Louis Brandeis

“ It also authorized further increases of the weight limit, by order of the Postmaster General with the consent of the Interstate Commerce Commission. But that act (Comp. St. § 7446) , while it authorized the Postmaster General to 'readjust the compensation of star route and screen wagon contractors if it should appear that as a result of the parcel post system the weight of the mails handled by them has been materially increased,' made no provision whatsoever for increasing the pay of railroads because of carrying parcel post matter. ”

“ The legislation makes no provision for additional compensation to the railroads for the period prior to July 1, 1913, and its history makes clear that Congress concluded not to allow any. For some time prior to the passage of the Act of August 24, 1912, there had been much discussion in Congress concerning the pay of railroads for carrying the mail. The carriers urged generally that the pay was inadequate; and there were proposals for increase of compensation. On the part of the public, there was a widespread belief that the railroads were overpaid ”

“ Doc. 989, p. 6, 62d Cong. 3d Session; Senate Report, February 11 (17) , 1913, No. 1212, pp. 2, 4, 62d Cong. 3d Sess.; also volume 49, Cong. Rec. part 2, 62d Cong. 3d Sess. pp. 1409, 1411, 1412, 1466, 1476, 1506, 1509, 1511; volume 49, Cong. Rec. part 4, 62d Cong. 3d Sess. pp. ”