Show RAilROADS HIT HARD BY NEW NW I I POST At ORDER CHICAGO Nov o The Th 15 Th Tribune today to today to- to day says Tho The railroads of or the cOlin country tt ore are protesting against t an nn order of ot the tho department requiring them to handle empty mall equipment In the th mall cars from rom November Xo Xo ember I 15 16 to Dec December 25 Protests t have e been sent lent to Washington ton and It Is 18 not Improbable that the tho question question ques ques- tion will reach th the th courts This trouble arises out of th the refusal of or the government o to Include empty empt mall mail hags bags blank postal cards and stamped envelopes envelopes en en- s 's In fn the th mall during the recent weighing period This reduced rc the total amount of mall matter 25 per cent andas and andas as 88 tho the roads are arA paM paid on a basis o of weight It resulted In a loss to them of between en and The Tho action I 11 on was In accordance with Hit the new law providing pro that this empty equipment equip equip- equipment ment mente a It as It Is called shall b hp- hp sent b by freight For or this transportation was appropriated Tho The new order Is to all postmasters post post- post post- postmasters postmasters masters and employees of ot the ra railway mall service It Is explained that on account account ac account ac- ac count of ot th the holiday rush It Is deemed advisable nd to handle all nil empty empt equipment by mall mail Instead of freight during th the tho fort forty days mentioned Since this was specifically exempted during the tho weighing weighing weigh weigh- ing period tho railway officials contend cont contend con con- t tend nd the tho r roads reads ads not on only onty will 1 bo be performing perform perform- In ing tho service ler free tree but the freight departments de departments departments de- de will lose los their the proportionate share of tho the appropriation |