Okolona messenger., 1905-03-01


E713l544lBhssS nectiOn with the United States Ex-
79 press company and making certain
charges.
Mr.. Post claims that by reason Of the unlawful
combination and monopoly the express companies
have been able to maintain and have maintained,
charges for all the different kinds OF business as de-
scrbed by him, far in excess of reasonable rates,
and they have been collecting, and are now annually
collecting from the people Of the United States ard
from the banks, trust companies aud other financial
institutions, and from publishers OF books and
others, hundreds of thousands Of dollars over and
above Just compensation fOl the services rendered.
he says that for years past there have been pend
ing in the senate and in the house of representatives
several bills, the general object OF which is to enable
persons who wish to send money from one place in
the United States to another to do so more econom
ically and more conveniently than can be done by
any method now in use. The plans proposed by
these bills, if carried into effect would enable the
people Of the Uu;ted States to transfer small sums
Of money from place to another with less trouble
and with less expense than is made necessary by the
existing methods which include mainly the money
order systems of the pOstOfice department ard the
express companies, or transportation by these com
panies By these plans much OF the business Oi
this kind which is now transacted by the express
companies would be taken from them, to their in
Jury, but to the benefit Of the people Of the United
States and Of the government Of the United States,
which itself now pays many thousands OF dollars
every year 10 bne express cOmphuleb lOE ncENACos
which It s Of the objects Of such bills to render
unnecessary.
Mr.. Post charges that in his capacity president
Of the United States Express company, Senator T.
y. Platt has participated, and is participating
in the said illegal combination and conspiracy, and
Is daily engaged in performing overt acts in pursu
ance thereof and that in the senate he has used and
is continuing to use, his influence as a senator to
oppose the passage Of the bills referred to- any o
them, on the ground that, il passed, they would
Affect iniuriOusly the business OF said express com
panies and reduce the amount which said companies
BY reason Of said combination and conspiracy, are
yearly obtaining from the people Of the United States
and the government over and above just cOmpensa-
tion for the services they render.
When the agent of Mr.. Post interviewed the SEN
atOr he said that while be was not in the senate to
represent the United States Express company, at
the same time he could not favor and would hght
any measure that seemed against the interests Of the
express companies; that his company had nearly
10000 Offices, and that in most cases where his COM
pany bad Office the other companies had, so that
The country was pretty we'll cOvered that what at
ected affected ALL and that he naturally felt that
be would have to oppose any legislation which
seemed to conflict with the interests of the express
companies In any way. The agent Clarence 3.
Dawson, then asked him il he desired it understood
that his position would be merely passive one;
whether he would go out Of bis way to put obstacles
10 the path Of the BILL Mr.. Patt thereupOn replied
that if he opposed a thing he would do all in his
power to dght it,
This attitude Of the senator from New York, al
though not a subject for impeachment, should open
the eyes Of congress to the selfish and nelariOus
methods used TO defeat measure which would add
to the convenience Of all business men and save the
people an indemnity in the transmission Of money.