San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-02-23

the paternal care and oversight Of
the federal government for the
private interests of the citizens, by
proposing that it should build the
houses in which to store farm pro-
ducts, and officer and manager
them, and become broker in farm
products, and a money lender in
plain and palpable violation of the
constitution OF the United States.
And in disregard of the genius and
spirit of our government; which
contemplates that the people shall
contribute by paying taxes for the
support of the government, which
is charged with the duty OF giving
protection TO the people in their
persons, their lives and their prop
erty by equal and just laws. But
it was never contemplated that the
government should become a
money lender, or produce broker,
or that it should take paternal
charge OF the private interests OF
the people. Our system OF govern
ment contemplates the existence
OF an independent, self-relisnt race
OF free men. 1t was never con-
tempIated that the American peo-
pie were to become feeble, help
less race OF mendicants, dependent
on the government for the care Of
their individual interests, and for
pecuniary benefits and support.
No more unconditional, dangerous
and un-American doctrine was
ever put forward in this country.
The populist party also declares
in its Omaha platform in favor Of
the government (meaning the
federal goverment) owning and
operating the railroads, telegraph
and telephones. Let us see what
this means.
AS shown in the Railway Age
there was in the United States on
the 3lst day Of December, 1895,
ISL, 900 miles Of railroad in the
United States. AS shown by the
report of the interstate commerce
commission, on the statistics of
railway in the United States for
the year 1894, the stock, bonds and
other indebtedness of the railroads
of the United States Amounted on
June 30th, 1894, to $62,95l per
mile. This shows that the indebt-
edness of the railroads was SILL
1874, $4,000. The number of officers
aud employees of the railroads is
about $4,000. Their gross earn
ings for the year 1894 was $l,073,-
36l,797. And their operating ex-
penses for the same year was $751;
414,322. The Western Union Tele-
graph company has 1871 miles
of line, and S02,651 miles of wire,
1880 officers, and probably $4,000
employees. Its gross earnings,
S22, 2lS,0l9.1S, and its expenses
SIG, 076, 229.9T. And there are some
other telegraph lines. In 1893 it's
stocks and bonds amounted to
$l10,047, 066. The American Bell
Telephone company has 369,674
miles of wire and 11,094 employees.
Its capital stock is 500, 1000, 900, and
its dividends in 1894 amounted to
81, 400, 900.
From this it appears that these
properties are capitalized as fol-
lows:
The railroads at. -. 81, 1874, 131 900
The telegraph at. 110,047 ,066
The telephones at. 20.0O0,000
Total ......... $11, 524, u.s. 66
In addition to this there are a
number Of other telegraph and
telephone companies, the amount
of whose stocks and bonds we do
not know; 1t is probable that the
real value Of these properties is
considerably less than their cap,
italized value. But they could
only be purchased on terms accept
able to the owner OF them. Let US
suppose they might consent to
take 1924, 1906 less than their
capitalized value for them. They
would then cost the governm ant
$l0,000,000,000. The annual inter-
est charge on this sum, at per
cent per annum, would be $500, 000,-
600, which would have to be raised
as taxes off the people, in addition
to the taxes required for the sup
port Of the federal, state, county
and city and town governments,
in addition to whatever sum might
be required for the extinguishment
of parts Of the principal debt. Is it
supposed that any congress would
ever consent to impose such bur-
den on our people? And can it be
supposed that the people would
submit to such a burden?
The number Of persons engaged
in the management OF these prop
critics is estimated to be as follows:
officers and employees of
railroad companies. 3D.. $4,000
Officers and employees Of tho
telegraph companies. -. 1880
Employees Of the telephone
companies. .......... 1904
Aggregating .9O7, 454
IL L. L.