Page:The Economic Journal Volume 1.djvu/433

 NOTES AND MEMORANDA 411 evils, with but few of the benefits, of socialism. He estimated the loss inflicted on the public by the prohibition of private enterprise the loss of ' Consumer's Rent' in Professor Marshall's technical ter- rainology at 4 millions annually. He recommended that private persons should be encouraged to create new methods of serving the public; and he met the objection that some of the new enterprises might ultimately be found more suitable for public than for private management, by the suggestion that, whenever this was found to be the case, an appeal to an independent court might enable the Post Orifice to buy it upon equitable terms: ' those terms being such that other people, who thought they saw their way to supplying a public convenience, might work it out with the same expectation of a substantial reward for originating and organizing ability that they would have had if they struck out a new line in any other branch of business, in which neither they nor any one else had a monopoly.' From this arrange- ment Professor Marshall augured such developments of the postal service as the following: ' A charge of one halfpenny for a letter and twenty deliveries a day within a mile or so of the central office, the deliveries to include small parcels as well as letters, so as to extend to all classes the services now rendered by the messenger companies to the rich only.' On the other hand, it was maintained by the' Correspondent' of the Tires, whose letters appeared on March 20th and March 30th, that the Post Office had not been slow to introduce improvements, that the English Post Orifice contrasted favourably with private enterprise in America, that, if its monopoly be infringed,' the state bureau will be undersold and deprived of business, where business pays, while it will be left in the undisturbed enjoyment of unremunerative work. It will be undersold. . . because its competitors can pick and choose, while the state department is bound to work at a loss as well as at a profit.' Ultimately the following compromise was reached. The Postnaster- General obtained the injunction that he claimed; but the companies are to be allowed to carry on business under licenses granted by the Post Office. By way of appendix to the discussion on the subject may be mentioned the deputation on postal reform which waited on Mr. Goschen May 8th. Mr. Goschen did not entertain favourably the proposal which was urged on him that the surplus above a certain amount of revenue derived from the Post Office should be set apart for improvements in the postal service. He produced the following ' strong figure ' with regard to the new system of 2g/. postage to the colonies as compared with the old rate. ' During the first four months of 1890 there were carried 67,8791b. weight of letters, and during the same four months in 1891 there were carried 76,9661b. weight of letters, being an increase of 9,094, which was a satisfactory increase of 14'94 per cent. That was an increase that would gladden the hearts of those who said that a decrease of postage would increase the number of