" WWW ' "' V1. WilW't1 ';
The
Commo
ner.
l.4,
WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
.' -
A"- " '
1
VOL 5. No. 49
Lincoln, Nebraska, December 22, 1905
i
Whole Number 257
9
CONTENTS
. -
Unfaithful Stewards
Washington City Letter
Chbistmas dtthk Jungle
WlIEEE ABE THE PlIRASE MaEEES?
A Talented Woman
Once -was Born a Man
Elect the Postmasters
" ,' 'rockeeeller in flight
w. Home Department
Comment on Cuerent Topics
The Pbimary Pledge
News op the Week
TRANSPORTING THE MAILS .
In Ills annual report Postmaster General Cor
telyou makes some interesting suggestions as to
the plan of cutting down the postal deficiency. In
tliis report Mr. Cortelyou devotes considerable
attention to the question whether "a substantial
saving in the cost of railway mail transportation
could be accomplished by forwarding bulky per
iodicals and mail merchandise by fast freight in:
stead of what is known as fast mail, and by pro-
viding that such matter as would ordinarily go
by fast freight under this plan should pay extra
postage whenever transmitted by fast mail."
Is it not a bit strange that Mr. Cortelyou in
his recommendations did not touch upon the ex
penditures made to railroad companies for mail
transportation? According to Mr. Castle, former
auditor of the postofflce department, the govern
ment paid during the year 1904 the sum of $46,
000,000 for the transportation of the malls. Mr.
Castle says that at least five million dollars of
this sum represented graft. He declares that
under the item of "the rent of mail cars" more is
paid annually for the bare use of the cars than
the cars cost in the first place. It would seem
that in his dignified annual report Mr. Cortelyou
wight have given some attention to the absorp
tion of postal revenues by the railroads. In that
report he makes many recommendations. He
even goes so far out of his way as to indorse
he ship subsidy scheme which he calls "a means
of nationalizing the country's foreign mail
service."
Although the attention of the authorities was
long ago called to the extortion practiced upon
the government by the railroads in the carrying
of the mails, no one in authority has so far made
any serious effort to protect the public interests
in this respect. This subject is of such great
importance "that President Roosevelt might well
le pardoned for sending to congress a special mes
sage relating to it.
THE COMMONER AT WASHINGTON
This week The Commoner begins the publi- '
cation of a weekly letter from the national capi
tal. Mr. Alfred J. Stofer, The Commoner's cor
respondent, is. a newspaper man or wide experi
ence and high character. He may be depended
upon to keep The Commoner's readers in touch
with the movements ,of the nation's lawmakers.
Hiat he will discharge this task in. an interest
ing way will not.be doubted by any who carefully
read the first of those letters printed in this
"week's issue. ,
SiSma0.
V WWW ASfcsV V
- xjiflk&ai v
001
01
f)$ out,,ye clear-totted Christmas belte!
Lach swnfijiijci tooflue a story fells
Of Peace on E.artb,fo Men GooaWill
Froty out your cieep ar& branch throats
Peal forth tbe joyoas Yuletiae notes
Till evYjyarf W feel the thrill;
Ani everywhere lYjankinft stydl be
Protv envy anJ fron) -strivings free.
F(iwj out,ye bells,
A joyful souna
lo earn peace
Tp unrlri ArnnivV
DVr Kill txh va!(. oYr lake awci sea
TJ, H. DY.-MW tr.11 v,vU ,
rruuuim utr r imini -j mu vn-iury.
Vi
f?irrt nnt th tJYnyci& nf Hap- A"rl MidhH
lmg m tV rule of Trutl) and Ficfbt'
Rind in the fatherhood, of uoa. p
Ring fitl toe waking ecljoe bear J
Tbe cnorious tidings evejnwgere.
TKrit KrjTviAn feet thus far Nave froi-.
V That witb tbe Cbrjstroas davn becfan
JTty loig-sou0l)t Brotherbooi of Man.
rf ling out. v? belb,
r A jcyfal sound,
To carry love
Tbe worlct arouna,
Ak M) fk-f Rirrlvt how ip&hs thp iai
Wbile Mg)t i5 crusbei beneatlj the bai)
M II
0
M-itei ill.
irwr tt; ii tmr a
anA peace.
fying out, ye clear-tone Cbristnoas belh!
rii)g our unni jour ?y)usic weiis
Ait fills tbe earth) witb joy &
Rind oat the eiw.v an& the tHte:
Rihg in tl)e briabte better life.
Rin0 loie until all wars shall cease.
Let Cnristroas 'carols ring ana thrill
Arouncl tbe wbole wiie worlcJ until
i he air is nnea
Witlj joyfut sounct
ina,t carries love
Tbe worli around.
Rihcr. rina Me bells o'er vale ana bill
Witl) pea.ee a.na joy ty wbole wcKT
VflbUL
wu,r A,
rte.
. ytrSi
WLi
N
ti a
?r KrUir
n )
'
i
-y
' w
- Jrk
(( 1 2
. i k""- I
I lilt Bf If
roil
- ,.u
W