The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1907-02-07
Used in Weighing Up Mails
Carried by Railroads.
OLD GRAFT is CUT OUT
conoress Orders Postal Department
to Correct Matter and Railroads
Will Lose Enormous Sum of
Twelve Millions.

A Washington special says: It is
estimated that s12,0G0,0)o will be cut
from the annual mail pay of the rail-
roads by the action Of the postottice
committee Saturday. Seven millions
of this is saved by the reduced rates
of mail on account Of the new method
of computation which rcckons Sun.
day as a working day. Formerly the
mail was weighed only six days III
the week, and computation made Ga
this basis. Representative Victor Mir
cock, Of Kansas, started the agitation
against this SYSTEM last December, de-
claring it has cost the government
s5O.OCO,oC0 in ten years.
REPRESENTATIVE Murdcck said that
the department was using false 'di-
visor" in that it weighed mail for
seven days and divided the amount
by six to ascertain the amount On
which to base the compensation of
roads. The provision agreed upols re.
quires that weighing shall he done for
seven days and the amount divided
hy seven.
Railroads waich have contract
with the government for carrying the
mails will be required to make the
schedule time OF their mail trains reg
uiarly, or pay heavy penalty pro-
vided the bill decided upon today IN
vided the bill decided upon is enacted
into law.
The postoffice department now in'-
poses Il small penalty for delays III
the time Cf their mail b. railroads.
but the congressional. committee pro
poses to give them wider authority
in order to force compliance with con.
tracts in keeping advertised sche1-
ules.
IL WAS also decided to reduce The
present mail pay per cent where
the average each day per mile is from
5000 TO $4,000 pounds Where the
average is under 5000 pounds no re-
duction is contemplated.
The bill will carry total Of $780,
1S0,561. This is ihe largest amount
ever carried for the expenditures OF
the postal service. The total recon-
p1ended in the bill is more than So;
100000 in excess of the amount estl
mated for the department and is ;:n
incl case OF $17,5O9,562 over the cul"
rent appropriation.
The salaries of postal clerks and
of both city and rural carriers are in
creased to total of s7.O00,000. A pro-
vision is inserted in the bill for the
classification of postal clerks, and the
positions of clerks and carriers are
made interchangeable.
There are various provisions in the
bill intended TO reduce the pay OF
railroads for carrying the mails. The
bill cuts of all pay to roads for haul.
ing empty mail sacks, which is esti'
mated will save between $3,e0O,OO0
and $4,0G0,0OO a year.
Postmaster General Cortelyou satur-
day reported to congress the record
from July I to December 81, 1906, OF
all second class mail matter recelv-
ed for free distribution at the one
cert-pound rate, in compliance with
a provision in the current appropria:
ticn act. It was found that more
than 80 per cent of all second class
matter originated in 429 cities. Tie
total weight OF this class OF mail for
the period was 37c.0OS,915 pounds.
The weight Of the daily newspapers
was 141,133,s5G pounds, all Of which
was carried an average of 255 miles;
weekly and other than daily newSps'
pers carried weighed 77,73G,64S. maui
ed 40 miles.