Reduction in railway mail pay was not justified in 1898; it was far less justified in 1907. On the contrary, there has been a large fall in mail pay per ton mile, and conditions under which mails are transported are becoming more and more onerous. The cost of building a railway postoffice car to the present plans and specifications of the Postoffice Department is at least 50 per cent. more than it was in 1898, although pay received for handling these cars, that weigh from 25 to 30 per cent. more than formerly, has been arbitrarily cut over 16 per cent. by the Act of Congress of 1907, and has since been further cut through readjustment of routes. For the year ending June 30, 1908, the railroads received gross $48,155,379, including railway postoffice pay, for carrying 80 per cent. greater tonnage of mails than in 1898, a sum $12,747,629 less than it would have been but for the reduction of rate from 12.59 cents in 1898 to 9.94 cents in 1908. In face of this, as we have shown, arbitrary cuts of $8,500,000 more have been made, a grand total of over $21,000,000 less paid now than ten years ago. About eighteen months ago the conclusion was reached that heavier and stronger cars were demanded by changed conditions resulting in heavier trains, greater speed and increased frequency and consequent risk of accident to clerks and mail in collisions and wrecks. After careful investigation and expert testimony the specifications were revised so that full 60-foot cars would weigh about 100,000 pounds instead of 80,000 pounds, and be greatly strengthened by the free use of steel plates and oak timbers. To meet the views of car builders, east and west, two plans and specifications, slightly differing, were adopted as standard, and railroads were given the option of conforming to one or the other. The best known anti-telescoping features were adopted in both plans, producing in the judgment of responsible car builders a car of exceptional resisting and carrying power. When new lines of cars are authorized by the Department, or new cars are ordered to take the place of old cars in service, companies operating the routes are furnished copies of these specifications and the superintendent of division is instructed to see that cars are built in conformity therewith. Inspections are made while the car is in the shop, and when it is completed a full report is made and forwarded to the Department. A decision is then reached as to whether the car is satisfactory and can be accepted. (Annual Report Postmaster-General for 1905.) This increase in weight of a postal car might not be thought of much moment, but it means to the railroads the movement of 1,000,000 additional gross ton miles per car per year, costing them $10,000 per annum in operating expenses, whilst, as shown, they receive 16 per cent. less railway postoffice pay now than formerly.