The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-11-04
MODERN EXAMPLE,

Switzerland is often referred to as an
evidence of the feasibility of the initia-
tive and referendum, where federal own
ershlp largely predominates, and to say
tnat this little republic is a model exam
pie OF what would bring prosperity to
the united States is putting it mildly. In
tnat country one bureau of the postoffice
department supervises railroads, anOth.
er mail and express, and another tele-
graph and telephones. That country
mas about 1000 miles of railroads, but
unlike IN America and other countries
Wnere grasping corporations own the
railways, there are no competing lines,
anu the government not only locates the
line, but fixes the rates of freight and
passenger tariffs, and says how many
trains shall be run. Determinations in
rates are unknown, no city can be put at
the mercy of thieving corporation, anil
all industries receive equal favOrs, being
treated with perfect impartiality. 1t is
useless to describe the WOeful scenes
that exist on account of the absence Of
such a condition in America, where
strikes and bloOdshep have become part
and parcel in railroad manipulation.
False reports, exchange gambling, stock
watering and wrecking, as is so common
in the United States is unknown in
Switzerland, as postoffice inspectors pass
and examine all agreements, time tables,
and tariffs, and engineers of that de-
partment superintend the construction
and repair of all roads.
Notwithstanding the fact that railway
construction and maintainence costs
more in Switzerland than anywhere else
in the world, owing to the rugged and
mountainous surface of the country, the
service is cheaper than in any country in
Europe, and the efficiency of the service
far surpasses that of the United States.
Round trip rates are given at reduction
of rs per cent below the already low
charges, and at every station Of import
ance is stationed interpreters The ar
rangements of the Swiss system Of rail-
ways is the most satisfactory of any
yet attempted in any of the civilized ma
tons and commends itself to the cOnsid-
Grafton of Americans. But, some say,
Switzerland is small country and does
not compare with the United States In
any respect If law will work in one
county, it will work in two counties; IL
it will work in two counties it will work
in all the counties of state; if it will
work in one state, it will work in all
the states. All that would be necessary
would be an increase in operators as the
service increased, the same as in the
postal service.
There are 1850 public telegraph Offices
in Switzerland, and it costs but cents
to send message of minimum length
and cent for each two additional words.
Express charges are in harmony with
those of the telegraph, and packages are
oil NJ
letters and papers. The free delivery
is not confined to cities, but extends to
all the rural districts.
in the United States we have almost
directly the reverse of things, except in
the postal system, and the majority of
accommodations in railway travel must
be furnished by the passenger or be paid
for at extOrtionate rates. Discrimina-
tions against cities and localities are Con-
tinual occurrences, and labor disturb
ances brought on by corporate oppres-
sion often threaten the peace of the
country. Telegraph companies toll the
people to an circulating degree, and
truthful news is colored to suit the plu-
tocracy of those who would intimidate
or coerce the masses into obeying the
mandates Of the classes. To patrOniZe
express companies means to pay tribute
to another outfit of government corrupt
ing and peace threatening aggregation
of blood sucking capitalists.
All these necessities should be owned
and absolutely controlled and operated
by the government, in the interests OF
Tie people who are forced to use them.
and who contribute to their support,
and it is not justice that institutions
which depend upon the people for sus-
tenance should be given lawful power to
Cypress them at Whilst. Louis Evening
Journal