Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1904-05-05
RaiIuels Own Congress.

-
The following editorial, taken from
the Milwaukee Daily News, is OF
such a nature and tone that anyone
familiar with the position taken and
so vigorously maintained by Cover
nor La Toilette would be justified In
surmising that he dictated 1t. But
be it understood, this same Daily
News Is one OF the most active OPP
moments Of the governor IN the state.
We are confident that the article ex-
PRESSES the real, the honest sentl-
ments of the editor of that paper,
and its inconsistency in fighting the
governor is therefore the more trans
parent. What will not railroad
Doodle do?
"The scandals in the postotiice de-
partment have served to emphasize
the sobservience of congress to the
railway interests. The Unit, q states
government is paying over S4O'OoO,ooo
year to the railways for hauling TN"
mails 1t is paying more each year
for the re tai of the postal cars than
il would cost to build new cars. The
deficit in the postal revenues may be
traced directly to the exorbitant
charges made by the railways Tor
carving the mails. Congress gives
the railroads all they ask. 1t pays
them on basis that permits OF the
grossest frauds.
"Once In every four years, contracts
ora entered into with the railways
for carving the mails. For thirty
DAYS the mails are weighed ana the
weight made "A basis for the four year
contract. 1t is notorious that during
the weighing period the mails are
stuffed. in the work of stufiing the
mails, | nitcd States senator's and
congressman have lent their frank
ing privilege and vast amounts OF
public documents and other mail
matter have been ranked to swell
the volume of the mail carried by
the railways. Daily newspapers con
trolled by the railways have burden
ed the mail with sample copies
during the weighing period. Indeed,
every conceivable device has been
employed to defraud the government.
"As far back as Grover Cleveland's
first administration effort was made
to have congress take up the matter
of compensation TO the railways for
carving the mails. Postmaster Gen.
eral Villas protested against the sys.
tenn aud urged congress to take ac.
ton, 1t did nothing Postmaster
General Wanamaker made every
effort to have congress reduce the
compensation paid the railways for
hauling the mails 10 "a reasonable
basis. Congress again did nothing
Since then the railroads have no,
been disturbed by prying post-mas
tiers general.
"What conclusion is TO be drawn
from the fact that Congress permit,
the railways to overcharge the gov
eminent for hauling the mails? Is i
In, L i,,,
body Is owned body and breetche,
by the railways? When it Is cOnsid
cred that the railways are active il
politics that they distribute mil
lions ct dollars among the party
c0nHni4;-ie .f'sa plac2 tNnir passG
where they viii do the most good
generally the local political boss" o
the dominant party, is it any mys
terry how they manage To coutro
congress- Tho senate is composed o
railway attorneys or milliCnaires ia
terested in railway stocks. The hous,
OF Representatives is largely com
posed OF lawyers or men whose bust
ness relations make it advisable fo
then to court the favor OF the rail
ways.
ut isuo longer question Of wheth
eY the railways shall own the gov
eminent or The government own tn,
railwar a--the railways have pos
session