Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1893-11-09
Government Control Of Railroads.


EDIToRs HERALD: Il have never
heard what to me appeared to be a
conclusive reason why the govern
ment should not own and control the
railroads and telegraph lines. The
objection that it is q long step to-
wards paternslism or socialism
amounts to a mere nothing. The
prime and only question that is worth
considering is, Would 1t be ddUdnta-
ge0us to the aClOle people2 Every ar
gUment advanced against the govern
ment owning and controlling the rail
roads and telegraph lines could be
advanced with equal force against the
ownership and control Of the postal
service by the government. Our pos
tai service is amutual affair. 1t be-
longs to the whole people. The only
object is TO make it pay for itself and
no large balances for dividends are
dSaired or expected, Consequently
we get our mail carried at something
near the actual cost Of the service.
Why would il not be a good thing as
applied to railroads and telegraphs--
to be able to travel, have freight car
ried aud messages sent at actual COST
What now goes to corporations rs
dividends would then remain in the
pockets Of the people or DO invested
in individual enterprise calculated to
make business better. These things
are all equally public conveniences.
For an example take the water sup.
plv Ola city. Let 1t be furnished by
a corporation. The stockholders want
a profit and consequently your water
supply costs you say two dollars q
month. Let the city government take
hold of it and levy q water tax Just
sufficient to pay the expenses and
your water will cost you but fifty
cents per month. There is q saving
Of $l.5O to every householder The
advantage TO the public on cheap
freight and cheap travel would be
fully as great ~ cheap postage
/ While the majority Of the people
travel but little and ship but lutte
freight, yet the purchasers of goods
pay the freight as well as the travel
ling expenses of drummers. It all
comes from the pockets of the PEG.
pie. Jones and Smith and Brown
I pay the freight, Indirectly they pay
for the cigars and drinks that the
drummer uses to lubricate his custo-
mers. 1t is not Improbable that oil
the railroad, telegraph lines and ex.
press business will eventually be con
trolled by the goyeFnment--that is to
say by the people. Street cars, water
works, gas and electric lighting will
be done by municipalities and tax
levied on the people to cover the &C.
tual expenses or cost The only
question is whether city councils, leg.
islatures and congresses would be at
eager TO supply these wants and as
enterprislng in the matter of taking
risks as iDdivlduals are. But why
should they not know the wants Of
the people as we'll as anybody else
This would require avery great army
of men to manage and conduct the
business IN the different departments
and the question ia whether this q cal
array Of dependents handled by IN.
scrupulous politicians would not be a
serious menace to the liberties of the
people, IS q question of great import
ance. The party in power would hold
the goad over millions Of voters and
it might be difficult to secure a change
of administration. But with a secret
bnllot and stringent civil service laws
this danger could be reduced To the
minimum and, perhaps, would not be
as dangerous as II appears ut first
Anyhow here is q matter for serious
thought. READER.
/ 4
II, .. .s.Lk - CkS,an, khof NO