The Washington times., 1914-05-25
TO REPORT SOON ON
RAIL WAY MAIL PAY
End of Eternal Problem of
Rates Paid by Government
Seems in Sight.

Is Congress going to get rid of thai
ancient specter, railway mail pay!
Some distinct signs and portents appear
that ii will do so. For many years
the subject of railway mail pay has
been threshed out at every session of
Congress, but little has been achiev ed
toward reforming the abuses alleged to
exist with reference to it.
On the one hand, many in Congress
and elsewhere complain the railroads
are overpaid, and on the other hand
the railroads keep burdening Congress
with plants that they are handling the
Government business at a loss, and
keep one or more lobbyists hereabouts
more or less constantly to prevent
LEGISLATION which might impose reduc-
tions.
At an early date a commission pro-
vided for by the last Congress will
make a report on this subject of rail-
way mail pay. 1t will present a COM
prehensive plan for legislation. and If
end controversy for some time to come.
Tho commission consists of former
Senator Jonathan Bourne, jr.. of Ore
gon, chairman; former Senator Rich
head and Weeks. and Congressman Tut
tie Of New Jersey and Lloyd Of Mis-
souri,.
Familiar With Problem.
An these men are familiar with the
railway mail problem and have devoted
much study to it, and they are CON-
petent to make a valuable report.
The commission found the utmost va
riety of opinions as to what ought to
he done when it took hold of the rail-
way mail pay puzzle. The result was
that the members went to work to col
lect all the needed data and informa-
tion.
With this information as a founda-
ton, the members of the commission
think they have worked out a plan
which will be a great Improvement
over the present system. Details of it
are not yet available, but the funda-
abandon the old system Of payment br
weight and to adopt payment by space,
The railroads object to this new plan,
but members of the commission say
been tried out. the railroads will find
II fair system.
For one thing, the commission feels
its plan would insure uniformity, no
matter who was Postmaster General.
Under the system now in use the Post
office Departments policy varies wide
ly with each new head. Sometimes, the
railroads are heavily oyerpaid and
skimped and underpaid.
What the commission wants IS q sys-
tenn that will do away with change
of policy toward railway mail pay every
time a new Postmaster General is
named.
Congress in recent years has solved
the parcel post Question-or at least
established a system which will gra6u-
ally be perfected. 1t has provided for
postal savings banks. Now, il is getting
ready to settle the railway mail Ques-
tion.
The life of the commission is extended
TO next December. 1t is going to tackle
the second class mail problem next, and
Chairman Bourne believes this can be
solved more easily than parcel post or
postal savings banks.
He also believes it can be adjusted SO
the Government will get a fair return
for the handling Of second class mail
without hardship to publishers. Presi-
dent Taft named a commission to con-
slider this subject. but it is understood
that the present commission is likely to
come to different conclusions.