The Washington times., 1918-04-20


consolidating the COM among in
si Toa bo % g Of S
Is the fact that the Government has taken the rail
roads to give express companies chance to form trust and
violate the Sherman law?
Are the rokendown express companies to be permitted
to violate the law in the of war emergency?
any power the country is to control the express business
soud it not be the Government THE PoSToFF1CE Of the
United States?
An express company trust such is here proposed
would put the senders of express matter entirely at the mercy
Of that trust.
There would be no competition not pretended COM
petition
There would be no occasion for spending money to give
good service-the senders would have to wait.
This express company trust the mere suggestion OF
which outrageous and discredabe to Government ad
mnstration of railroads will not be permitted unless some
body with great deal of power has listened to extremely
interesting arguments from somebody with good deal OF
influence and wanting more
The people of this country being taxed to spend bill
lions of dollars rebuilding the railroads.
Are the private owners of express companies to form
Trust utilize the spending of this money use the railroads
for which the people paying and those railroads TO
ROB SHIPPERS?
This thing is being done in the absence Of Mr. McAdoo
the Director of Railroads who is away selling bonds and
would not tolerate such scheme for public robbery
We hope that one his secretaries will see the announce
eut printed here and telegraph to Secretary McAdoo
It will not Mr. McAdoo prevent it, be said that
while he was Director of Railroads and spending hundreds
of millions of public money rebuild railroads gang OF
express company owners were allowed in violation Of the
Sherman act to form themselves into Trust and fasen
themselves upon Mr. McAdOO's railroad system
We don't know how express company gentlemen go to
work when they want defy law against Trusts and con-
vince somebody in office that they should be permitted to
exploit Government management OF the railroads ana ne
public.
But we believe that Mr. McAdoo, who has had consid
ersble experience in Wall Street. when he engaged in
his important work of building the Hudson tunnels knows
how these things done and knows HOW TO PREVENT
THEM Mr. Hines by the way, now in one Of MIR McAdoo
departments help Mr. McAdOO to get at the facts Mr.
Hines has information
The express companies should go out of business for
they are incompetent and have place parasites on the
publicly owned railroads.
They have had their day. and their share OF profits and
their period of extortion.
Any physical property they have worth while should
be taken over by the Government and used and made part
of the parcels post system That system should carry all
packages except under refrigeration, and unsuitable
bulky matter which should be carried by special Govern
Inent system of fast freight
MANY pieces of rascaty will be put through safely and
smoothly in the confusion of But rascay undertak
ing of this kind the formation Of express company trust
to prey upon public the shippers and make the present
bad service still worse should not be carried out in the
shadow Offices Of the national railroad administration
It could not be carried anywhere ese consequently
there will be no difficulty Mr. McAdoo place the blame
the thing goes through his absence and Government
control of railroads step toward the inevitable Govern
men ownership should be used by private individuals fol-
the formation of dangerous Trust made Of incompetent
Ehipwrecked, inefficient concerns
The parcels post carries packages weighing seventy
pounds. 1t should carry ALL PACKAGEs