Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-07-28
WHY EXPRESS COMPANIES?

The Sioux City Tribune under the
above heading editorially discusses
the necessity for express companies,
and shows that congress has finally
consented to investigate a system
that has been notorious for over
charging for services rendered. Here
is the article. Read it carefully.
Why express companies? The queS-
tion persists. The Commerce commits
sion has ordered a sweeping inquiry
into rates, capitalization, dividends,
mutual stock holdings by railroads
and express companies. And in the
House a committee Is working on the
same lines in connection with a par
cells post investigation and considera-
tion of the bill introduced by Mr..
Lewis. Of Maryland. The latter made
one of the leave-to-print speeches
that is really worth while in explana-
tion of his bill, which is an answer to
our frequent question, ''why express
companies?"
Did the incongruity ever strike you
as it struck Mr.. Lewis when he came
to study parcels? Every passenger
train has behind the baggage ars IN
express car and behind that a mail
car. Look into the former and one
may see one man in charge of the
small packages that more or less fill
the car. At stations he delivers some
and receives others. Look into the
mail car and you see two or more men
busily sorting out mail, letters,
papers and small packages, the latter
barred beyond a four-pound limit.
The railroads supply the cars and
haul them. The express company pays
the railroads for use of the cars and
hauling IA Of a cent a pound on the
average. The government pays the
railroad an average of 4.06 cents a
pound for use of the cars and hauling
them.
Now Is 1t not incongruous that two
agencies are used to do the same
work? Why should the mail packages
be limited to four pounds? Why
should the mail car not do the bust
ness the express car does? That is
what Mr.. Lewis wishes to know. The
government assumed the monopoly of
carrying mail. 1t covered the carriage
of 'letters and packets" An attorney
general Of the United States constru-
ed packets" to mean packets Of let
tiers. A singular construction, was 1T
not? But on it was built the wealth
of the express companies; on that and
the four-pound limit of weight and
the merchandise postage rate, l cent
for each ounce or fraction thereof.
Construction and law could not have
been better designed to favor the ex-
press companies and disfavor the
public.
So Mr.. Lewis, who describes him
self modestly as a Transportation
economist" would answer out repeat
ed question by wipiDg out the restric-
tions in our postal laws, let the gov
eminent perform Its full functions as
to quick carriage by mail, dismiss the
express parasites from service, take
over their properties and contracts
and be itself the great American Ex-
press company. He shows that the
government can do it better and
cheaper. Express companies do not
reach the farmers; the rural mail
does. 1t can deliver at destination
the packages now sent by express and
which the %consignee must come to
the express office for. He would cor
relate the entire system. II the mat
ter interests you write to Mr.. Lewis
for a copy Of his speech. 1t is a good
one; one of the rarely good ones.