The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-08-12
FRIDAY, AUGUST le, 1904.
Government Ownership.

For more than thirty years. the United
States has paid to.the railroad companies
Of this country, each year, for the use, Of
postal cars. more than it costs to build
and equip the cars outright, and yet it
doesn't own them.
Just how handsomely our government
treats the railroads is shown from the
fact that almost one-third of the entire
annual postal revenue is paid directly
into the treasures of these companies for
the mere transportation of the mails.
No wonder there is an annual deficit
in the postal department, and that the
railway mail service is one of the most
fruitful sources of criticism and scandal
of the Department, which has been much
before the public eye the past several
months on account of the corruption
brought 10 light in its many branches.
An instance of the extortionate rates
paid and fraud practiced is found in the
padded weight during that period when
the mails are weighed to ascertain the
basis upon which the railroads will be
paid, when 1t is freely asserted tons and
tons of old books, ETC., are shipped back
and forth for the sole purpose of swelling
the weight. 6
This year the railroads will be paid
$45, 600, 900, including the allowance
made for the use of postal cars, for car
rying the mails. There has been no mate
rial reduction of rates between the Depart
ment and the roads for more than thirty
years, while the charges on freight and
passenger rates have been reduced more
than one-half during that period. ~
That Congress recognizes the railroads
have soft thing of it with the govern
ment in the mail business is evinced by
the proviso in the appropriation bill that
no rent shall be paid for the use, of postal
cars which are more than fifteen years
old. In other words, after having paid
fifteen times the cost of a car and not
getting the deed for it the government
demands a new car. for which it is will.
ling to pay fifteen times the cost Of build
ing for the mere use. .ss 40. ~
1t is not to be wondered at that the
people Of the country are. growing tired
of being robbed year after year in this.
fragrant manner and are demanding that
the government own not only the cars,
which they pay SO handsomely for and
never get, but the railroads. as well. and
conduct them for the benefit Of the whole
people, as is done in other countries,
where all such common carriers are con.
Quoted for service and not profit, the
rates Of travel and freight scarcely being
more than third of what they are in
this country and still proving source of
revenue to the governments operating
them. Ag
Nor should it end at the railroads alone,
as the telegraphs, telephones, and in fact
all public service corporations should be
placed under government control, where
they rightfully belong. The practical
bility of the plan is SO well proven that it
will not admit of dispute. In every civ
ilized> country except Bolivia, Honduras.
Cyprus Cuba and the United States are
the telegraphs operated by the govern
ment, and the time is not distant when
the people Of this country will tire of
tagging so far behind in the march Of
progress as to be placed in class with
these little states, and will move for a
change in the present order of things
wherein the monopolies reap harvest of
riches, which the leniency of the govern
ment permits them TO extort from the
people.