Industrial freedom. [volume] (Edison, Wash.) 1898-1???, 1898-05-28

rs ~
h'here is much talk concerning the
900, 600 annual deficit of the postof-
+ department. the railroads and their
ENDS urging that postal rates should
increased to cover this deficit. The
Its given below will show that, on
contrary, the rates are now far too
h: that the railroads charge the
bple
transporting the mails as for trans
fting similar weights of express mat
the same distances. and, in addition.
brge an annual rental equal to over
per cent. of the cost of the cars.
Letters at one cent for each half
hce and merchandise at l cent a
[lnd would bring abundant revenue
make the department self-sustaining,
the people owned the railroads and
GRATED them in the interests of the
rkers, instead of, as at present, the
lroad corporations operating" both
! railroads and the people in the in
Test of gamblers and loafers. The
lowing from the Outlook is a good
mining up of the case:
The defeat of the Loud Bill marks
the conclusion, but the beginning
a most important campaign. The
as our readers know, aimed to re-
&c the postal deficit by increasing the
les on certain newspaper matter. 1t
defeated, as they know, because
House of Representative was
hkened to the fact that the deficit is
to the excessive charge for trans
tation levied by the railroads
Against the Government.
ese excessive charges still remain,
the deficit still remains. There
philosophical citizens cannot rest
il the overcharge and the deficit are
h brought to an end.
b order to accomplish this purpose
5 necessary that the whole subject
he relation of the railroads to the
ktal Department shall be understood
the general public. That which has
liked the debate in both Houses of
gress has been the universal ad-
siOn that the charges are excessive.
Fertheless, in the absence of gem
demand from the public, relatively
congressman care to take their po-
tal lives in their hands 10y attacking
abuse which an omnipresent and al
omnipotent private interest ac-
ly supports. When the general
He understands the situation. as
gress now understands it, no politi-
party and no Congressman with an
lligeut middle-class constituency
dare oppose the reform.
he supreme argument which led to
defeat of the Loud Bill was that
sented by Mir. james l.. Cowles in
columns of The Outlook. The dem
tration that the railroads were
rging the Government several times
much as they charged the express
panies revealed so
intolereb.e an Abuse
the House of Representatives, de-
It's intense desire to reduce the
clt, changed its heavy majority in
Dr Of the Loud Bill to heavy ma
y against it. Mr.. Cowles's argu-
IT, however, was not the only one
zen brought the House to the con-
Ion that the remedy for the deficit
the reduction of railway charges
reasonable limit. One of the argu-
Is which told most heavily was
evidence of wholesale frauds in
weighing Of the mails. Charges Of
sort have often been brought. but,
rule, have been so indefinite IN
character as 10 seem untrustwor-
In the recent debate. however,
m Ore Definite Charge
iuliy sustained by Representative
uel w. Smith, OF Michigan, whose
porty was nothing less than the re-
OF eE-Postmaster-Gencral Wilson
The postoilice Inspector who ex-
q the frauds described. The evil
e submitted was briefly as follows:
ace IN four years the mails trans
leu over one-fourth Of the various
oaas OF the United States are
hed during period of thirty days.
the average weight thus obtained
ompensation of each road IS deter
"a Tor the next four years. During
luadrennial weighing upon the Sea