Evening journal., 1913-01-14

Final appeal to the public was made
yesterday by the Railroads mail pay
committee when a statement was is
sued declaring that the existing law
for paying railroads for carrying
mails would be preferable to any un-
tried or theoretical plan. II the serious
inequities in the present law we're cor
rected, and If 1t was fully and imparti-
ally administered by the Postofice
Department,
Jonathan Bourne, Jr, Senator from
Oregon, and Chairman of the Senate
Committee on postoffice and post
roads, in September addressed letter
TO the chairman of the Railroads
Committee on Mail Pay. asking GER
tain questions bearing on the subject
of mail pay to common carriers.
Reference to these questions and the
answers given by the railroads we're
made public in the statement issued
by the Committee on Mail Pay The
following is an extract from a letter
from Ralph Peters. president OF the
Long Island Railroad and chairman
of the committee, to Senator Bourne:
"Question.-Do you deem the pres
ent plan Of compensation an equitable
Ont dc DttWRtn iiO AA1
the railroads? If not, in what re-
spects and as to what classes of rail-
roads is il inequitable2
"Answer-The existing law has
never worked to the disadvantage of
the Government, but has failed to do
justice to the railways by reason Of
infrequent weighing; absence of pay
for nearly 40 per cent. of the space
occupied as travelling pastofiices; the
performance without pay, of side and
terminal messenger service, and the
unjustifable reduction in pay by the
Act of Congress dated March 2. 1907,
supplemented by Order No. 412 of the
Postmaster-Genera changing the di-
visor.
"The present law is based upon
correct principles, but should be so
amended as to provide
"(a) For the Repeal Of the Act Of
March 3 1907.
Notwithstanding the large Increase
in every other item connected with
the administration of the Postoflice
Department, the railroads pay has
been singled out as the one element in
these operations for concentration OF
economies This too, in the face of the
fact that the operating expenses OF
the railroads have been greatly aug
mented by the requirements of the
law with reference TO steel equip
ment, and a general increase in cost
characteristic of all business opera
tions
"(b) For annual weighings, and a
definite and just method for ascertain
ing daily average weights.
Under the quadrennial weighing all
increased weight of mail during the
next succeeding four years Is carried
by the railroads without any compen-
sation whatever, which is manifestly
unfair.
The railroads must provide cal
space and facilities for the maximum
weight offered at any time, yet they
are paid only for the average weigh
carried. The Postmaster-Generali
order covering the divisor has unfair
ly reduced this average.
"This provision is essentially neces
sary in view of the bill establishing
the Parcels Post, effective January
1918, which viii result in taking from
the express service traffic for whicl
the railroad companies now receiv
compensation and transferring it L
the mail service; the bill referred Il
tOhtdihinS- hO. pioNioiOh AOi pay hieh
10 the railroad companies for the in
creased tonnage to be handled in mai
cars, although such provision wa
made for the star routes and the cit
wagon service.
"(c) For pay for Apartment Car
on some basis that will compensat
for the service.
"That the Postmaster-General ha
himself recognized the justice of sucl
a change, is indicated in the follow
ing quotation from page 3 of Hous
Document No. 105:-
s. an additional amour
may be allowed for railway postofiic
cars when the space for distribution
purposes occupies 40 feet or more o
the car length. No additional com
pensation is allowed for space 70