Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1891-04-30

Wnlcn mas rtlrrod up bitten
,nrr iapon Postmaster General RailSs,
Drieay this N,itvn
Some three years ago n ~ to prs
tablished in London a district INC san
ger Office upon the same plan and using
the same methods, ever to the uniform
OF tho boy messengers, as is carried on
an 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 citN and
the English messenger boy with Yam
kee uniform, may be seen at every
turn and corner. SO great con-
voniUnce 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 70 run his crrands, n cabman
20 carry his person, & policeman 70 calm
his fears or the fire department to
quench his hames, and all this by the
simple turn Of a little crank put up and
maintained h'ee OF charge 70 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, telegraph in connection there
with Tor transmitting messages and a
parcel post for conveying packages
something after the plan OF our express
companies. And Ct these things the
government. In behalf of the great pub
lie, claims monopoly. Hence the ac-
tson now pending TO suppress by legal
process the rival and infringing Ameri-
can institution Of the messenger SER
vice. IL was to no purpose that the
company, appreciating its developed
and rich field OF operation, offered TO
pay tribute 10 the postofIice Department
for the letters carried, messages deliv-
cred and parcels conveyed. These du-
ties and the rights incident thereto are
the prerogatives OF the government.
and must not be interfered or
tampered with by the individual
: or company, upon an organized scale.
That the courts will decide against the
y~3panY, and make permanent It's in
~ S,Qn against its competition seems
tQ '4r'egardcd as quite certain. To of
fet VIE fhconvenience 10 the public from
tnls s0urce, the government mas estab-
tished 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, a
carrier starts at once upon the errand OF
delivery. He may wait ten minutes for
a roplY, but not lOngc-. OF course the
Rovernmcnt could do all that the mes
eeiger company does, but IL don't, and |
|pfotNbsy can't without loss to the post |
pnice department. But IL private enter 1
prise IS to be thus shut out of compt IL /
tions what is there to stimulate govern
ment to better practicesfa 40 one sup
p('Ras that the pCeseat NQxe<ripent ser.
IiISd " ,,fivats fIsaifg ia conpetition ny
Is quite as plain. But IL the govern
ment is 30 own the railroads and tele-
graphs, and all other public or quasi
public enterprises, what use will there
be, or what place can there Oe
Tor the competitive VI private owner
ship Of sir-iiar enterpris6x The greatest
- alive 10 Invention Is no aoobt the
tnauo Tor accomplishing certain
Sings betlor and more cheaply and
-hafelly gaining profit But what II
The profit be destroyed by the interven-
non oi the government, or the very
hope or expectation OF profit be hlosted
out. The government VII De COM
PEELED to adopt plan as good and as
convenient and cheap as the one II pro-
poses to destroy, il is said. But when
and how! And is the strong arm OF
centralized power only Co be put forth
against successful rival? The exper-
imental, the weak, the hating and the
manned, messenger services in small
towns, teiegraphs in sparsely settled
communities and railways across de-
serts and arid plains, may DO operated
oy private individuals and corporations,
but the moment they begin paying div
idends the government steps in 10
claim its rights in behalf OF a plundered
public. Atall events, this case of the
postmaster general against the Mes
senger Boys Service company brings
into prominence what a government
nav do In the destruction OF private en-
terpcises, and compels us TO reflect
upon some Of the probable consequences
OF destroying the competition OF indi-
viduals by wholesale monopoly upon
the part OF the aggregated whole. The
theory OF the farmers alliance, that the
way 10 destroy monopoly is to form an
association or monopoly big enough to
destroy all the others by absorption and
At one gulp, has not yet solved all the
difficulties which the evolution OF new
conditions bring 10 the turbulent sur
face OF thought and action. The snake
that swallowed all the others was the
greatest miracle snake, " but our fear
OF the serpent family is as deep seated
as though be had swallowed only an ap.
pie. Here, for Instance, Is a case where
!. ihe government Is put in charge OF
MIfhlic function, as your new SEN
H4'|es Naa SreatlY 70 the incon-
I|I l.4aot Me ni.llc. Nhereat
N k.N|X ane 4N41 ~ b. let {
" w ilis N u Is
not al gumehi ia ihtident
which may be easily e4plkSfpd and
turned 70 account upon eitbef doc. but (
u Is a.-iatter OF current h|4tII and ,
nous and may not call 1t an 81 tct les
SOM - a. A. ~.
The Intsr-continental suste1. ,
WAsHINoroN, April 27.-Ti,.t hsr J
lies viii soon be in the field eng ,e|| n
The work Of a preliminary surycy far |
\