Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-02-17
MAIL TRIBUTE TO RAILWAYS
Advocates Of Penny FOitags FiHd Here .
oauss for Complaint
POINT TO FREE TRANSFORMATION ABROAD
Secretary shaw Promises to Become
the story Teller of the Cabinet
Iowan's Bill for Colonel
Smith.
fFrom q staff Correspondent.)

during the consideration Of the postal ap
preparation bill when 1t comes before con-
gress this session. We now pay to the
railroads about S34,000,000 per year for
carrying the mails and including rental of
postal cars about $37 900, 900. Herein ad-
vocates of penny postage find cause for
postal deficits several times over. Some
Of the more earnest advocates Of penny
postage and especially the weekly and
monthly publications are pursuing a diff
ferent plan Of antagonism to the large sums
paid the railroads of the United States for
hauling the mails than in former years, and
in one particular case an agent has been
sent into European countries to ascertain
what foreign governments pay for the
transportation Of mail on railroads.
AS result OF careful observation and
patient inquiry It has been ascertained that
In France the railroads carry the mails free,
with the single exception that where the
government runs a postal car of its own
the railway receives centmes per kilo-
metre, or about cent, per car a miles
In Switzerland, on the great railways,
the government pays nothing for mail trans
portation, their concessions requiring the
railways to carry the mails free. On the
small lines Of railroads Of the Swiss re-
public II the dividends fall below az per
cent the government pays the fair cost Of
carrying the mails. When the road attains
Sh per cent It must carry the mails free.
Advantages in Kaiser's Kingdom.
In Germany they have a somewhat diff
ferent method of paying the transportation.
The mails go free on the railroads of Kaiser
Williams country up to one car per train.
II second postal car is needed on any
| train the government pays 5 pfennigs per
| axle per kilometre, or 10 pfennigs per
car belongs to the railroad. There are
usually two axles per car sometimes three,
so that the outside charge is to 10 certs
per car per mile, and this is only for extra
nail cars.
In Austria 1t is provided in the railway
| concessions that the letter post shall be
carried free and that all mail shall be free
up to one car per train. Beyond this the
railway receives IS heller per axle, or 10
to IL cents per car mile, which is intended
to cover the cost Of transportation Of the
excess beyond one car per train.
In Italy the government pays nothing
for the railway carriage Of the nails This
Is stipulated In the Fsilway contracts, while
IA England the DO Ktt payment to the ran
ways Is only abont one-nfnth OF the total
expenditure, instead Of one third, as In the
United States.
4 This gives a more comprehensive idea as
to how far foreign governments go In the
payment Of railroad mail transportation
than could possibly be gathered except
through arduous reading Of governmental
reports. 1t is doubtful, however, IL the
advocates of penny postage will secure an,
legislation at this session OF congress, "a
former Postmaster General Smith in hi,
annual report stated that the time had no
yet arrived for the reduction of postage Il
1 cent in view Of the wide extensions tha
were being made in the postal system Q
the United States.
Shaw ms a story Teller.
Secretary Shaw promises to become tn,
story teller Of the administration, as h,
gets settled comfortably in bis new DO
sltion. In some particulars he is yer,
reminiscent of the war president, Abraham
Lincoln, in that he illustrates most Of hi
propositions by anecdotes. Recently
visitor called upon the secretary about
matter in which he was interested and in
cidentally was complaining OF a man ou
west who had made a lot of money by ac
cident and at the expense of worthier men
"It seems shame that such an ass shoult
get 80 rich,'' said the visitor.
That reminds me-" said Secretary Shaw
''of man heard of out In Iowa. IL
was playing seven-up one night with som
friends, end, although he was regarded a
a good seven-up player he could not win
game. He sat for two hours. stewing an
fuming and losing heavily. Finally he thre,
down his cards in disgust and said, 'Th
most alarming tendency in the signs O
the times is the enormous prosperity @
FOOLS and walked out OF the room"
IOwans' Bill for Distinguished Soldier
The bills recently introduced in the sen
ate and house by Senator Allison and Rep
resentative Lacey OF Iowa, giving a re
: tired oficer the rank OF brigadier genera
retired, for distinguished services, tur
out to be in the, interest Of Colonel Josep
R. Smith, retired. at present residen
of New York. Colonel Smith was a mess
: mate Of Representative Laeey's for a yea
or more during the civil war, both Of ther
{ serving on the stan Of General Steel,
l. Colonel Smith being medical director an
Representative Lacey adJutant general {
the stah.
I During President Harrison's time Colon,
9 Smith was the ranking oficer in line fo
surgeon general Of the army, but as b
was then within two years of the retlI
ing age, President Harrison, instead
nominating Colonel Smith to the position
4 nominated General Baxter. who was
much younger man and who. PresideI
Harrison believed, would outlive Colon,
Smith many years. The presidents idel
in regard to the line Of succession. how
e ever, did not prove we'll founded as Ger
I eral Baxter is dead and Colonel Smit
l. lives to tell the stories of his busy III
d and now in justice to his distinguish
e services In the army his old friends al
e seeking to give him the rank Of a brig
!. der general retired, and place him
q the position he would have had hS
, seniority determined the choice in the liz
n Of promotion. AS result Of appointiI
10 General Baxter to the position, Colon
p Smith was kept out Of reaching his ju
rank and now Senator Allison and M
Lacey are seeking TO do tardy justice TO
4 very distinguished soldier and physieia
To save the Big Trees.
Considerable sport is being made ov
Representative Laceys bill to tax all man
factured articles made from the Ggant
Sequoia, OF big trees; but when the motiv
p which prompted the introduction OF 4
lg bill are understood the ingeniousness
Of the measure will prove most convincin
n. A lumber baron has purchased $500 aer
d. Of big trees. paying therefor 81 900. and
IN /. Is his intention TO cut these trees
is universal protest has gone up against the