Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1911-06-01

ership Of the postoffice system which
causes the annual deficit in that de-
partment. 1t Is the capitalistic oper-
alton of the same.
If our government dealt honestly
with the people, the postoftice system
would be one of the greatest sources
of revenue in our government. But
it deals dishonesty with the people
when it pays 16 times what it should
pay for carrying our mails, and re-
fuses to carry large packages
through the mails. The numerous
express companies exert a powerful
influence in preventing the enactment
of the parcels post law. The railroad
companies are the principle owners
of the express companies at the pres
ent time and of course the railroad
companies find it to their profit to
prevent the enactment of parcels
post law which would largely de-
stroy their "parcels-carrying" busi-
ness. A proper parcels post law, it
is safe to say, would add annually
more than one hundred million dol
lars ($1O0,0OO,000) to the receipts Of
the postoffice department.
The people of the United States
pay eight cents per pound on pack
ages limited to four pounds. Practi-
cally all the South American re-
publics and the European nations are
carrying 11-pound packages for one
cent per pound. The United States
government has made agreements
with 43 different governments Of the
world to receive and deliver parcel
packages directed from those govern
ments to persons in the United States
and to receive parcel packages and
deliver them abroad. But our gov
ernment denies our own people the
rights and privileges which 1t gives
to the foreign nations. 1t refuses
absolutely to receive and deliver
packages from one part of the United
States to another while it receives
and delivers them to practically all
the nations of South America and
Europe. In other words, our gov
ernment gives to other people greater
privileges and benefits than it does
to its own.
i. If the American people had sense
enough and courage enough to carry
their convictions to the ballot box, the
United States would have a parcels
post law without delay. Our post.
office system is practically perfect
working system but 1t is surrounded
by capitalistic hamperings and tnflu
: ences. If the government socially
: owned and operated the railroad com
! panies as we'll as the postofiice sys
, TEN, the entire express business
, could be done through the postoffic'
; system and freights could be reduced
; one-fourth their present rate and pas
sengers carried for one cent per mile
J But the working people hang on t.
the old political parties like ma
3 men and refuse to let loose of tn
5 political bigotries and fanaticism
! and superstitions that are blightin
Q their hopes and driving them down t
2 destitution and despair
Water Works System.
Let me give you another illustra
ton of so-called or collective owner
|. ship. 1t has only been few year
? since the cities of our country hay
> socially owned and operated thei
{, water works system for the use an
benefit of the whole people. Man
large cities even now do not ow
> their own water works plant, an
generally speaking, those cities thi
do not own their own water worF
:, system, pay a much higher rate tha
II those that DO and receive muC
l. poorer grade of water. Where Il
Il water works system is social
:, owned, the poorest child in the jul
u u gle district drinks as pure water
y the richest man in the city. Evel
;. man. woman and child has an equ
u share and right in the socially own'
u water works system. The price thu
! : pay and the quality Of the water