Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-01-13

WE take the following paragraph
from the report of the Congressional
Committee on the Postal Department,
and commend it to the consideration of
the public The REGISTER endorses
every word of it. Better for the peo-
pie of the United States if no provision
for post-ofices and post roads had ever
been incorporated in the Constitution.
The evil consequences of the system
are beginning to be felt, and as the
years go by will rapidly increase. The
citizen, to compass present ease, COM
fort and convenience, too often willing
~ sacrifices matters of more precious
moment. The adoption of system of
postal savings banks would be another
step toward Socialism, and yet we find
men claiming to be patriotic citizens
vehemently advocating this heresy.
The limits to governmental care of the
citizen are clearly defined, and once
the separating line is crossed there is
no stopping place. Every time he
asks and receives from government a
further supervision of his private af-
fairs, he surrenders a further portion
of his freedom and freedom ought to
count for something, seeing the blood
and treasure it cost, even in these de-
generate days when the alteration of
the Almighty Dollar out-classes all
other worship of things tangible or in
tangible. But the report:
There is much maudlin sentiment
among many of our people about the
Post Office Department. Many com
pare it with the war and naval estab-
lishments, and say it should not be run
for profit, or even to pay expense OF
operation, but should be supported by
taxation and run in the interest of and
| for the people. TO our mind, hOwev-
er, there is DO comparison; the ore is
for the defense of the nation as whole,
and no one individual needs its pro-
tecting arm more than another, and
all are taxed according to their means
for Its support. The Post Office De-
partment is an accommodation to the
great mass of our people, but not an
absolute necessity, as private means
could as well, or better, be adapted to
the transmission of mails, and in the
opinion of the writer of this report
and that opinion is formed after many
years of practical and theoretical eX-
perience in postal affairs-cOUld be so
done much more cheaply. with quicker
dispatch and better satisfaction to the
people. But it is not our intent to now
advocate so radical a change, for our
people can more peacefully "bear
those ills they have than fly to others
that they know not oil, ;" for the princi-
pal wrong in the continuance OF the
present system to our people is in the
fact that it encourages the growth OF
an agrarian sentiment which points to
the Post Office Department and eX-
claims: See how well the postal SER
vice is managed in the interest of US
all, and how cheaply it is operated;
this is our strong bulwark of defense,
and illustrates in golden letters that
the true course for the government is
to become the parent and owner aud
operate all means of transportation
and transmission. Still, there is not
sane business man in the country
who has given the matter any thought
who does not know that the Post Office
Department could be operated by pri-
vate individuals and return a net profit
of from $50, OOO,0 900 to $40, 100000 per
year.