Daily Kennebec journal., 1898-11-01

~ ptuu. Ii the PUBIC seeing these
facts went upon the assumption that
the stage driver was receiving fair
compensation. it would naturally con-
clude that the steamer was gouging the
government. The plain truth is
that the steamer gets all that
its services are worth: the stage driver
doesn't get anywhere near it.
1t is difficult to conceive to what an
extent the existing method Of letting
stage routes has operated to cheaper
their service SO far as the general pub
lie is concerned. Horses and vehicles
the sub-letting sweat system. 1t shows,
too in the pinched faces and frayed cloth
ing of many of the drivers. There are
hundreds of lines today that are liter
ally operated ION the ragged edge, y
and do not afford the Woodworking
men who perform their exacting labors
and endure their discomforts a decent
livelihood. 1t may be urged that the
postoffice department is in nowise in
terested in providing the public with
good conveyances on it's stage routes;
that it's whole duty has been performed
Of the mails at the lowest possible
figure. 1t may be claimed that it is
the duty of the government to give the
public the benefit that may come from
all possible savings in the transporta-
tion of the mails-no matter how they
may be effected. in the same way the
proprietor of a sweatshop might claim
to be public benefactor, inasmuch rs,
by grinding the faces of his poor en-
ployes, he could supply the masses
with cheaper clothing.
Such arguments are fallacious. The
laborer is worthy of his hire, and any
effort to grind him to starvation
basis is contrary to the spirit of our
institutions. The sweat system is
everywhere the child of the sub-con
tract. 1t stands upon the same basis,
| whether operated in the interests of
the national government or of private
individuals. The large manufacturers
who are responsible for the existence
of the sweat shops in the big cities do
not directly operate them. They let
| out their work first to contractors,
who sweat their own personal profits
aut of the poor people to whom they
sub-let the work. and who are the ones
| who actually perform the labor. If
such a system has resulted in gross
| evils when used in the business ven-
could it produce different results when
employed by the postoffice department?
| We sincerely hope that the able re-
port of General Shellenberger may re-
suit in the abolishing of the existing
method of letting star route contracts,
which, with it's attending evils, has.
| for number of years past, been a
| standing disgrace to our government.
Just what shape the reform should
take is a matter upon which opinions
will naturally differ. We have been
inclined to think that it should en-
brace at least the three following pro-
visions:
l. No person shall be permitted to
bid in route outside of his own state
or territory.
2. No person shall be permitted to
bid in more than one route.
3. Every contractor shall agree to
personally supervise the running of his
route.
| 1t may be that even more radical
measures may be found desirable
perhaps the entire abolition of the
| whole contract system of letting these
| routes. Those we have suggested,
however, would, in our judgment, go
| far to remedy existing evils.