Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-11-27
Presents Proposition to
Take Charge of Pos
tai System
FOR PERIOD OF YEARS
Tells Committee of Congress-
men S1OO,OOO,OOO Can
be Saved Yearly.

Washington, Nov. 27--Uncle Sam was
asked today TO turn over TO a syndicate
of capitalists the conduct of the postal
business. In return the syndicate pro
poses to give the country penny post
age and a better and more business
like service than has been provided un-
der the present system of government
operation. The tender was made by
w. ID. Boyce of Chicago to the joint
committee OF congress investigating
postal abuses and intrusted with rec
ommending reforms. which has been in
session in New York and resumed its
meetings here yesterday.
Has Several Objects.
The offer has several objects. II is
true that capitalists have been found
who believe that money can be made
by monopoly. of the postage business
Whereas the government has failed to
make the postoffice department pay
ing institution. these capitalists believe
that by the Introduction of business
methods they can put the department
on dividend paying basis. The Wells |
Fargo Express company saw enough |
money in the monopoly to offer the |
government a bonus of S1,OOU.OOO a |
year. if permitted TO run the post |
office.
Serves Double Purpose.
The BOyce proposition is presented |
in good faith and will serve the double
purpose of emphasizing with the pub
lie the fact that there are capable busi-
ness men in the country who believe
that they can give the people penny
postage and an excellent service. 'rfief
offer win have the effect of showingI
to the people that these business men,
who viii give satisfactory bond will
guarantee to give the patrons of the
pOstofiice reduced postage rates which
the department officials unite in re
porting the government cannot afTOr1
to- do
Government VIII Pay.
The proposition broadly stated, is
that the government shall withdraw
from the field of controlling a public
utility and shall place the business of
Transporting and delivering the mail
in private hands. as the express busi-
ness is conducted. The capitalists who
are willing TO assume the burden will
pay the government rental for the post
office buildings all over the country and
will charge the government regular
rates of postage on it's mail, which is
now carried free. 1t is roughly esti-
mated that the government would off
set i'm money derived from rentals of
the buildings the charge 1t would an
nually be required to pay for the trans
portatiOn of it's mail
Hearing on Railroad Issue.
Incidentally there is concealed in the {
proposition an argument which may
later be taken up by the opponents of {
government ownership of railroads {
The offer will permit these opponents i
to argue that the government. in its
experiment with the ownership of the
posts, has failed TO reach that state of
perfection possible under private own
ership; that after years of trial the
government finds it impossible to con-
duct the postal business on a basis as
satisfactory to the people as private !.
individuals offer.
Would Save S1OO,OOO.OOO n Year.
In submitting the proposition to the =.
joint committee Mr.. Boyce said in part
"A careful comparison of rates of I.
postage now charged on first and sec
ond class matter with the rates herein l |
proposed to be put in force will readily
demonstrate that it means an average
saving for the next 30 years to the :
government and general public of 800, ,
100000 annually.
We propose to perform all the serv.
ices now rendered the public by the
postoffice department and carry out all
treaty stipulatiOns and contracts andI
to take the entire receipts arising from
the postal service as full compensation
for the rendition of all paid services
now performed by the postoffice depart Q
ment and pay all salaries and expenses a
necessary to carry out the terms of e
such detailed contract as will accom- I
plish fully the objects sought, namely: t
Il. The reduction to the public by l
one-half of all postage TO be paid ON I
first and second class matter, or L cent 4
an ounce or fraction thereof on first a
class and " cents a pound on second Il
class matter. III
Wipe Ont Deficit. i
'2. The wiping out of the deficit an I
nually occurring in the operation of