am in order I would move that the Association send to President McCarter its good wishes and congratulations upon his partial recovery. VICE-PRESIDENT HARRIES:- The Chair would announce, because that official action was not taken yesterday, he took the liberty of sending Mr. McCarter the sentiment of the Convention, but it was expected that some such resolution as that would be offered this evening.. All those in favor of sending such a message will please rise. (All those present then rose.) VICE-PRESIDENT HARRIES:- The motion is unanimously carried. (The following telegram was sent to President McCarter by First Vice-President, General George H. Harries, under date of October 8, 1912, the opening day of the Convention :) CHICAGO, ILL., October 8, 1912. THOMAS N. MCCARTER, President American Electric Railway Association, Rumson, N. J.: The Convention met this afternoon and was exceedingly cordial in its greeting of the President's address. Delegates from all sections of our international membership gave free expression to their regret over your unavoidable absence and were unanimous in desiring that you be assured of their affection, sympathy and good wishes for speedy restoration to health. The success of your administration is being enthusiastically applauded. GEORGE H. HARRIES. (On motion the meeting was then adjourned until Thursday, at 2:00 P. M.) THURSDAY SESSION OCTOBER 10, 1912. Vice-President Harries called the closing session to order at 2:00 P. M., in the Blue Room of the Saddle and Sirloin Club. VICE-PRESIDENT HARRIES:- The first business of the session will be the report of the Committee on Compensation for Carrying United States Mail, Mr. T. H. Tutwiler, of Memphis, Tenn., Chairman: REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON COMPENSATION FOR CARRYING UNITED STATES MAIL To the American Electric Railway Association: GENTLEMEN:- Your Committee on Compensation for Carrying United States Mail begs to report as follows: The first meeting of the Committee as now constituted was held in Chicago, March 12, 1912, at which were present T. H. Tutwiler, Chairman; A. R. Piper, Geo. B. Wheeler, H. A. Nicholl, and by proxy, E. C. Spring, being a majority of the Committee. After a careful and full discussion and consideration of reports and action of former Committees on this subject, it was unanimously resolved that the following schedule of rates of compensation for carrying United States mail be recommended, to-wit: Closed Pouch - City or Suburban Service. From 1 to 3 pouches inclusive, maximum weight 50 lbs. per pouch, carried on Passenger Cars: For 2000 miles or less For 2000 miles and up to 3500 miles.... Over 3500 miles for each consignment moving 5 miles or less .... Each mile in excess of 5 miles $150.00 per annum 175.00 per annum 5 cents per mile 3 cents per mile Deliveries to and from car to be made by Post Office Dept. Closed Pouch -Interurban Service. Maximum Compensation paid Steam Railroads for like service. (See Note B.) Railway Post Office Service. For independent Cars or Compartments in Cars: City service: 11⁄2 cts. per linear foot of interior length of car. Interurban service: Maximum compensation paid Steam Railroads for like service. (See Note C.) Minimum mileage either City or Interurban service to be 30,000 miles per year per car required in service. NOTE A: SUBURBAN SERVICE AS DIFFERENTIATED FROM INTERURBAN SERVICE IS DEFINED AS CITY SERVICE EXTENDED BEYOND THE LIMITS OF INCORPORATED TOWNS OR CITIES. See pamphlet issued by the Second Assistant Postmaster-General, relative to the Transportation of Mails by Railroads, 1911, page 5. For full information see pamphlet issued by the Second Assistant Postmaster-General relative to the Transportation of Mail by Railroads, 1911, pages 7 and 8. It was further resolved that the said rates of compensation be submitted to the Executive Committee of the Association with the recommendation that the same be approved, and authority given this Committee to confer with the proper officials of the United States Government at Washington, with a view of securing the compensation recommended. In due course the Executive Committee of the Association approved the recommendations of your Committee on Compensation for Carrying United States Mail, and a Sub-Committee, consisting of the Chairman and Committeemen Piper and Nicholl, was appointed to present the matter of increased compensation to the Governmental Authorities at Washingon. On May 14, 1912, the Sub-Committee appeared before practically the full Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads and presented its petition and argument for increased compensation (see Exhibit A attached). The same was well received by members of the Committee, who informed us that the question of increased compensation to electric railway carriers had never before been presented to them. They asked many questions regarding the subject matter, one of which was the increased cost to the Government under the proposed new rates. This the Committee was not in position to answer accurately but promised to furnish it later, together with other general information asked for. It was stated by the Chairman of the Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads that his Committee would require very full information in order to properly consider this matter, and your Committee proceeded at once in its endeavor to secure the needed information from the Member Companies. To that end, a letter was addressed to the Secretary of the Association (see Exhibit B attached) asking that the Member Companies be requested to furnish full data relative to the service they are now performing, and the compensation received for same. In accordance therewith, the Secretary of the Association sent out Data Sheet No. 93 (see Exhibit C attached). After considerable delay and effort on his part, he received replies from 174 Member Companies, 118 of which carried mails, comprising 208 routes as designated by the Post Office Department of the U. S. Government. The annual compensation on these 208 routes under present rates amounted to $253,608.83, and under the proposed rate would have amounted to $380,726.05, an increase of $127,117.22, or 50 per cent. The report of the Second Assistant Postmaster General for the year ending June 30, 1911, shows that there are operated under the head of Electric and Cable-car Service 547 routes, and that the annual compensation paid is $681,073.72; therefore, the replies received indicate that only 38 per cent. of the routes operated have been reported, and that those reporting receive 37 per cent. of the total compensation paid for this service by the Government. Your Committee feels much disappointment that the Member Companies exhibit such small interest in this matter; this is doubtless due to the fact that the carrying of the mail is such a small and insignificant part of their business that they do not regard it as worthy of serious consideration. This is evidenced by the incomplete data furnished, the variation of present rates of compensation and of requirements imposed by the Post Office Department. It is the opinion of your Committee that if remunerative, compensation is paid the carriers for this service that it can be very largely increased to the advantage of both the Government and the carriers, and that the result of such increase would be to add to the efficiency of the mail service at no greater cost than at present, for the electric car. service would supplant some of the present more expensive and less efficient methods of handling the mails. This, however, can only be brought about by the full and hearty co-operation of the Member Companies of the Association in furnishing full and complete data on this subject to this Committee, and in using their influence with their representatives in Congress to secure the necessary legislation to increase the rates and enlarge the service. Your Committee can not proceed further in this matter of securing increased compensation for carrying United States mail until it has obtained from each Member Company engaged in carrying mail full information as to the character of service rendered, compensation, etc., in order that it may tabulate and present the information required by the Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads, for the proper consideration of this question. With the matter properly presented, your Committee feels that the Congressional Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads will see the inadequacy of the present rates of compensation and recommend legislation for the increase of same. Respectfully submitted, T. H. TUTWILER, Chairman, H. A. NICHOLL, C. H. HILE, A. R. PIPER, J. MCMILLAN, E. C. SPRING, GEO. B. WHEELER, Committee on Compensation for Carrying United States Mail. |