The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-12-30
WITH THE EDITORS
POLITICAL OWNERSHIP PROPAGANDA AT
THE PEOPLES EXPENSE

. ENOE
The sensational reduction in long distance tele-
phoning tolls and telegraph rates made by Post
master General Burleson, is palpable piece Of
campaigning in connection with the attempted
legislation fastening political ownership upon the
country without permitting the people to express
their views in the matter. With the present adj
ministratons record of rapid extension of political
ownership before them the people at the polls de-
feated the party in power. Yet an effort is being
made to utilize the repudiated majority in con-
gress to ram through legislation to which the peo-
pie are evidently hostile.
The postoffice department has not had the tee-
phone and telegraph lines in it's possession long
enough to have an understanding of the cost and
needs and demands Of the service that would just
ify sweeping changes in rates. Of course Uncle
Sam has long pocket book, and the party in pow
er has shown that it has no particularly hesitancy
about digging down into the treasury to carry on
political experiments but what good reason is
there to tax the man who does not use the long
distance telephone in order to enable the man who
does to employ this service at greater cost than
is represented by the fee charged him?
For many years we have had in this country two
cent letter postage, and there was an extensive
agitation under way for one-cent postage. But
under the very same administration which now re-
duce telephone and telegraph tools as part of the
campaign for political ownership the price of the
poor mans postage stamp has been increased fifty
per cent. Wouldsit not be better to get the price
of letter postage back to the old Republican basis,
before creating a deficit from the operation of
telephone and telegraph lines, to be paid for out
of the public treasury land made up, presumably
from the income derived from three-cent letter
postage?
The people know something about the results
of political ownership of utilities the administra-
ton has been operating for some time Freight
and passenger rates on the railways have been in
creased one-half, and about all the increase ex-
pended in meeting increased costs of operation.
Recently, under political management, there has
been an increase in express rates. If the Treas
ury department cannot run the railways without
at once impairing the quality of the service and
hosting the rates up fifty per cent, what reason
have we for believing that the Postoffice depart
ment can do any better? Would it not be better
for this department to turn it's attention to bring
ing order out of the chaos it has created in the
postal service proper? For the first time in our
history there is delay, doubt and uncertainty, in
| the dispatch of mail. If the Postoffice depart
ment cannot handle it's regular job, what reason
| is there for believing that it can take on few
more tasks and perform them efficiently?
Just why there is this feverish anxiety on the
part Of the Postoffice department to retain con-
troll of all means of communication in the country
remains to be see. The scheme adds, of course, to
the amount of spoils to be disposed of. It adds
to the power of the politicians. It gives them an
opportunity to listen in on every communication
in the country. 1t enables them to crafty what
seems to be the national desire of professional
office holding politician, to stick his nose into
Ierybody's business. But the people are getting
weary Of arbitrary seizures, snap judgments and
publ policies undertakes in defiance Of public
fopnien and 1t the sacri6ce Of the public welfare
The. NalSnl1a kffi sssssA ~.