People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 August 1895 — The Express Oetopus. [ARTICLE]

The Express Oetopus.

The one express company that has fastened itself like a leech on the financial end of this community, charging its patrons a tariff all but prohibitive, to swell the fat dividends of its multiwatered stock, arrogantly requests its agent here to ask the numerous patrons, who petitioned the company to put in a telephone, in what way the instrument will mcrease their present revenues. Perhaps the 'phone would not increase the amount already extorted from a patient people, for undoubtedly the conscienceless corporation has carefully calculated the last drop of blood that it is possible to squeeze out of the business here. The telephone is no longer a toy or luxury, but a necessary appurtenance to the equipment of every business office and a great convenience at residences. Few firms in the town have failed to avail themselves of the benefits of the ’phone system, and they are patrons of the express company per force of circumstances. Common decency should inspire a richly recompensed beneficiary to afford its patrons ordinary facilities for the transaction of business. The agent has progressively had an instrument placed in his residence, and it is fair to suppose that ha’f of its use will relate to the company’s business. The express company says the receipts here do not warrant the expenditure of §2 a month for a telephone, though it is a fact that offices which pay them less than half as well as this one are supplied with ’phones, scales and commodious rooms, such as are notably absent in Rensselaer. But then there is no competition here, and the people are obliged to accept such service as the corporation sees tit to render, and if the community objects to imposition the express office is liable to be suspended, as has often been done, and there is no means of compelling the company to furnish an express service. These are simply the conditions existing under corporation administration of this public function, in strong contrast with the spiendid service rendered by the government postal system. It is indeed strange that so popular an institution as the postal department should not be enlarged so as to embrace the entire ex press business. True that millions of dollars have been expended to prevent any encroachment on the exclusive privileges of mammoth monopoly. Postal rates on merchandise have been maintained at 16c per pound to give the express companies a chance to carry it for a trifle less, and the book trade at 8c per pound has been uuderbid by the private competitor, while official figures show that the government carries both of these classes of mail matter at a cost of less than 4c. The inclination of an offended community is to withdraw their patronage as far as possible from a corporation that asks so much and gives so little; they feel disposed to buy their money orders at the postoffice or use bank drafts, and send their small parcels by mail and their large ones by freight, but in doing so they simply cut ti e salary of the company’s agent, for that functionary is paid only on a percentage basis, and instead of striking the corporation you strike the bread from the agent's table.

It is regretted that society does not see the importance of public ownership of all the purely public utilities, including the telephone, and it is hoped that the near future will see Rensselaer enjoying the proud distinction of having municipal ownership of its electric lights, waterworks and telephones While public sentiment is crystalizing in favor of such a condition it is due the promoters of all such modern improvements as the splendid telephone system of Rensselaer to use the conveniences which they have placed within the reasonable reach of all Realizing the great utility of a ’phone in the express office, the telephone company has reserved until now a place on the circuit for it, refusing to give it to others who desired it.

Uncle Joe Osborne, who recently took up his residence i Remington, having lived in Ben ton countv for a number of years past, was in town Monday visiting his son in-law. W. S Parks. Mr. Osborne is auold-time greenbacker who frankly admits that there is something very radically wrong with the body politic, and correctly designates the present financial system as the cause. Subscribe for the Pilot.