Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-08-25
Sec. BuT|eson Replies to
Railroads Complaints.
Hints Plainly They Ignore Ben
ellis from Carrying Mails.
Objects 10 ssml.AnnuaI Weighing.
Talks Sharply to the Roads.

| Washington, Aug. 2i.-ln letter TO
Ralph Peters, chairman of the com
mittee on railway mail pay and rep
resentative of the various railroads
in this matter, Postmaster General
Burleson defines the attitude of the
postofffcc department with reference
to the demand mad" by the railroads
for increased pay for handling the
mails on account of the establishment
of the parcel post system.
| The postmaster general is against
the suggestion made by Mr.. Peters
that the government should weigh tho
mails twice a year instead of every
four years. as d present. Mr.. Burle-
son likewise takes exception To the
statement of Peters that the railroads
are generally undergrad for carrying
the United States mails.
Concerning the services rendered
by the railroad companies from Jan. I
To June 30 in carrying the increased
weight of mails due 10 the Inaugural
ton of the parcel post system" writes
the postmaster general, and your
statement that the mails are weighed
once in -four Years and that the in
creased business is carried through
that period of years without any COM
pensation, | have to remind you that
| this is not correct.
IT is true that the parcel post sYs=
tenn was inausurated ON the first Of
| January, 1913. and that Congress made
specific provision for increasing the
pay Of the railroads for carrying the
Increased weights from July /, 1917,
upon routes not weighed since Jan. /,
| 1913. However, the compensation for
| carrying the mails had heretofore
| been fixed fer 4-year period on the
! basis of the average daily weights, as
| eertained at the last quadrenniai
Weighing of the respective routes
| You are no doubt aware of the fact
| that such an adjustment, both in the
practice of the depar ment in con-
| temptation of the law fixing rates, is
| regarded as full pay ter all increases
| in weights during the contract period.
This is especially true with reference
| To increases in weights of the ordinary
| and usual mail carried. and it has nev-
| err been customary heretofore for Con-
| grcss to take into consideration any
| special service and make the same the
| subject for a readjustment of pay
say that it must be presumed from the
| action of Congress in allowing addi-
| tionaI compensation from July 1 that it
vas intended as adequate payment for
service performed from Jan. l to June
80 1913 as well as for such service
from July l. and that the department
So regards it. Mr. Burleson states that
| the department is now preparing or
a ~
carrying the mails based upon the most
reliable estimates procurable as to the
increase in weight of mails on account
Of parcel post.
1t is probable that the atiowapce
made by the act of Congress" says tho
postmaster general. will be equal in
most cases to the additional pay that
| could he allowed at the regular rates
| for tho increased weights"
Thu postmaster general takes eXeep-
| ton to the deductions drawn by Mr.
Peters regarding the increase in rev
| enues.
THE figures YOU quote for the first
| quarter of the present calendar year
are those from the 50 largest post Of
| fees IN the country writes the post
| master general, land show the increase
! in the postal revenues received at those
| offices. 1t must not he concluded. how
! ever, that the per cent, of increase. III
revenue correctly represents the per
| cent of increase in weight of the mails
| carried on railroad routes, nor that the
| Increase generally upon railroad routes
| would be equal To the increase which
| You have deducted from the revenues
of tie - largest Offices
| Moreover, the per cent. of increase In
| compensation at the rates prescribed by
| law for the usual adjustments would not
necessarily be equal Il the per cent OF
| increase in weights
| The postmaster general SAYS that the
| plan for Il semi-annual weighing of the
mails would increase the payment TO rail-
road companies for the carriage of the
usual mails by paying an additional com
pensation for the increase in the mails
between the. regular quadrennal weigh
| ings.
With respect to the alleged inadequacy
| of railway mail pay, the postmaster gen
eral SAYS
THE evidence upon the subject does
not warrant belief that the railroads are
as a whole underpaid. An examination
of the document submitted with your let
ter to show underpayment discloses the
fact that ii is based upon faulty prom
| Uses and erroneous contentious.
Furthermore, you have entirely ig-
nored the great benefit necessarily de-
rived by the railroad companies from
| the carriage of the mails. This consider
| alton, as well as that Of the railroads
general obligations in the premises must
necessarily affect the question Of pay
| and materially reduce any estimate that
| might otherwise be tenable."
Miss Josophine Peterson, a cook en-
lpIoyed at the home of James y. SAKE
az % c.a,, etroat Worcester got in