Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-02-17

train is not so dependent upon. The
professed reason for this bill is reform
and economy, but chose who come and
ask you to pass it in the interest of
economy are those who vote for more
subsidies, and those who vote to take
more millions out of the treasury of
the government than any other class
of men in the senate and in the house.
And yet, in the name of reform and in
the name of economy, they come here
and ask you to pass bill that robs the
people of half the benefits they to-day
get from the postal system.
Mr. President, the bill would be in
famous in its results if it should pass.
If the people of this country knew
what is in the bill, there would be such
indignation from ocean to ocean as has
not been seen for twenty years. The
American people will never tolerate
such measure when they know what
is in it and what will be the results
will present minority report to-
morrow, and if those who profess to
want reform, mean reform in the in
terests of the general public; if those
who profess to want to stop the deficit
in the postofice department, mean
that in good faith, can point them to
q way to accomplish that result lean
show how the postofice department
can save from 100000 to $12, 100000
year by simply paying the railroads
for the mail actually hauled and at the
contract price and no more. The gov
eminent pays the railroads for great
deal more weight than the roads really
haul 1t is the fault of the govern
ment that this is done. Besides, the
contract price, is entirely too high.
During the last twenty years freight
rates have reduced about 40 per cent,
yet the government is now paying
about the same rates that it did TWEEN
ty years ago. Why do not those who
are SO much concerned about the def
cit in the postofice department turn
their attention to these big leakages
and gross abuses? Let those who pro-
fress to favor economy and reform help
to correct these abuses.
0Mr President we to-day not only
pay the railroads nearly S3O,OOO,0 900
year to haul mails, but we also pay
them rent for tine cars in which the
mail is carried. We pay rent for cars
when we pay freight charges? Be
sides, the rent we pay for the cars each
year would pay for the cars in year
or two. Why not own our cars and
pay the railroads q fair price to haul
them? These are the reforms needed.
They will stop the deficit and not rob
the people of any of the blessings they
now enjoy from the postal system.
These changes would result in such
economy that the postoffice depart
ment would have surplus instead of
a deficit.
But, Mr.. President, if the people
must be robbed of one of the greatest
benefits 81 the postal system to stop
small deficit of $4,000, 900, then, 1 say,
let the deficit stand. There is no way
that the money can be expended that
means so much for the general public.
Think of it-s39, 900, 900 paid to the
railroads each year for what mails they
carry, while the whole mail star route
system of the country costs only lit
tie over IS, 900. 900 year.
Mr.. President, enough can be saved
on what is paid the railroads in two
years to buy every telegraph line in
the country and establish n postal tel
egraph in connection with the postoftice
system.
If you want reform; if you want
economy; if you want to make both
ends meet and at the same time benefit
the public, that is the way to do it.
/ The facts are too plain and positive to
be denied or even questioned. A pos
tai telegraph would mean that all the
avenues and agencies of information
would be open and free to all alike.
Mr. President, that bill-and adj
dress my remarks now to the republi-
ca n side Of the senate-wili close down