Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-02-02
WANTSTOPENALIzE
FOR LATE TRAINS
SENATOR CLAY WILL UNDER
TAKE TO SEE THAT ROADS
ARE FINED FOR RUNNING
TRAINS OFF SCHEDULE.
By Ralph smith


BY Ralph Smith s
WASHINGTON. Jan. SO.-when the pos
tal appropriation, bin comes mp for con-
ssderation in the senate, Senator Clay
.-ill renew his efforts TO have incOrpo-
rated in IL a provision penalizing the rail-
road companies for failure TO maintain
thslr schedules He has made fight
along this line heretofore. and in the SEN
ate has succeeded in having such an
amendment adopted. Last year II was
stricken from the bin in conference ana
il may get a similar fate this year as
members OF congress insist that the pos
tal laws and regulations make ample pro .
vision for Just such contingencies.
Chairman Overstreet. OF the house com
mittee on postoffices and pOstroads. re-
CARDS as amusing the assertion that mys-
terry surrounded the emitting OF the pen
atty clause. and declares there is no oc-
casiou for such a provision. because there
i now and has been for years, law
upon the subject.
Where Blame Lies
The fault. II there has been fault. APP
pears not to be with the law but with
the failure Of the postOffice department
10 invoke the law. PROFESSIONALLY. the
postmsster-geenral has authority to
penaltze railroads for failure 10 maintain
schedules. but the enforcement Of the law
Is optional and the postmaster has not
seen ut 70 collect the forfeitures.
Under the title Relation TO the Trans
porfntion OF the Mails the postal law
and regulations say: The compensation
for service on each route shall be appor-
toned. as nearly as practicable. among
the several trains carrying the mails. &C
cording 10 the average weight of mail
carried BY each train.
-, ia mr. all IN
perform any trip. or part thereof. ON a
basis OF the mileage and the average
weight OF the mail carried BY the train.
The postmaster general may make
reductions from lie pay OF contractors
Tor failures to perform service accord
ing 10 contract and impose fines upon
them tor other deltnouencies He may
deduct the price OF the trip in all cases
where the trip is not performed. etc.
Trains which the department re-
CARDS as being OF special importance as
mail trains will be subject 90 Ge1uc-
lions for failure TO arrive at functions
and terminal points at the time fixed
~ schedule unless held for mail con-
nections or unless satisfactory ex-
PLANTATION be given IN time..-n
Applications from railroad eOmpa-
Mes Tor remission or deductions made
from their compensation fer carrying
the mail viii not be considered unless
Med with the Eposrmasterf general WITH
in six months nom the date or notice
By the post0fice department to the
railroad company- that such deduction
mas been a0rdered.S~i .7-s Nc
Now Largely Optional ta'
The amehdment which was omitted
rom the APPROPRIATED bilI last year
makes the matter of penalties largely
optional with the pestOaiee Department,
and II appears that recently the depart
pent has been IenieHt in the enforce
ment OF the law. 49,. 80 - f7a-s
As an extmuating circumstanee.
especially as. regards the south, IL IS
pointed out that the trains. as rule.
have maintained their schedules much
better than USUAL and there has been
sfttle complaint about delayed malls.
- .enator Clas. however, win urge the
adoption in the senate OF an anendment
making il obligatory upon the depart
ment to collect the fines and forfeitures,
unless the Offending railroads can show
that the delay was occasioned by
causes over which they had no control,
CLAY WILL ATTACK ss - 81 n
WASTE OF MILLIONS
WASHINGTON. D. C.. Jan. 5o.-lAn
item OF 5000, zoe, for the repair
OF vessels, in the naval appropriation
So
in the senate Monday ibS, ssenafof ClaV
who7is deteFmfped 70 clEraiI. IL possible,
the extravagant expenditure OF the pub
lie money. The resolution wiH call upon
the secretary OF the navy for an item
tzed account OF the money expended
last year for the repair of ships and a
detailed statement relative to the pur-
chase Of coal for the navy department
The presence Of the eight million dol
~ Fah
has already passed the house, recalled
TO Senator Clay a similar item in last
years appropriation providing for the
repair OF q number OF warships. He
opposed the provision last year and
succeeded in having the proposed ex-
penditures curtailed by several million
doiirrs.
Senator Clay's resolution calls upon
the secretary OF the navy for an item
fxed statement OF the cost Of repairs
70 the vessels which are named in the
resolution and also calls for informa-
ton as 10 the cost per year OF keeping
a first-cfass battIeship in condition.
Eight million dollars is 0lote OF
money to authorize for the repair OF
warships. and 1 think the people are
entitled TO- know something OF the
cost" said Senator clay last night.
The naval bill this year carries the
largest appropriation in the history OF
the United States. 1t aggregates s1s4.-
os0,OOo and exceeds by many millions
the amount expended within a single
year BY any other government in the
world. The expenditures Of the navy
department have Increased during the
past ten years from SzS.0O0.00O annual.
~ to the enormous amount indicated
and Senator Clay. along with other
Democrats. IS becoming alarmed lest
the country be bankrupted by the grow
ing extravaganee-
PROHIBITION FIGHT;