The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-03-17

each one way trip Of 60-foot car;
and for storage space in units OF y
feet, feet and 80 feet, both sides Of
car, in baggage cars at pro rata OF
same.
For closed pouch service INC for
each mile of service when a 3-foot
unit is authorised and &c for each mile
of service when a 7-foot unit is au-
thorized, and in addition thereto Csc
as combined initial and terminal
rate for each one way trip Of 7-foot
unit of service.
"For service continued on the weight
basis OF pay the rates allowed should
not exceed the rates provided by the
act of 1873 and the amending acts as
hereinafter set forth, adjusted on the
basis Of annual weighings.
These rates are tentative and sub
ject to modification upon a full con-
sideration of the facts to be herein
after presented.
Viewpoint of Administration.
"The postmaster general further
represents that the maximum rates
fixed by the acts relating to railroad
mail pay, hereinafter set forth, are in
tended as compensation! for the en-
tire service performed, including
transportation and incidental services
required in connection Herewith, and
that the rates hereinbefore suggested
as being those which should not ex-
coed are also intended as compensa-
ton for the entire service performed
1t may be desirable, however, in the
administration Of the service to ex-
cept from the requirements made upon
railroad carriers the carriage Of the
malls between railroad stations and
the postoffices, and 1t is therefore ad-
visable that any rate or rates fixed
and determined by the commission
should be in the alternative; first, in
Guiding all the service required, and.
second, including such service with
the exception OF the service above
mentioned"
Among the reasons assigned by the
postmaster general why the railroads
should consider the mail traffic as pc
culiar were the following:
1. No other class Of service is char
acterized by the elements OF certainay,
constancy and homogeneity of traffic
in as great degree as the mail SER
vice. It is certain and constant and
practically always Of the same char"
acter after 1t has been established.
Payments Made Monthly.
2. Payments to the railroads are
certain and regular, made monthly by
warrants on the treasury The car
riers know with certainty the ap-
proximate amount which they will re-
ceive for the service, and when they
will receive It, and that 1t will be paid
without expensive methods of book
keeping and auditing upon the part
OF the carriers.
8. Railroads are projected and built
not primarily for the carriage of the
mails but for the purpose of securing
passenger and freight traffic. Their
business is that OF common carriers.
After the railroad il constructed the
mails naturally follow, and the COM
panies usually secure that business
without solicitation. It is a traf1c
which offers itself to the companies
without solicitation and remains with
out urging or other consideration ex-
cept good service.
4. The carriers receive from the
federal government protection to their
mail trains against unlawful acts in
interference with or obstruction of
the mails which they carry.
5. Finally, the postmaster general
declared that the mail carrying rail-
roads enjoy an added benefit through
the relation existing between the rail-
roads as public service corporations,
and the railroads as public utility COR
porations.