The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-06-09

1
would not be introduced in this
country before the year 1000, ii
it We're ever introduced
The best proof, however, that the
postal business is well managed lies
not alone in the fact of constantly
declining charges at a time when the
price of everything else has advanc-
ed; ii is not in the fact that the pos
tai service is real service and con-
siders the convenience and the inter-
est OF the whole public first and the
profit afterward; it is not in the fact
that, though constantly reducing
charges for postage. the service is
constantly broadening, as in the case
Of the free rural delivery. 1t is
rather in the decisive fact that the
postal service is the only big BUSH
ness that touches everybody in the
United States against which is no
general complaint.
Consider these remarkable facts a
moment: Your mail does not go
astray. 1t is not unduly delayed. 1t
is brought directly and promptly to
the very door of your house
1t is, considered as a system, sat
isfactory service. The American .peo-
pie are not slow to complain when
things do not go right and they
would raise loud complaint if the pos
tai service were unsatisfactory.
To many government ownership
seems new and strange Even if it
were new, that would not necessar-
lily be presumption against it: but,
as principle, it is not new. The
government that may regulate rail-
way rates and service may own and
operate railways if such ownership
and operation be in the public inter
est. 1t is principle always recog-
nized by our courts that the railway
right of way is public highway, to
be used not primarily for the benefit
of the owners of the railway but pri-
marily in the interest OF the people.
The Paramount Question
A railway company may get it's
property by condemnation proceed
ings. The property it gets and prop
erly gets for its own use in this way
was evidently not the property of the
previous private owners in such
sense that they could do with it what
they choose; In fact, no such property
rights exist. Much less is railway
owned property the property of the
railway to do with as they choose.
Property acquired by the railways by
condemnation proceedings may sure
" be taken over by the people col
1ectively under similar proceedings.
The public interests-the general
welfare OF the preamble to our con-
stitution-is. really the only question
involved. .tss
The implication of tie words gen.
eral welfare is pretty wide. 1t is be-
coming increasingly clear to all our
people that there is nothing that
makes for the general welfare which
the people may not do. We are hear
ing less often than formerly that the
peopIe-the government-may not
do this or that which it is desirable
In the public interest to ds.
Occasionally some belated person:
is heard to say regarding some pEo-
posed measure that it doubtless
would bring benefit to tia public,
but that it cannot be put in force be-
cause it is against our form of gov
erument-
What Is our foum of government
form of government or is our gov
ernment in all it's forms simply an
instrument by which We may serve
the best public interest?
In considering thrs question. Of
government ownership of railways
and of the municipal ownership OF
local public utilities ii should be re-
memhered that the only really i'm
portant question is the peoples
rights and interests
We shall do we'll to keep steadily
| in mind the famous saying of Linz
coin that There are 10 rights
against the rights OF the people" OF
course it must be understood all the
time in this discussion that there is
no intention of doing any injury to
any one. 1t has always been reeog-
nized by our courts that to take over
any property for public Or quasi
public purpose. at fair rate of com
| pensation, works no injury-no legal
| iniury-to the dispossessed owner.
/ There are two main functions OF
| government-one is restraint, the