Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-09

RAILROADS IN DENIAL
Declare Pay for Mail Trans
portation Is Now Too Low.
RETORT TO Mr.. HITCHCOCK
Statement Issued Replying to Post
master Generals Plan to
Save Money.
RETORT TO Mr.. HITCHCOCK

Postmaster General HitchcOck's intima-
ton, made some time ago, that by his
proposed method of paying the railroads
for mail transportation on the basis of
car space occupied something like $9,OOO.-
600 year would be saved to the gov
eminent has met with a retort from the
railroad officials.
1.-The drastic reductions of recent years
afford unanswerable proof that railway
mail pay is now too low is the conten-
ton of the railroads of the country, &C
cording to statement made public
today.
The committee on railway mail pay is
composed of Ralph Peters. chairman
president of the Long Island railroad)
! Charles A. Wickersham, president and
general manager Western Railway OF
Alabama; w. w. Baldwin, vice president
Chicago Burlington and Quincy railroad
W. w. Atterbury, vice president Penn
sylvania ra lroad; George T. Nicholson,
vice president Atchison. Topeka and
Santa Fe railway: E. j. Pearson. first
vice president Missouri Pacific railway;
E. G. auckland. vice president New
York, New Haven and Hartford railroad;
c. F. Daily, vice president New York Gen.
trail lines w. A. Worthington, assistant
director Of maintenance an deportation of
w. F.. Allen, secretary, and II. I. New
comb, statiStician.
Congressional Report Cited.
In statement issued today the car
riers say: 1.-The congressional joint com.
| mission to investigate the postal service
which reported January IA, 1901, is au.
thority for the fact that, at that time
railway mail pay was not excessive.
Upon a careful consideration of ali
the evidence and the statements and ar
guments submitted, and in view of all
services rendered by the railways. We are
to the railroad companies for the trans
portation of the mails are not excessive.
and recommend that no reduction thereof
be made at this time.
Since the cOmmSs: on reported the vol
ume of the American mails. the revenue
of the American postal service and its
, demands upon the railways for services
and facilities have greatly increased. The
costs of supplying railway transportation
also have greatly increased. The neces-
sary cost of railway property per unit OF
service has increased, and in consequence
the amount required as reasonable re-
turn thereon. on account OF higher wages
and prices the higher standards of serv-
ice demanded and the higher value of the
! real estate required for extended and nee
essary terminal plants.
Declare Taxes Have Increased.
Operating expenses have grown by
reason of repeated advances in rates of
! wages paid to employees of every grade
and increased prices Of materials and
supplies. Taxes have increased with the
| rapidity augmenting exactions of state
and local governments, and the imposition
Of an entirely new federal corporation
tax"
| The railroad men contend that despite
these facts the rates Of pay for railway
mail service have been subjected to re-
peated and drastic decreases accomplished
both by legislative action and admins
| trative orders, until, in 1912, they find
their mail service more Improbable than
ever before.
| 1t is claimed the statement is signed by
railway men who represent 26S railroads
operating 214,27j miles of line.