The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1914-06-23

Z, 1914.1
To the Editor of the Courier:
Your editorial in Saturdays issue
April IS, under the heading of par
GELS Post and Express Companies, -
has. my attention.
The undertaking by the postoffice
department of the general govern
ment 10 transport parcels without
weight limit, or, if limited to fifty
pounds, is a great economic problem
not easy of solution
The question is asked, would it be
a calamity to have a wasteful and eX-
pensive agency driven out of business
by a more economical one?" Would
il be disastrous for business to have
products moved more cheaply?" This
disposes of the matter in very sum-
mary way. But where the logic ?The
statement is an implication that post
Office department can do this parcels
post business more cheaply than the
express companies. But no argument
is adduced to prove it. That the gov
eminent produces anything or per-
forms any service for the public
cheaper than individuals or private
corporations is open to grave doubts.
The express companies are now I'M
der the supervision of the interstate
commerce commission.
This is a department of the general
government created by law to regu-
late transportation. Is it fair to the
express companies for another depart
ment of the government to enter into
the same kind of transportation bus
mess at a lesser rate than that ap-
proved by the interstate commerce
commission for these companies?
To my mind this is sane question.
These companies have vested inter
ests and the government should I'M
dertake to protect these interests,
rather than to destroy them. If it be
argued that these express companies
have full right to enter into competi-
ton with the governments rate, it
may easily be assumed that these
companies will gladly undertake to do
this, if the postoffice department shall
make a rate that will cover all costs
for service, including such interest on
the cost of the vast equipment devot-
ed to this service, as the Interstate
Commerce Commission shall decide
these companies are entitled to on
their invested capital.
These companies have been taxed
for these government owned postoffl-
ces and equipment used in this trans
portation service, and it does not
seem fair to them that the power OF
the government through the postofflce
department should be used for their
overthrow.
Furthermore, the people-other
than those who make use or TINS
TRANSFORMATION service-have a right
to a voice in this matter and to demur
to taxation to make up for losses In
Cured on this scheme of transporta-
ton.
Moreover the patrons of the service
have no right to, nor are they de-
handing a rate that shall not be COM
mensurate with the service rendered
and that shall fully compensate the
government.
When If is understood that the flow
eminent does not operate the post
Office department for pront, anu
assuming that the department can
perform this service as eheaply as the
express companies can, then IL is
clearly evident that the express COM
panies cannot maintain themselves IN
this UNEQUAL contest; for they must
have a profit if they are to remain
in business.
The only hope open to the compa-
nies now is that their patrons VIII In
consideration of better service than
offered by the government and the
indemnity feature of the service, be
willing to pay such rate as the inter-
state Commerce Commission shall de-
eide they are entitled to.
am informed by one of the local
companies that scarcely more than
TWENTY-FIVE per cent. of incoming ana
outgoing freight weights over nIty
mounds. Much of this weight of fifty
hounds or less could be as well trans
ported by the parcels post, ana IL at
an arbitrary price fixed by law, less
than the express companies can aHord
to carry, then we may Logically coh-
clude that il will go that way; then
If later on the weight limit is extend
ed to one hundred pounds, there VIII
he little left for the express compa-
MES to do: so little in fact that the
business would not be remuneratlve.
If il is the settled policy OF the
Government to extend the parcels post
facilities, then it will need the same
facilities that the express companies
now have in service. =,
Why not then take over these facll
tiles rather than to duplicate them
and thus save the great loss that must
necessarily follow if forced out OF
business. :,
1t occurs to me that it would be
inst as unfair 70 these companies &c
force them out of business by the
power of general government and a,
the expense of the people, as 1t wouiC
TO the railroads to build parallei hneS
throughout the country by taxing the
people, and then by law make rae
that would nut the railroads out OF
business.
Means for the speedy and cheaI
RECONCILIATION of small parcels to eV