The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-07-27
HITTING THE RAuRoADs.

HITTING THE HAxllk32(AAos
while the federal government =
punching the railroads most vigorously
with its right hand. it n touching them
most adroitly and indefens1bly with IT.
left In denying tham any compensation
Whatsoever for hauling the immense
amount Of matter that il handled by
the parcel post.
This boon to the public that was bled
SO long by the avaricious express COM
panies was inaugurated after the last
time the mails were weighed tor the
purpose OF fixing the basis on which
the railroads would be paid during the
succeeding four years for carrying the
malls. And for nearly two years now.
the railroads have been transporting
an Of the parcel post matter without
receiving one penny " pay for 20 do
ing.
/ Just how big an injustice to the rail-
roads this is can be cited In an instance
which recently came to light. A Colo
RADIO farmer took advantage Of the 60
pound maximum weight rule in the
parcel post regulations to send no less
than 80 sacks Of oats of 50 pounds each
to one Of his customers. The postage
ON them was some $50 less than It
would have cost him to have sent these
oats in bulk. two tons Of them. by
freight. OF course, the railroads lost
this possible freight revenue in the first
instance. But they had to carry the
oats az mail just the same for the post
ofnce department. and receive not .
cent for this service. And an idea OF
the volume Of the parcel post business
may be obtained from the fact that the
big mail order houses Of the country
dispatch about 100000 packages day
through the postofflces, and for the
handling OF mono Of which the railroads
receive the slightest compensation.
Some time ago tho railroads asked
the United States court Of claims to
award them reasonable pay for carry
ing the parcel post matter. They point
ed out that their last contract with the
government for hauling the mails was
made on q basis that did not consider
in any way q governmental parcel post
service and at time when there was no
certain reason to believe that such 4
service would be established by the
government. But the court of claims
denied their plea. Since then a bill
has been kicking around in congress
that appfopriates $10.o0o.000 to pay tho
railroads for the extra mail carrying
service they have rendered since the
parcel post was established. But should
this pass, although 1t probability win
not, the railroad managers insist that
1t will not even be z reasonable return
for the parcel post service they have
rendered.
OF course this unfair dealing on the
part Of the government with the rail-
roads will be adjusted some time.
When the malls arc weighed again for
another four-year c.ntrAct with the
railroads, the latter VIII got the adj
vantage Of the increased weights for
which the parcel post il responsible.
But the railroads arc entitled to reas-
enable pay for every parcel post
paclaee that they have carried since
the inception Of the parcel post law.
Tho chances that they will get II are
not particularly bright.
And more 1s the shame to the gov
eminent. It is Demanding Of the rail-
roads tho utmost rectitude in the
transaction Of their business, which II
right But it Il also treating the rail-
roads on this parcel post proposition
in q manner that 1t would deem to be
sharp practices were the railroads or
any Of the other big business enter
prises to attempt anything like It.