The Morning standard. [volume] (Ogden, Utah) 1910-191?, 1910-12-25
RAILWAY AND
OCEAN SERVICE

Washington, Dec. 24.-Conditions Of
railway and ocean mail service are
discussed fully In the annual report
of Joseph Stewart. which the second
assistant postmaster general submit
ted yesterday to Postmaster General
Hitchcock
a considerable saving was affected
during the year by the bureau OF the
second assistant. which is charged
with the authorization and direction
OF the transportation Of both domestic
and foreign mails
The aggregate cost of the transpor-
tation of domestic mails during the
year was $Sl ,709 ,433.6S, while the cost
OF foreign mails was s3.ll2, 1924
Notwithstanding the increased bulk
OF mail handled the percentage OF in
crease in the cost was only 1.15 per
cent
During the year 1915 mail routes
were in operation, covering distance
OF '220, ,730 miles. The distance tray-
eled by the mail of the United States
was 42G,023, ,100.55 miles. The amount
of money necessary for railroad trans
portation for the fiscal year ending
June 80. 1912, is siS, 1888, 900, being sc
per cent more than the appropriation
for the current fiscal year
In every instance possible the pol
icy of eQualizing the rate of pay for
the transportation of mail BY rail
way routes on the basis of low
est cost has been followed
The department has saved S12.274.-
4SS by the operation Of the new meth.
nI n In o
the present fiscal year. Is sixteen rail.
road companies have filed suit against
the United States attacking the val.
idlty OF the order OF the Postmaster
General in re-adjustlng the rate of
pay. 'IH''
Particular diligence has been mani
tested by the department in it's in
quiry into the cost TO railroad com
panies of carrying the mail
The need for improved ocean mail
service again Is called to the atten-
tion of the congress. The passage of
an act to authorize the postmaster
general TO pay for ocean mail service
in vessels of the second class on
routes TO South America, the Philip
pines. Japan. China, and Australia al
a rate per mile not exceeding the rate
applicable TO vessels of the first class
as provided in the act of March 3,
1891. Will. 1t Is believed. enable the
department TO secure contract SER
vice 10 these parts of the world
During the year there were I4G rail-
road accidents in which postal clerks
were either killed or injured or in
which mail matter was lost or dam
q s,rFon
and three mall weishers were killed,
9S seriously and 617 slightly Injured.
The year was moro disastrous in the
number of clerks KILLED on the rail.
roads than any in the history of the
service.
Among the recommendations made
by MIR. Stewart are the following.
That the department be enabled TO
readjust the compensation for the
transportation OF mail on railroad
routes during the four years term.
That the postmaster general be
authorized TO pay for the services of
vessels of the second-class in carry.
ing the mails to various ports in South
America and the Far East
That salaries of supervisory officers
of the railway mall service be In
creased
That authority OF law be given for
granting further leave dming periods
of disability, not exceeding twelve ad.
ditional months, with Fay at fifty per
cent of his regular salary, to rail.
way postal clerk who is so seriously
injured as not to be able to resume
duty ut the expiration of twelve
That thirty days annual leave of
absence be granted to railway postal
clerks
That provision be made for the re.
tirement of incapacItated or superan-
nulated railway postal clerks.