Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-05-02
oovERNMENr MoNOPoLY.
Judge Parkinson Writes Interestingly Of
Its workings In England.

tween the postmaster general or gov
eminent and the District Messenger
company OF London, is interesting to
me from two standpoints-the one as IL
Illustrative of the tenacity with which
the English people, and particularly
the conservative section OF the body
polite, cling TO old customs and oppose
innovation; and the other, and princi-
pal, as affording an object lesson in the
workings of the ''paternal government"
idea, towards which we seem to be rap
idly drifting. The history OF the con-
troversy, which has stirred up bitter
fight upon Postmaster General Raiks,
Is briefly this:
Some three years ago a comyany es-
tablished in London district messen-
ger Office upon the same plan and using
the same methods, ever to the uniform
OF the hoy messengers, as is carried on
in every city Of any consequence in the
United States. In fact, the whole thing
except the employees was transported
bodily from America. Here was, Of
course, an immense field for such an en-
terprise, though many snags and
stumps OF prejudice, such as meet all
new enterprises and innovations, were
at first encountered. The service
grew, however, and to-day its offices are
in every quarter OF the great city, and
the English messenger boy with YAM
kee uniform, may be seen at every
turn and corner. So great a con-
venience to business and to comfort
could not long remain unappreciated
by even Mr.. Bull. In his Office or club
or house he can summon a bright. ac-
tive boy to run his errands, q cabman
to carry his nerson, policeman to calm
his fears &, the fire department to
auench his flames, and all this by the
simple turn OF little crank put up and
maintained free OF charge to the user.
OF course he would use it, and having
taken the first step he was soon in full
run in utilizing the yankee invention.
Letters. parcels, invitations to dinner,
messages of love and OF hate and all
sorts OF things were sent hither and
thither by the messenger boy. Now
the government has post for carrying
letters, u telegraph in connection there
with for transmitting messages and a
'parcel post for conveying packages
something after the plan of our express
companies. And of these things the
government, in behalf OF the great pub
lie, claims monopoly. Hence the ac-
lion now pending to suppress by legal
process the rival and infringing Ameri-
can institution of the messenger SER
vice. 1t was to no purpose that the
company, approaching its developed
and rich field OF operation, offered TO
pay tribute to the postotiice department
for the letters carried, messages deliv-
cred and parcels conveyed. These du-
ties and the rights incident thereto arc
the prerogatives of the government,
and must not be interfered or
tempered with by the individual
or company, upon an organized scale.
That the courts will decide against the
company, and make permanent its in
junction against its competition seems
to be regarded as quite certain. To Off
set the inconvenience to the public from
this source, the government has estab-
lished an institution something on the
same plan, but not nearly so convenient
or effective. BY the placing of an ex-
ira stamp upon the letter or parcel, q
carrier starts at once upon the errand OF
delivery. He may wait ten minutes for
reply, but not longer. OF course the
government could do all that the mes
senger company does, but it don't, and
probably can't without loss to the post
Office department. But If private enter
prise is to be thus shut out OF COMPETE
tion, what is there to stimulate govern
ment to better practices? No one sup
poses that the present government SER
vice would be as good as it is now ex-
cept for this private competition. That
1t might be still further greatly bene-
flied by private rivalry and competition
is quite as plain. But If the govern
ment is to own the railroads and tele-
graphs, and all other public or quasi
public enterprises, what use will there
be, or what place can there be
for the competition OF private owner
ship OF similar enterprises. The greatest
incentive to invention is no doubt the
demand for accomplishing certain
things better and more cheaply and
thereby gaining profit. But what il
the profit be destroyed by the interview
ton OF the government, or the very
hope or expectation of profit be blotted
out? The government will be COM
PEELED to adopt plan as good and as
convenient and cheap as the one it pro-
poses TO destroy, it is said. But when
and how? And is the strong arm OF
centralized power only to be put forth
against q successful rival? The exper-
mental, the weak, the hating and the
MANNED, messenger services in small
towns, telegraphs in sparsely settled
communities and railways across de-
serts and arid plains, may be operated
by private individuals and corporations,
but the moment they begin paying div
idends the government steps in to
claim its rights in behalf of a plundered
public. At all events, this case OF the
postmaster general against the Mes