Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1907-10-18
The Express Trust

people meet with in busy life is the
express company trust. With a
service that is not always the best.
you can safely depend that the charge
for it will be ample in all cases, and
exorbitant in many instances. Take
one branch of the service for instance.
| With an actual investment less than
500, 900, the Northern Express com
pany reports twelve per cent. divi-
dend upon its grossly watercd stock
and surplus of sd. 296.5 80, repre-
scnting the years net profits, made
to the Railroad Commission of this
State
This company was organized last
year June LIST, 1906 to take over
the business of the Northern Pacific
and Great Northern companies, CAPT
talized at 50, O00, 900, when the stock
was said to be held by six persons,
making it indeed Il close corpora
ton. The company owns about
5000 miles of service, of which one
third is in this State 1t has nine
offices, Otto agents, 2l3 messengers,
l63 drivers, 1872 wagons, 225 horses
and 499 trucks, according to the re-
port. The company owns no land
or buildings in the State. but values
its horses, wagons, Office furniture,
etc, in this State at S37 ,697.51. Its
contracts with the Northern Pacific
Railway aggregate 81 900, 900, repre-
senting the principal asset in its
capitalization. So it will be seen that
aside from the large annual dividend
rendered, the surplus amounts to a
sum more than twice the total of
money riSked.
Chief of all grasping corporations
the express companies lead the band
They have so controlled the national
Congress by well-organized lobby in
tluence to restrict the mail-carrying
service, and augment the cost of
all contracts made by the govern
ment for mail service. rs to practi-
cally give them an open field. They
get practically the same service by
rail, at about One-fifteenth the cost,
while, by adrOit manipulation of the
law, the larger portion of the trans
pOrtatiOn required is barred from the
public service as tnmailable. This
gross injustice has been going on for
scores OF years, simply because pub
lie attention has not been called to
it, and Congressman have been made
parties to the injustice, simply as
the easiest way of atfording cam
paign funds to keep fences in repair
The outrageous charges for service
by express is not the greatest objec-
ton to the business, either, as any
body who has had extended exper-
fence with the system will affirm.
You apply for rates. They are
given, and you can take or leave"
as you please. Like the laws of the
Modes and Persians there is no APP
peal. You pay charges on delivery.
and there is no back talk, even
though manifestly unjust, or even
incorrect. Sometimes mistakes do
occur, even in so delicately balanced
u machine rs the express company,
and there is no appeal except to
headquarters, involving cost, delay
and inconvenience, and then, prob
ably the responsibility is lodged and
further delay results, and in sheer
desperation you stand the extortion,
pay the &C. o. D." charges as the
easiest and cheapest way out of the
dilemma. The local agent, to fill the
requirements of the company, must
be a sphinx in manner and have
q vacuOus brain and q stone for a
heart, for if he deviates in the least
from iron-clad rule, his salary is
docked enough to make up any
losses, or he is told to go and sin
no more.
1t is sincerely hoped that, in the
course of time, the searchlights of
Truth will be turned upon this most
contemplate and unjust of all trusts
and that the strong arm of the law
will be invoked to at least regulate
an exclusive franchise that has been
granted for term of fifty years.
SHE HAS Won THE LAURELs.
appears that the record trip of the
Lusitania has established her record
for being the fastest steamship on
record. 1t will be remembered that
the first trip failed on the later part