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Show Parcels Post. , Congressman Gregg, of Penn-splvania, Penn-splvania, in an argument in the House in favor of parcels post, said recently: It is true that for years the express ex-press companies have been preying prey-ing upon the people of the country coun-try who have had occasion and necessity to ship packages and parcels over their routes. It is also true that these express companies com-panies have made fabulous sums from their business. The revelations revela-tions made in the Interstate Commerce Commission investigation investi-gation into the conduct of the express ex-press business are astounding. For instance, it was discovered that the earnings of one company from the time of its formation to the time of the hearings had been $598,158,930, and in that time it had distributed dividends amojuating to $43,500,000 yet it practically began business without with-out a cent of actually invested capital. The Interstate Commerce Com-merce Commission, in its second annual reports on the statistics of express companies in the United States for the year ended June 30, 1910, shows that the net operatiug revenue of the 13 companies covered by its report re-port increased from $12,294,008 in 1909 to $14, 508, 280 in 1910 gain of $2,214,272, or 18.01 per cent. I only offer these figures at -this time for the purpose of showing that if the federal Government undertakes to go into this busi-' busi-' ness of a general parcels post j and it can do so at a profit it I will practically wipe out any de- ficitin the Post Office Department. Depart-ment. But why should the (United States Government, by I condemnation proceedings or by contract of sale with these express ex-press companies, take over their franchises, rights, and properties? |