Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1890-09-18
engaged in interstate traffic. 8

engaged in interstate traffic. ITO this
complexion must We como at last" and
we are glad to see such prominent
railroad man recognize tho coming Of
the inevitable. The new school of po-
litical economy, which recognizes that
certain interests must te monopolistic,
that they cannot be else if they would,
and that such monopoliee should belong
to the people, is eminently adapted to
present conditions, and will fit those of
the coming-let us hope-higher civil
isation. Among these monopolistic in
terests. which are correctly termed
natural monopolies," are railroads, tel
egraphs, postofices, street railways, il
Eliminating and fuel gas plants, water
works, etc. or these, in this country,
water-works and postofices are the only
natural monopolies owned by the peo-
pie. and they are the only ones against
which the people bring no charges of
extortion or abuse. The absurdity of
conceding the right and expediency of
city to supply its citizens with water
at cost and denying its right to supply
them with gas or electric light on the
same terms, is rapidly making converts
to the doctrine Of municipal ownership
of municipalities natural monopolies.
A like absurdity concerning the. gov
ernment's right and duty to transport
for it's citizens, at cost, package OF
merchandise weighing four pounds and
denying that it should transport a
package weighing one hundred pounds.
is also rapidly making converts to the
doctrine of government ownership of
its natural monopolies.
The objections so far urged against
government ownership of railroads are
puerile, and unworthy the great and
intelligent people We call ourselves
The first objection is paternalism! And
this objection nearly always comes
from the disciples OF a governmental
paternalism that stands unequaled IN
the worlds history in degree, extent,
and enormity. Try never so hard, our
government cannot be SO paternal, so
lavishly generous to the mass Of its
children as it has been to its natural
monopolies, and its petted, pampered,
and now weaIth-gorged protected"
interests. The beneGciaries Of this I'M
paralleled paternalism had better keep
shut their gilded mouths and raise no
objection to mild, natural, inevitable
paternalism that will benefit the masses
equally with the classes.
The next objection is that of the cor
morant politician, who can see the foul
ness of other birds but is oblivious to
his own. Such pretend to fear the cor
ruptive influences of increasing the
number of executive appointees; the
corruption to exist, of course, in the
''other fellows" But this is begging
the question, and is simply manifest
alton of the methods of opponents of
all reforms since history was born, a
dismal croaking about evils sure to
come if reform is insisted upon. II
we are not capable of lifting the man.
agement of government-owned railroads
out of the dirty mire of partisan poll
tics, we are not capable of seif-goyern-
ment, and we had better sell out cheap
to the car of Russia. Railroad man
agement would not, could not, be made
q matter of partisan politics; no admin
istration would dare think of such
thing. Faithful, efficient service would
determine the tenure of position in
railroad affairs, and the effect of such a
policy in that department would be SO
satisfactory, SO conducive to better,
clearer, purer administration, that the
people would soon insist upon conduct
ing other departments in like manner,
and so publication and not greater
corruption would follow governmental
ownership and control of railroads.