The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-20
RAILROADS BALK AT
CARRYING U. S. MAILS
Minneapolis and st. Louis Sys-
TEN Threatens to Quit II
Not Paid More.
PARCEL POST TOO HEAVY
President Erb Declares Other
Roads Are Behind Him
lin Threat.
PARCEL POST TOO HEAVY

WASHINGTON. Feb. fisherman Erb
Railroad, has notified Postmaster-Oe General
Burleson that the railroad named and
others with which Mr.. Erb Is Identified
will refuse 20 carry the malls unless an
allowance is made by the Government for
the heavy burden placed on the carriers
by reason OF the increase In the parcel
post business
General complaint comes from the rail-
roads that they are doing business at a
loss as result Of the increase In the
parcel post business. They demand that
they shall be compensated for this ser
vice. The roads represented by Mr.. Erb
are the only ones that threaten to refuse
TO carry the malls In the event that they
are not paid what they believe to be fair
price for this service.
OfYicials OF the Post ONCE Department
appear to he OF the opinion that Mr.. Erb
will not carry out his threat
Second Assistant Postmaster General
Stewart Nbo hrs immediate charge OF
Railway mail carriage, made this state
ment tonight.
I'VE have had some correspondence
with President Erb. He has given us to
understand that IL we 40 not make ad-
dtional allowances on account OF parcels
carried In the mails under the new law
his railroads will no longer do busi-
ness with us. | am OF the opinion that
the ErD railroads will continue to carry
mails for the United States Government"
Inquiry at the Post osfice Department
discloses that there Is no law under which
. railroad may be required to carry the
malls Postmaster General Burleson has
directed the attention Of Congress to this
matter He did 80 Immediately follow
ing the receipt OF communications from
railroads expressing dissatisfaction with
the operation of the parcel post law. The
Postmaster General has recommended the
passage OF an act providing that any rail-
road that refuses to carry the mailr upon
the orders of the Postmaster General may
BE- punished by fine of $1,000. which
may be reimposed for each day that the
railroad refuses to comply with the direc-
tions OF the head OF the Fost Office De-
partment.
Railway managers complain that their
properties have suffered from the opera
ton OF the parcel post law. They point
ct that they have to carry this business
at the regular mail pay, which they assert
does not yield even a fair profit. on the
other hand. they say that they have
sustained heavy losses owing to the falling
of In the express business. So far as can
be Learned. the Postmaster-General has
no intention of asking Congress to au-
thorize him to increase the allowances for
railroads on account OF the parcel post
business.
Some weeks ago the ST. Louis. Toledo
and Western Railway. better known as
the Clover Leaf, intlmated in corre-
spondence with the Post Office Depart
ment that II would he compelled to dis
continue carrying the mails unless Il
was allowed additional compensation FOR
the Increase In business attendant upon
the growth of the parcel post system.
This particular case was adjusted and
that railroad continues to carry the
mails.
While officials OF the Post Office De-
partment do not seem TO he concerned
over the threat made by Mr.. Erb. informal
advicss received here are to the effect
that Mr.. Erb Is in earnest.
In addition TO the Minneapolis and 81.
Louis road. Nr. Erb Is identified with the
Ann Arbor railroad the Denver and Salt
Lake. the Iowa Central and the Tennessee.
Alabama and Georgia lines.