New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-22
A Swindle.

Americans are 100 1alnllldI WIFI UNIV
Sans stinginess, except in the matter OF
pork TO congressman, to be impressed
with the contention of the Postofiice De-
partment that "the facts Would warrant
a reduction of railway mail compensation"
Indeed. the facts would warrant exactly
an opposite conclusion, or the findings OF
Congressional commissions and expert IN
vestigators have been TO no purpose what
ever.
In 1901 the Wolcott-Loud Congressional
Commission reported that the railroads
were not then overpaid for carrying the
mails and recommended against any re-
duction in rates. Nevertheless Congress
afterward twice reduced the rates by law
and the Postoffce Department effected
third reduction by executive order. In
1918 DR.. NJ. o. Lorenz, associate statlst-
clan Of the Interstate Commerce Com
estimated that the railroads were
certainly more than S5,OOO,OOO
n year. In May, 1914, Louis d. Brandels
reported TO the Interstate Commerce Com
mission that mail transportation was
clearly unremuneratiye." In August
1914. the Joint Congressional Committee
on Railway Mail Pay recommended an
advance of 100000 year in pay to
the railroads, with relief from the mes
senger services. These are "the facts"
All of which should help TO explain TO
the reasonably sophisticated citizen why
it is that Congress prefers TO incorporate
the provisions of the Moon railway mail
nav bill in a "rider" TO the Postofice ap-
bill. instead of considering 1t
bv itself in the glad light of day. Con-
gresham Moon, its author. has declared
that this bill. or rider, would save $4,000
600 annually out Of the railroads pay
This sounds like highway robbery, does it
not?
But the result is no more vicious than
the methods proposed for obtaining II.
The bill would base the rates TO be paid
on the amount OF car space used instead
Of on the weight carried, the idea being
that heavy parcel post matter can thus be
crammed into small area and shipped for
next to nothing. Mr.. Moon has actually
boasted that under the terms of the bill
the railroads could be compelled 10 carry
all the parcel post probably without any
additional compensation" But the Dill
also provides that the department may
stuff into the rented space whatever other
freight material it may find necessary IN
the conduct Of It's business.
Weight is universally recognized as the
only proper measurement of frelgh
traffic. Freight rates, express rates. even
postal rates, are based on it. Why should
the Postoffice Department charge the pub
lie according to the weight of its parcels
and then say TO the railroads, I'VE viii
nav YOU only for the space used? The
tractive power Of locomotives IS measured
by weight; the capacity of cars IS meas
ured by weight. Rates Of compensation
based on any other method of computa-
ton bear no relation TO service rendered.
The public is heartily sick of legislative
Injustice TO the railroads of the country.
It will be quick TO sympathize with the
cause represented by the railroad eXecu-
tives now appearing before the Senate
Committee on Postoffices and Post Roads
against the Moon scheme. Congress could
subscribe to no greater fallacy than that
Americans want a cheap parcel post at
the expense of honesty and fair dealing.