The true Democrat., 1916-02-05


| would be allowed lie according To the
weights which had been recently ob.
tanned
In the absence Of the President and
owner OF this railroad. the Vice presi.
dent thereupon extended TO the Depart
| ment the use nf the line for one month
| or until july 81. 1914, stating that they
would be advised what action would
be taken prior to that time
On July Ia, 1914, the Department
vas advised tha, this road would not
enter Into a four years contract for
carrying the malls on the usual basis,
bat recognizing the disadvantage II
would be to the communities through
which we pasa and desiring to avoid
eomplicatlng the business situation Of
such communities or inconventenesng
the patrons Of our line, We would. even
though The compensation was made
auste, continue TO carry the mails at
the rates OF pay fixed by the Govern.
ment In It's telegram Of June rs, as
| long AZ conditions we're substantially
| the same as to service and equipment
required RI we're In effect during the
weighing period when such comgensa.
tion was fixed,
Under date Of July ls MIR Joseph
Stewart, Second Assistan, Postmaster
General. accepted this proposition
These two letters In our opinion con.
stit,ited a contract between us and the
Government. the terms OF which we're
explicit Our offer was accepted In his
letter Of July is, and fsem the further
fact tha, the Department has continued
TO use our line for its mali service
under no authority whatever axeep.
the proposition of june IL,
Al the usual time fe' payment no
remittance was made and since that
time the Department has refused TO
pay for any service performed since
July l. 1914, for the reason that they
do not have on Ale our agreement to
perform mall service upon conditions
prescribed by the regulations OF the
department applicable TO railroad mall
service II cannot be that IL Ii with.
held on account Of our failure 90 sign
that portion which agrees TO accept
and perform mail service upon eondi-
tions prescribed by law. because cur
proposition of July IL. 1914, was based
on our willingness 10 aecap, the pay.
ment ~ prsaeF bed by Law even though
We were aware that certain mall would
be returned To our line for which other
lines would be drawing pay,
| note the Post Office Department,
In the Times. pieaynne interview. takes
exception 10 the equipment and states
that our Company has refused to make
repairs.
This statement Ia misleading The
equipment vas In the condition re-
auired by the Department during the
| weighing period Since that time some
member OF the Department has con.
eeised the idea that IL would ba better
to change the location OF the interior
appliances from tina, In effect during
all times previous. and without regard
| To cost to the railroads, has isaaed
arbitrary orders that such changes
should be made. presumably under
their authority which requires rail.
reads to Perform service upon eondi.
sloas prescribed by regulations Of the
| Department applicable TO mail service .
| This Company has not refused, how.
ever, TO comply with these arbitrary
orders. but has only stated to the
Government that we we're without
funds to invest In these improvements
but that II they would pay Va what was