their rent as we'll as
for transportation of the mails This.
rent is paid at the following rates:
40-foot car, $25 per mile per annum;
45-foot car, $50 per mile per annum;
50-foot car, $40 per mile per annum; 55
to 6O-foot, $50 per mile per annum.
Under these rates, for which, by
the way congress Is responsible, $3,-
463, $3.50 was paid for the use of 622
regular cars and 154 in reserve. If the
reserve cars are used half the time it
costs the government $4,000 year for
each car, which is all it costs to build
one. The car will last at least twenty
years, and extract from the govern
ment 100000.
1t now costs the government about
$47,00O,O0a year to transport the
mails by railways and steamships, in
cluding the salaries of the railway
postal clerks. 1t is a charge that un-
der economical and careful manage
ment and some revision by congress
Of the postal laws, might. be cut in
two. There is no excuse for a post
office deficit in view of this extrava-
gance with the railways.
The people are clamoring for extern
sion of the rural delivery mail service,
and are being put off with the cry
that there is no money, and yet at the
i,,
an administration that thinks nothing
of squandering millions every year to
convince the railroads it is worth their
while to put up large contributions to
aid the trusts in carrying elections
for the G. o. p.
The imbroglio in Venezuela is en-
crossing much attention just now, and
II the action of the United States so
far in the premises is any criterion the
Monroe doctrine bids fair to go ''the
way of all flesh" along with the Dec
laratiOn of Independence and the con-
stitCtion.
The Germans have already sunk a
part of the Venezuelan navy, and, with
England, have blockaded Venezuelan
ports, but yet have committed no
overt act loking toward the exercise
of sovereignty. However, it is we'll
known that Germany has never ac-
cepted the Monroe doctrine in good
faith, and doubtless now awaits an
opportunity to step over into Brazii-
ian territory, which she has long COW
eted, and which she thinks she may
secure through collusion with England,
in view of the administration strong
friendship with our mother county.
The United States is, in no sense,
bound to offer an impediment in the
way of the payment of honest debts.
but Secretary Hay is not exercising
our offices in the American way Blaine
and Olney would have done to prevent
European aggression. Our minister's
action has tended more to give the
world notice that our sympathy is
with the stronger nations in the con-
troversy
And yet, the people voted for this
sort of thingi
H. w. RISLEY.