Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1893-06-24
tween bra ms and numbers brains have
...s... ard ,l.x,, go x,.,11

-
always won and always will.
The final asst ult will undoubtedly 10
made through the taxing power. Our
highest judicial tribunal has already
held that the power to tax Is the power
to destroy, and ultimately the attempt
will be made under the guise OF secur-
ing revenue to limit acquisitions by
taxing incomes and SUGGESTIONS. 1t
will be futile in the future rs it has
been in the past. If. the tax upon in
comes is excessive business will seek n
less hostile jurisdiction, and If the tax
upon inhcritances is invidious, dis
tributions will be made by gift during
the lifetime of the possessor.
The most popular demand promul-
gated by those who are engaged in the
reconstruction of society is the ma
tionalization. as it is called. of rail
roads and telegraphs and their opera
ton ''in the interest of the people. '"
No doubt the owners and managers OF
these corporations have been guilty OF
shameless jobbery, gambling and ex-
tortion, and have piled up stupendous
fortunes By practices that are rs repug-
nant to financial integrity rs they are
shocking to the public conscience: but
the cost of transportation and service
has steadily declined, till ton OF
freight or a passenger cantbe carried
further for dollar than at any previ-
Gus time in the worlds history.
The administration of the post Office
department is constantly presented as
an illustration of the feasibility and
economy of governmental control OF
these great agencies of civilization.
Unfortunately for the argument, the
expenses of the post office department
constantly exceed its income, and many
millions are annually appropriated
from the treasury to supply the def
cheney. Under the same circumstances
any private business concern would be
treated as insolvent and forced into
liquidation. Practically, all that the
government does is to increase the cost
of postage to its citizens. 1t owns
none of the facilities of transporta-
ton. These are all furnished by
private enterprise. The government
appoints superfuous and costly
staff of officials to collect, separate and
pouch letters, papers and packages, re
ceive and pay money orders and notes,
and attend to the bookkeeping. To do
this work it pays its Washington force
nearly sl.0O0,0OO, to postmasters and
their clerks more than $40. 900. for
free delivery above $40, o00.0 900. for rail-
way mail clerks $1,000. O00-an aggre-
gate of more than $40, 900, 900, or $4,000
900 above the entire amount paid for
transportation to private railroad and
steamship companies, by whose enter
prise alone cheap and rapid postal serv-
ice is rendered possible.
The government is always the worst
served of all employers. The hours oil
labor are less in number and the sal
aries larger than in any private busi-
ness, and this is nowhere more conspic-
uous than in the post Office department.
ANY of the great express companies,
Wells-Fargo, the American or the
United States, could protitably per-
form the p stall service of the country
Mt half the present rates with equal
promptness and efficiency and with
greater responsibility. Our present
system is typical monopoly. If let
ter or package is lost by the careless
ness or llnavery of clerk or
postmaster there is no redress.
The government endeavors to detect
and punish the culprit, but makes no
reparation, even if its agent and serv-
ant is proved to have appropriated the
property of the citizen. The annual
list of depredations is appalling, but
there is no redress. An express COM
pany or other common carrier would be
liable for the full value of the loss. and,
failing in restitution. would be com
PEELED to respond or forfeit its charter.
No private citizen could deal with his
customers as the government treats its
patrons in the post Office department
without being in bankruptcy one-half
the time and in the penitentiary the
other half.
The social malady is grave and menac-
ing. but the disease is not so dangerous
as the doctors and the drugs. The po'
litical quacbs, with their sarsaparilla
and plaster and pills, are treating the
symptoms instead of the complaint.
The free coinage of silver, the increase
of the per capita, the restriction OF
immigration, the Australian ballot
and qualified suffrage arc inn
portant questions, but they might
all be accomplished without effect.
ing the slightest amelioration of the
condition of the great masses Of the
wage-worlsers of the United States In
stead of DISTINGUISHING the poor igno-
rant it would be well to increase their
wealth and their intelligence, and
make them fit to vote. A prescribed
class Inevitably become conspirators,