The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-12
Railway Mail Pay and Express.

A suggestion that the Interstate
Commerce Commission investigate the
subject of railway mail pay, about
which there Is so much dispute, has
met with some favor. Under ordinary
circumstances this would he the most
satisfactory disposition which could
he made of the matter.
Il is a question, however. If the
Interstate Commerce COMMISSION
should take II up. The commission
has before it the petition of the ex'
press companies for relief from the
hurtful effects of the low rates for
service which they were compelled by
their Government regulators TO put
into operation year ago.
Their case Is a complicated one he
cause it is more or less collateral with
the railway mail pay problem. The
express companies have been suffer
ing not only from reduced level OF
express charges hut from the compe-
Iition of the parcel post: and the ad-
vantages which the Government as
competitor enjoys are among the is
sues involved in the controversy be-
tween the Post Ofice Department and
the railroads.
There may be some doubt as 10
whether or not the Interstate Com.
merce Commi>So is the proper body
10 ascertain all the facts in the tangle
IL allegation. yet there is no doubt
hat some official determination of the
truth should be made. II Is not very
,slifying TO have PoStma Ster- General
BURIEsoN and the railroad managers
hurting the lie" AT one another with
regard Ia the Sut,ciency Of Govern
ment compensation to the railroads
for carrying the mails. especially
posted parcels. Why not submit the
difference Of opinion to the new Fed.
rral Trade Commission for inveStiGa-
rlon and include in the inquiry the
correlated issue of express rates.
That the Federal Trade Commi sSion
might with entire propriety engage in
this undertaking and 81 commend IT.
self 10 public opinion rs Il useful body
cannot he dcniel. There would lac
nothing out of tn" way in submitting
affairs which are in charge Of one set
Of governmental officers 10 another
The very proposal which has been
made 10 have the Interstate Com
nercc Commission look into the mat
ter Of railway mail pay is proof of
his, and President VII son himself
Is on record as contemplating the use
Of the Federal Trade Commission as
Il perpetual inquiSltion into the work
incs of The tariff.
Moreover the declared wish Of the
Administration is that the Federal
Trade Comm SSion shall begin its
career with constructive effort. II
would certainly he a constructive
achievement TO bring about Il settle
ment OF the express rate and railway
mail pay dilemma in such fashion as
10 permit the country 10 enjoy the
benefits of both the express and the
parcel post service.
One Of the duties devolvlng on the
Federal Trade Commission is the de-
lection and prevention of unfair
methods of competition II is mani
fest that if the railroads are not ade-
quatcly compensated for the transpor-
tation of posted parcels the express
companies are subjected to Gov.
eminent competition which employs
methods Of gross unfairness. Al the
same time the express companies can.
nor NJ helped much by official sane.
lion for an advance in their rates
which would tend 10 throw more bust
ness 10 the parcel post unless the
railway mail pay Is increased.
Altogether it would seem that the
express railway mail controversy is
one for which the Federal Trade Com.
mission is peculiarly qualified to pro-
vide settlement.