The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1910-12-24
TRANSPORTATION
COST IS REDUCED
Need of Improved Ocean Mail Service
is Again Called to Attention of
Congress by Stewart.

Washington, d e., Dec 24.-Condi-
tions of railway and ocean mail serv-
ice are discussed fully in the annual
report of Joseph Stewart, second as
sistant postmaster general, submitted
yesterday to Postmaster General Hitch
Icock
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 transportation of domestic
mails during the year was $S1,F09, ,433-
6S; while the cost Of foreign mails was
$3,112,3O246 notwithstanding the in
creased amount of mail handled the
percentage of increase in the cost
was only 1.15 per cent
During the year 3,375 mail routes
were in operation covering a distance
of 220,730 miles. The distance travel
ed by the mail of the United States
was 426, 6,923, ,109.55 miles. The amount
of money necessary for railroad trans
portation for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1912 is $4S,9S3. 600, being Sc
per cent more than the appropriation
for the current fiscal year.
In every instance possible the policy
of equalizing the Tate of pay for the
transportation of mail by railroad
routes on the basis of lowest cost, has
been followed. The department has
saved $12,174,4SS by the operation of
the new method OF adjusting pay, to
and including the present fiscal year,
and sixteen railroad companies have
filed suit against theh United States
ATTACKING the validity of the order of
theh postmaster general in readjust-
ing the rate of pay
Particular diligence has been mani
Tested by the department in its in
Iquiry into the cost to railroad com
Ipanies 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 Philippines,
Japan, China, and Australia at rate
per mile not exceeding the rate apple
able to vessels OF the first class as
provided in the act OF March 3, 1891,
lwill, it is believed, enable the depart
ment to secure contract service to
these parts of the world.
During the year there were 446 rail
road accidents in which postal clerks
were either killed or injured or in
which mail matter was lost or dam
aged. Twenty clerks, four substitutes
and three mail weighers we're killed,
9S seriously and 617 slightly injured.
The year was more disastrous in the
number of clerks killed on the rail
roads than any in the history of the
service.
Among the recommendations made
by Mr.. Stewart are the following
That the department be enabled
to readiust the compensation for the
Transportation of mail on railroad
routes during the four years term.
That the postmaster general be au-
thorized to pay for the services of yes
sells of the second class in carrying
theh mails to various ports in South
America and the far east.
That salaries of supervisory officers
of the railway mail service be increas-
ed
That authority of law be given for
granting further leave during periods
of disability, not exceeding twelve ad-
ditional months, with pay at fifty per
lcent of his regular salary, to a rail
way postal clerk who is seriously in
Ijured as not to be able to resume duty
at the expiration of twelve months.
That thirty days annual leave of alb
Isence be granted to railway postal
clerks.
That provision be made for the re-
tirement of incapacitated or superan-
nuated railway postal clerks.