It Will Increase the Horde of Government Employees
Another objection to the parcels post is that its operation will add a tremendous force of government officials to the already swelling list. Excepting always that human hog who never votes, never reads, never thinks, but roots and grubs along, grunting out one single word, “Dollars,” which happily die with him, this objection should be considered by all thinking men. The stronger the intrenched force of the party in power, the more difficult will it be to effect needed reforms when stagnation in office produces disease.
It Limits the Field of the Individual
Another objection is that our government of free men was never intended to block or hinder the pathway of individual endeavor. Rather was its function to be that of aid or protection to insure equal opportunity under sane restriction. Following this connection and not to be lightly regarded, is the assumption that is clearly foreshadowed, that should the government engage in the transportation of merchandise the inevitable result would be the national ownership of the railroads, thereby still further increasing the centralization of power, which is diametrically opposed to the conception and scope of our general system of representative government.
Extravagance Will Be Augmented
Again a serious objection is that the transfer of conditions of transportation with its accompanying word paintings of alluring advertisements would tend to increase general extravagance, particularly in those sections where prudence is necessary for happiness, or precaution for old age. A distinguished writer has said that more discord and misery are caused in this country by our national extravagance than from any other source, not excepting the results from alcohol.
Still again, it is closely argued with logical coherence that the various monopolies that now practically control many branches of trade would welcome the development of large distributors at the expense of the present countless individuals, because of the greater ease of organizing in combination. The tremendous sales and enormous profits of one mail order house are the subject of daily comment, and should the government lend its aid to still further increase these figures, the time would not be distant when similar institutions would start into life in other sections. Backed by ample capital, and equipped with the experience regarding methods, their success would doubtless become immediate, until such time as competition among themselves endangered profits.
It is no fanciful assumption that when that point is reached combination or absorption will add another impregnable monopoly to the already threatening list.
The present monopolies have produced such colossal and unwieldy fortunes that the employment of their surplus is a constant thought, and so rich a plum would not escape.
Finally, for I have detained you gentlemen long enough, is the rank injustice of this proposed measure. If by taxation of the people as a whole, some permanent benefit be obtained, two blades of grass be grown where one existed, or even one section developed through the agency of the whole country’s help, no one would more eagerly advocate such action, for I realize that a healthful growth spreads its benefits everywhere. But this measure does nothing, creates nothing, carries with it no lifting of burdens, but simply takes from A to give to B, without assurance or guarantee of betterment of service or conditions. As all dry goods retailers know, not one article sold by mail order houses, in their line, but is daily and usually sold by them at the same or lower price, without any special fuss or feather about it, and all of us understand, without possibility of contradiction, that the advertised brand, in nine cases out of ten, does not depend on its intrinsic merit for its sales, but instead relies on the credulity of a thoughtless purchaser.