South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-01-26
URGE POLICE POWER
AGAINST RAILWAY CO.
Chamber of Progress Asks
Mayor to Intervene in Mail
MutlIation Matter.

When the city council meets next
Monday night il will be bombarded
| by host Of citizens determined TO
get justice from the railway COM
pany responsible for the mutilation
of mail matter from the Mishawaka /
post office. Besides the petitions
gotten out by the manufacturers and
merchants of the city. and signed by
almost every responsible citizen in
town. the following strongly word
. ed resolution adopted by the Cham
Der Of Progress will also be present
ed 10 the mayor and member of
the council:
Whereas west-bound New York
Central mail train No. AZ, old on the
22nd day of January. 1917. destroy
and mutilate a pouch of outgoing
! mail from the city of Mishawaka;
| and
Whereas. the same train did on
I the 18th day OF January, 1917, de-
strOy and mutilate a pouch of out
+ going mail, and on the 18th of De-
/ cember 1915, did destroy another
pouch OF outgoing mail: and
Whereas. during the past Ia
weeks said company has either de-
three dozen pouches of prepared
outgoing mail; and
Does Much Damage.
Whereas. the persistent repeated
destruction of such mail destined for
the business concerns and citizens of
the city of Mishawaka, and mail at
tempted 10 be sent out by such bust
/ ness concerns and citizens has re-
suited in untold damage, annoyance
and inconvenience TO such business
concerns and citizens; and
Whereas. the citizens and bust
ness concerns of the city OF Mish-
awake havC repeatedly urged upon
( said railroad company that said
company desist from destroying and
mutilating such mail, and have
patiently and considerably becought
I said railway company 10 give bet
/ ter and more efficient mail service,
/ in order to eliminate the practice
of destroying and delaying the mail,
/ by stopping mail trains and passen-
ger trains. carrying mail in the city
| OF Mishawaka;
! Now, therefore, be il resolved by
the Chamber of Progress of the city
of Mishawaka that this organization
does hereby enter its most emphatic
protest against the continued reck-
I less operation of trains through the
city Of Mishawaka whereby and
where-from there has resulted the
] above mentioned mutilation and de-
l lay of the mails and the resultant
I inconvenience and annoyance and
damage to the business interests OF
the city and 10 the citizens gener-
ally using the mails; and
Employ Police Power.
/ BE il resolved, that this organi-
zation hereby does memorable the
/ honorable Ralph W. Gaylor, mayor
of the City of Mishawaka, ana the
other city officials intrsted with the
| enforcement of law. that al 1.-The Of
; fetal and municipal influence and
police power of the city be employed
in an effort to correct the above evil
Z complained Of: and
we further direct the attention
of the public and city officials TO the
fact that the practice of said rail-
way company in so operating its
trains TO the annoyance and incon-
venience and damage TO the city
. with reference TO the use of mails
1 is extremely hazardous To the public
\ generally and has resulted in the de-
struction of property and the lives
Of our citizens at the railway cross
I ings. In this memorial we beg TO
direct the attention of all concerned
30
citizens generally have suffered the
inconvenience and annoyance and
damage herintofore complained of
during a long period OF time. and
have Ony sought with the utmost
patience and consideration that the
said railway company correct said
evil. All efforts looking TO the cor
rection of such evils and the i'm
provement of the mail and passenger
service of the City of Mishawaka has
been incOnsid erately ignored by the
railway company. This, nothwith-
standing the City of Mishawaka with
a population far in excess OF other
cities on said railroad line now far
better served by said railway COM
pany has demanded passenger and
mail serve adequate TO its needs and
demands, but has been obliged TO
put with service from three to 10
trains daily less in number than Is
afforded such other cities. 1t is ap-
parent that the protest OF business
concerns and citizens individually
acting will continue 10 be spurned
by said railway company as they
have been spurned in the past;
hence we hold il the bOunden duty
OF lhe officials Of the city 10 take
cognizance of the outrageous condi-
ton existing. and. by every use of
It's official power and influence TO
compel the correction of this un-
bearable defect in our mail and pas
senger service facilities.
We. therefore. respectfully petition
the honorable mayor of the city of
Mishawaka and the other city Of
] fCials accordingly and without
further delay 20 take hand in the
situation and thereby seek 10 compel
the granting unto the city by such