The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-07-08

traffic II those interests which would
be benefited by the low rate on parcels can
put up a bigger fight than the express
companies which now control the business.
a parcels post system may be established.
Is matters of this kind Individual inter
ests. as against a great corporation or a
combination of corporations, have little
weight in the United States senate. 1t is
only when two sets of powerful moneyed
interests set about to fight each other that
the sparks really begin to fiy. Whenever
asy arrangement takes fifty cents a year
out of each of forty million persons. by
operation of law or by its permissfons, and
the twenty million dollars so taken goes
into a few strong hands. such a condition
it is next to impossible to clasge. The
few strong hands with the twenty million
dollars have the power OF dynamite, while
the forty million persons who are cut only
fifty cents apiece are perfectly placid.
This is seen In tariff rebates time and
again, asd in the whole general range of
Class legislation. The small individual
loser is not factor in changing legisla
ton; half the time he does not know he is
a loser; he does not believe ne is when
told; he does not much care If he is, as
fifty cents is a small matter to him, asd
thus It goes. So, If this fight for a parcels
post were merely between the individuals
who pay dollar or two year to the ex-
press companies and the great companies
themselves, the attempt would be fore
doomed failure from the start. But II
there are other large interests besides the
expresses which have thousands of dollars
at stake the fight may be more even
ore.
The relation OF the railroads to such
contest Is interestisg. Their alliance with
the express companies is very close. The
promoters of the parcels post scheme be-
lieve. however, that they can oblige the
railroads to keep hands off. The argument
they will present to the railroad interest
is that parcel post would enormously in
crease the amount of matter transported.
and as Uncle Sam always pays well for
such service the railroads would be better
off thas they are now. Parcels post pro-
moters also intend to hold the present
rates of railroad mail pay as a hostage,
telling the railroads that if they aid the
express people in this fight, the parcels
post forces will turn about to cut down
the rates on railroad mail transportation.
If the interests of the railroads can thus
be neutralized, the parcels post people be-
lleve they can coust on several strong out
side forces There is tremendous popu
lar opposition at present to Trusts, and
while just what that term means Is rather
in the pubic mind, the business
methods of the express combinations
could doubtless be shown up in such a
way as to arouse against all the asti-Trust |
fury which is now in the air. a great |
many republican congressman as we'll as |
democrats would like to place themselves |
IN record as voting against a Trust, and |
lespite the potent influesce of Mr.. Plat |
md the Othe- express-company senator's
t might he unfortunate for them to have
heir claim to the parcels business brought
o test vote. Another factor which
hou:d not be disregarded Is the patronage
involved. If the government goes isto the
,arcels post 1t will mean a lot more places,
o many more confidential secretaries"
Excepted classes. etc, and when this
heering prospect rises upon the senatorial
lorizon, just as census jobs are gettisg
carce, there will be found a good deal of
2tent affection for the parcels post.
Our Postmasters-General almost with
ut exceptions. have opposed the establish
nent of such a service The complications
involved are very considerable. The gov
rnmeEt would seemingly be obliged TO