The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-10
FROM OTHER PENS
MORE THAN EVER

From time to time it has been said
| that immigration to this country has
reached its high water mark; that the
| Improvement of Industrial conditions in
Europe had made America relatively
| less attractive; that Immigrants in
stead of sending back rosy descriptions.
were advising their friends and rela-
| tlveS in the old countries to stay at
home. In the fiscal year ended Juno
80, 1907, the immigrants who arrived
numbered 1,285,349. 1t has been said
that no other year would ever bring SO
many. But at the present rate the pres
emit fiscal year will make a new record.
During July, August, September, and
October 276,985 immigrants came
through the Ellis Island gate, SO. 600
more than came through all ports dur
ing the same months in 1911 At the
present rate the immigrant total for
the fiscal year will be in excess of l.
100000. History makes much of the
great population displacements that
took place during the late years of
the German empire But they were slow
and small compared with the displace-
ment now occurring. In ten years ap-
proximateIy 10000 600 persons have left
Europe, larger number than ever left
Asia during the greatest of the migra-
lions. The wonder is that our labor
market and industrial conditions have
been equal to the task of absorbing,
practically without shock, so many
new workers. We have no right to
expect in the future equal Immunity
from disturbance, for the time ap-
proaches when the voracious demand
of America for more and more laborers
will be met. But the largest market
may know a glut, and the signs are
that something like glut in the
American labor market will come il
there is no diminution in the stream
of immigration.-New York Globe.
BUMPING EXPRESS COMPANIES.
Postmaster General Hitchcock APP
pears to have become a convert to
the idea that the acquisition by the
government of the physical property,
equipment and franchises of the express
companies is essential to the satisfac-
tory operation of the parcels post In
this view he was anticipated by the
author of the postal express bill, pre-
sented to congress nearly two years
ago The postmaster general thinks
the express companies cannot success
fully compete with the government in
the collection and delivery of small
parcels: but the government cannot
give sufficiently low parcels post rates
without mourning large deficits until
1T can get as low rates of railroad
transportation as the express COM
panies are getting. This cannot be at
tanned without the acquisition of the
express companies exclusive contracts
with the railroads, which the Supreme
court has held to be property and
therefore,, cannot be taken for public
uses without compensation. More
over, 1t would not be fair to the rail-
roads to require them to furnish a
duplicate equipment of cars. etc, for
the government without q correspond
ing increase of total income. The for
warding of parcels is a postal func-
ton which ought to be exercised by
the government, and any rival system
ougnt TO be extinguished as I'M
economical. There is no other wav
of doing this than that indicated and
now subscribed to by the postmaster
generaL-PhiladeIphi Record.