The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-25
Railway Mail Pay.

Washington accounts agree that
the railroad representatives who ap-
peared before the Senate Committee
on Post Offices and Post Roads made
a strong presentation Of the casc
against the proposal to change the
method OF paying the railways In
carrying the mail. Whether or not
the showing Of the railroad officers
will avail much with the Senate com.
mittee remains to he seen. From the
standpoint Of governmental honesty
there Is something di%scouraging IN
the fnct that the Moon railway mail
pay hill. having been defeated on its
merits In various Congresses, has al.
ready sneaked through the present
House Of Representatives as a rider
to the Post Office appropriation bill.
About the most satisfactory DISPOSE.
ton which the Senate could make Of
the Moon rider. which aims 10 change
the schedules Of railway mail pay
IblI u WtfktIt wv " NtGttF VuSIS. WuuEu
he 10 accept the suggestion made at
the committee hearings for u refer.
m of the whole question Of compen.
sation to the Interstate Commerce
Commission. 1t seems unlikely that
until the Government body most ex.
pert in railway matters. the one par.
ticularly charged with the regulation
Of all interstate rates, passes on the
terms Of railway mail service there
will no any settlement VI u prolonged
dispute in which the Government
stands to-day with little credit.
There l. fundamentally no reason
why the Post Ofhr Department.
which j. only II. shipper in its mail
forwarding capacity. wen though a
preferred shipper, should decide how
much the railroads are to receive for
carrying the mails. All tho general
circumstances Of the railway mail
Pr, question argue for Nh inquiry and
report by tho Interstate Commerce
Commission.
Particular features Of tho Moon
rider provoke suspicion. 1t IL roe
Give. cit 'Opt"mplates no n knows
how much projection If the Govern.
men', through the parcel post, Into
business competition with the rans.
portnti"n liues after placing them
~ n disadvantage by tho provisions
of the proposed enactment. Inferen.
tally there Is more thnn II little mon
ace Of undertakings which may on.
tribute directly IN n movement for
the Government ownership Of the
railroads.
Advocates ~ tho Moon rider nut
themselves in the position of pretend.
Inc that the railroads can Keep the
cak" "f compensation Will" the Gov
criiment eats II. The measure pro-
fc>>"> IN make an increase Of payment
Ia the railroads over the amount
which they have been receiving for
mail service and AZ the same time
effect n substantial saving for tho
Government. This alone l. prov"ca-
tive If suspicion, for governmental
ideas of economy. hitherto Pxempli-
fled in ia" ease of the railroads. have
been represented hy saving which has
consisted Of comforting deficits ON the
carriers.
AZ the least tho Moon rider prom
iscs the mischief Of assisting II pro-
crn>tinating debtor to make n fur
Their evasion If his liabilities. As the
record has been compiled the Govern
ment raj hardly expect to postpone
much longer al adequate remunera-
tlon If the railroads for tho trans
portation Of mail on the weight basis.
II the space basis should he adopted
several years moro will probably he
required to bring the accumulated
proof of insufficient pay up to the
point which evidence has nov
r"ached on the weight scale.
Medical Expert Evidence.