The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-11-26
Saving at the Spigot and Letting Run
at the Bung.

annual report, prepared for the guidance
of Congress in its legislation for the
Postal Department. Second class matter
in the opinion of Mr.. Gary does not pay
enough to make the service self-sustain-
ing, and permit letter postage to be re-
free delivery extended. Sending mes
senger out to deliver mail from country
post offices for two or three miles round
to the farmers has become quite fad
with the post office reformers within the
last few years. The truth of the matter is
that farmers are not worried in the least
about getting their mail from the post
office. The worry is all on the part ofthe
politicians who want a new office created
Of mail deliverer for every country Office
i'll the United States. These local carriers
would make splendid district politicians.
From two to half dozen in each election
district would make magnificent organ
out any expense TO the party in power,
almost as reliable as count out Of the
polls. This new appendage would be
one of the most useful attachments ever
added to the political machine.
Another advantage would be gained.
The second class matter is largely made
up of reform literature. This engine of
the reform parties would be crippled
while the great corporations, banks and
wealthy business concerns which use the
letter mail most largely would be greatly
benefited by penny postage, the general
public but very little. 1t is remarkable
what microscopic eye the Post Master
General possesses, while his telescope eye
is entirely blind.
The Government pays the railroads for
carrying the mail IS per hundred pounds
for a distance of 447 miles, while the
average price for the entire United States
paid by the express companies is s.. so
per hundred pounds for 500 miles. For
the rent of mail cars the Government pays
twenty four times the cost of the cars be-
| fore they are worn out, or become unfit
for use. For railroad mail service the
Government pays the railroads annually
$I5 ,ooo 900 and upward, more than the
regular charge for similar service. This
most outrageous abuse, which may be
considered as single item, and which
could be readily reformed, Mr.. Post
Master General Gary pays no attention to-
Here is fund donated from the treasury
to the railroads that would not only close
up the deficiency gap in the post Office
expenses, but leave handsome sum to
turn into the treasury, reduce the letter
postage and supply country delivery too
But our corporation ridden parties never
see any retrenchnent that could be made
in Government expenses if it would hurt
the corporation pocket.
The telegraph and telephone ownership
or management by Government as a part
of the mail department, and which is
attached to the post Office of every coun-
try of any Importance in the world except
the United States, Mr. Gary is entirely
oblivious of. The telegraph and telephone
as a part of the mail service would afford
service to the people at less than half
what the Western Union charge, and
yield handsome revenue to the Govern
ment. But the telegraph is one of the
largest monopolies that is fastened on this
country and is sacred in the eyes of any
administration which is owned by the
monopolies.
Post Master General Gary fairly ex-
hausts himself thrashing the old Postal
Savings Banks straw. He recites all the
statistics that have been published of the
countless millions of deposits placed in
the postal savings banks of other eoun-
tries, and enlarges on the lesson of fru-
gality and economy they would serve to
teach the poor, laboring people.
But the browning financial stroke of the
Postal Savings Bank is the great medium
1t would create TO get the money directly
into the channels of trade, where the
laboriug people, through fear Of private
banks, (even our nonpariel national
bauks,) are disposed, under present con-
ditions, TO hoard.
All the old monarchical countries have
postal savings banks, and the millions de-
posted in them are held up as evidence of
this great paternai banking systems great
benefit to the poor. 1t is pretty safe to
conclude that any banks established in
the old world countries where money is
king, ostensibly for the benefit of the
people, are ir reality for the benefit of
the money class and spectators.
If Postal Savings Banks would be a
good thing for the poorer, wage earning
class in order 10 make their deposits
doubly safe and provide them little
interest, wouldn't Government CONNER
eiai BANKS of deposit discount and loan
be safe and good thing for the general
business community, or for all the people,
and save them millions of interest they
have to pay to the banks for the privilege
of using their own aud other peoples
money? Post Master General Gary
might extend his recommendation, and
give MUCH stronger reasons, for the estab-
lishment of Government banks to take
the place of the present national banks,
as we'll as to recommend Postal Savings
banks in place of the private banks of