OCR Text |
Show Slaughter of the Express Companies. Com-panies. Tt is rcportod that ono of the great express companies of tho country is going go-ing into liquidation and will wind up its business as tho result of tho orders of the interstate commerce commission readjusting the practices and reducing tho charges of tho business aud tho competition of tho parcels post system of tho government. Tt may b"c that in the absence of regulation in the past tho express business became overextended, overex-tended, and it is certain that sonio of tho mothods and its chaTges needed reforming. re-forming. Tt was tlcsirablo to bring it under proper regulation and correct such abuses as wore disclosed. By dividing up tho field and making contracts with tho railroads competition was virtually destroyed and monopoly established, which always results in abuses, discrimination dis-crimination and disregard of just rights. It does not follow that tho service is not one of great value which should not be given over to slaughter. It may be that tho requirements of tho intorstate commerco commission wcro justified and would havo resulted in more efficient ef-ficient and economical service without seriously injuring the companies, had it not been for the deadly competition of the parcols post. So long as Una was confined to small parcels no serious harm was done, or would have been done if tho government had dealt fairly with tho railroads and with tho people in accounting for tho expouse. It not onl- paid the railroads less than the express companies for equivalent service serv-ice in carrying, but it paid less than it cost tho railroads to render tho service. Its competition is grossl- unfair. The cost of it iB largely concealed and is not covered by the' tcv.chuc derived from it. Slaughtering the express . service would uot bo so deplorable if its placo wero actually filled at loss cost, but a most important part of it cannot bo filled at all by tno postofiieo. The express ex-press companies arc essential agencies in mercantilo business and for a large part of the general public accommodation, accommoda-tion, in promptly convoving and delivering de-livering merchandise. The3' collect and dispatch as well as carry aud deliver. They givo receipts and pav iudemnity for damage or loss, and in many ways perform a service which the government govern-ment canuot afford and ought not to attempt. Their destruction would be a national calamity. Perhaps this one company can bo spared, but the hand of the destroj-cr should be stayed before be-fore more serious mischief is "done. Journnl of Commerce |