The Lamar register., 1919-01-01
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY !. 1919
Political Ownership Propaganda at the
Peoples Expense.

The sensational reduction in long
distance telephone tolls and telegraph
rates made by Postmaster General
Burleson, is a palpable piece of cam-
paigning in connection with The at
tempted legislation fastening political
ownership upon the country without
permitting the people to express theii
views in the matter. With the present
administration record of rapid extern
sion of political ownership before them
the people at the polls defeated the
party in power. Yet an effort is be-
ing made to utilize the repudiated
majority in Congress to ram through
legislation to which the people are
evidently hostile.
The Postoffice department has not
had the telephone and telegraph lines
in its possession long enough to have
an understanding of the cost and
needs and demands of the service thai
would justify sweeping changes in
rates. Of course Uncle Sam has u
long pocket book, and the party in
power has shown that it has no par-
ticularly 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 II a 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 un-
der way for one-cent postage. But
under the very same administration
which now reduces telephone and tele-
graph tolls as part of the campaign
for political ownership, the price of
the poor mans postage stamp has been
increased fifty per cent Would it 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 tele-
graph lines, to be paid for out Of the
public treasury, and made up, pre-
sumably from the income derived from
three-cent letter postage?
The people know something about
the results of political ownership Of
utilities the administration has been
operating for some time. Freight and
passenger rates on the railways have
been increased one-half, and about ali
the increase expended in meeting in
creased costs Of operation. Recently
under political management, there has
been an increase in express rates. II
the Treasury department cannot ruI
the railways without at once imparins
the quality Of the service and hoistins
the rates up fifty per cent, what reas
on have we for believing that the Post
office department can do any better
Would it not be better for this de
partment to turn its attention to bring
ing order out of the chaos 1t has Great
ed in the postal service proper? Fo
the first time in our history there |
delay, doubt and uncertainty, in tn
dispatch of mail. If the Postoffice de
partment cannot handle its regula
job, what reason is there for believ
ing that it can take on a few NOR
tasks and perform them efficiently7
Just why there is this feveris
anxiety on the part of the Postoffic
department to retain control Of al
means of communication in the countr
remains to be seen. The scheme adds
Of course, to the amount Of spoils t
be disposed Of. 1t adds to the pows
Of the politicians. 1t gives them a
opportunity to listen in on every com
munication in the country. 1t enable
them to crafty what seems to be tn
natural desire of professional offic
holding politician, to stick his nose in
to everybody's business. But the pee
pie are getting weary of arbitrar
seizures, snap judgments and publ
policies undertaken in defiance Q
public opinion and at the sacrifice O
the public welfare. National Republi
can