The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-13

Mr.. Editor: Permit me space for short
reply to your editorial, VITA its accom-
panying quotations, in reply to my atN-
Gle en- the need for greater postal i3cih-
ties and better utilization Of the postal
department in the way Of telegraph de-
velopment and Of the enco fragment oil
thrift by the establishment Of postal say
ings banks. At the outset, let me say
that 1 am probably a more determined
opporent Of the principle Jf government
interference in the business OF The cJun-
try than even yourself. / would abSD-
lutely divorce the gOVernme 1t from any
connection even the most remote, win
banking and every other business.
would abolish, even, all bank inspection.
II is a fraud as is evidenced every day
by the fact that national banks are
wrecked and robbed by their officials, not
withstanding this inspection. IL IN my
opinion absolutely conduces 10 SucH
wrecking and robbery by leading stock
holders in the banks 10 rely upon the
vigilance of others in protecting their IN
terests. when all experience has shown
that he who succeeds in any business
must himself watch and guard ms own
interests and investments. Yet nOtWIth-
standing my strong opinion against the
wisdom of permitting government 40 IT
terfere in the private business OF It's
citizens, there are undoubtedly some
cases in which even those most strongly
opposed to governmental interference are
compelled to admit that the government
can better serve the people than they
can serve themselves. The pOst-ofiice IS
one of these cases. | should DE mucI
astonished TO learn that even you would
advocate the handing over Of the man
agemeut of tine mails 10 a private ousi-
ness concern. The importance OF encoH-
aging a quick and certain means or com
municaticn between all the people or
nation, even at a cost which cannot d
the outset. be repaid by the charges
which such service viii bear are para
mount to any conflict with the SOUND prlh-
ciple of political economy when lorDlds
the use Of the national authority FOR any
purpose other than the maintenance Oh
order and the enforcement OF law. The
same reasons which justify this departure
in the case of the mails VIII justify II IT.
the case of the telegraph. on reading the
Postmaster-G remarks on THIS sub
iect. quoted by you. | DO not see that
he objects on principle. but merely bases
his objections on eXpediency. Inc cost
of acquiring the teiegraphs in England
was no doubt large, much larger tnah
would have been the case had the Gov
eminent stepped in earlier. Numerous
companies had been chartered anu "''N
doing business. partially, as In this coun-
try, meeting the needs Of the people at
excessive rates. Parliament decided that
the business should become a Government
monopoly, and that these companies
should be reimbursed their outlay, ana
be given a bonus for being compelled 10
retire from the business The amount or
this outlay and bonus was fixed by arbi-
tration. and the arbitrators dealt liber-
ally with the companies, as was only
Just Very much. however, Of the great
cost OF the telegraph department has
been incurred by the extension of the sys-
TEN 10 almost every little village In the
kingdom and a sweeping reduction Of
rates. The private companies would not
do this, as the business did not warrant
IL. but as a part Of the postal service
the nation could afford to do H. as this
service. taken together, even with the
large outlay for this extension OF the
telegraph system, Is proht-making
branch of the national Government The
convenience of the public has been the
first consideration. and the public appre-
ciate this, and have given every year
greater support 10 the telegraph, and, no