The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-11-25

Of our means of communication and transpor-
tation. We have become habituated to turn
pike roads, costly bridges, and post Offices
owned and supported at the public expense
but 1t gives us no slight shock 70 think Of our
railroads and telegraph lines taking the same
course, and passing from private control aud
monopoly into the service OF the community.
In Europe the idea is more familiar than here;
for in several Of the Continental countries the
Government has either bnilt or runs the rail-
roads, or both. In Switzerland, as DR.. Howe
has lately stated, the telegraph lines are all in
the hands Of Government, with what result
we shall see hereafter. At the late Social
Science Congress in Ireland, protraeted dis
oussion was had of the question whether the
Imperial Government ought to buy out the
Irish railways, and run them for lower rate
of fare and freight. One of the most enlight-
ened speakers (Mr. Galt) urged strongly this
course. He said, among other things
''There was line which should be drawn
between where the state might and ought not
with another, there might not be any Govern
ment interference; where there was a monopoly,
then II was the duty of tine state TO interfere on
behalf OF the public. (Hear, hear, and APP
plause) II one man could strike on plan by
which TO make aslxpenny loaf at the cost OF one
halfpenny, 10 did not follow that the maker
would seek to get sixpence the price Obtained
by Others who had not his secret. He might
pence, so as TO increase consumption and make
greater profits thereby (Hearl book
been sold at sixpence. The works of Sir Wal
ter Scott, for example. These cases illustrated
lower fares He then refePred Co the difsrence
IN IN isEes IA sne ki1ngdoms These London and
100 miles folowH:--fIrst class, les Sd; second
GLASS, lis. lid; third GLASS, rs. lid London and
The OaIedonian :ios I'd o.: an and 1 s. 3D. ts The ne
Great Northern and Western OF Ireland:--l8s.
showed what high rate was paid in Ireland In
Belgium the rates were even much lower than
on the Caledonian, and this was accomplished by
the Government there managing the railway
system of the country. Great progress had
beeA made on this question In Parliament. He
then referred to all the movements taken last
session by the peers and members OF PArlla- !
ment for Ireland, and of their meeting with
Lord Derby on the subject; and he hoped for
the best results from these proceedings. The
railways of ireland might be bought for
6lo50O.00O, and the profits would afford the Gov.
eminent ample margin to greatly reduce the
fares, without loss to the revenue and with
great advantage to the community"
The rates here mentioned as charged on the
EAglish and Irish railways are, on the whole,
higher than ours, and much higher than such
rates as prevail by special legislation on the
New York Central Road. There is no doubt
they could be greatly reduced, and still bring
fair profit to the owuers.
The principal advocate of this change in our
customs in the United States is Mr.. Josiah
Quincy, of Boston. He has addressed boards
of trade, legislative committees, and other
organizations, urging that some steps be
taken in the direction of purchasing the rail
roads for the good of the State. This very
evening, the 2lst Of November, he is to pre-
sent his views to the Social Science Associa
tiOn now In session near US. In pamphlet
on this question Mr.. Quincy has stated some
Of the system he favors. He says:-
"What might be the advantage of government
is shown m
the canal system OF New York, but even moro
strikingly In the Post once ARRANGEMENTS of
England and this country The Post ONCE con.
veys our letters on one system by government
management; the railway companies our per-
sons ana our property on one totally different
The hrsJ is conducted primarily for the public
good, and incidentally for profit. The seoond
stockholders In the corporations. BY the one
can send book from here to San Francisco for
from here to New York for less than fifty. III
am dissatisfied in the one case, can apply to a
once corrected. In the other, at best. 1 am sent
frIr I'M one employe to another, until trouble and
Yexatton make me submit to imposition.
"The telegraph system in Switzerland is full
of suPgestions on this kindred subject That
country is covered with network of telegraph
wires and the whole is under tn 8 control of the
Federal Government. The charge is twenty
cents for twenty words forty for hfty, sixty for
solved, after the first OF January 1865 TO reduce
the charges hfty per cent, when despatch can |
be sent TO any part OF the country for nall 2
pay five dollars and five cents for sending |
hundred words to Washington, mediate on the |
difference between the Government manage
ment in Switzerland and our private monopo- |
les"
We can see nothing but good resulting from
this movement in which Mr.. Quincy has so
prominent place. Whatever may be the
decision of the public, after full examination
of the subject, there is no doubt that discus
sion Of the uses and abuses Of railroads will be
a great public benefit.
At present they are practically beyond our
control, and may be well managed or i'll, with
out the public being able to protect itself from
injury, or to share in the good results. A few
persons generally contrive to direct all the
operations of a railroad, sometimes for their
own personal benefit, sometimes for the gooo
Of the community, and sometimes lor Doth' do
may be the case with the late extraordinary
proceedings in regard TO the New tork ana
Erie and the Hartford and Erie kalIroads' We
hear further rumOrs of possible compihA1ion
of the Erie and Central Roads to keep up or
increase the rates of freight. very nkely tney
have no foundation; but the possibility OF such
combinations. and the nature of the monopoly
that would result from them, should put us
on our guard. 1t may not be best for the State
to own its railroads; but in some way it should
have the means Of regulating them and making
them serve the general interests Of the people.
For this reason we welcome Mr.. Quincy's cru
sade against the existing system, without
knowing exactly what ought to take its place.
Southern Elections aud Conventions
What IL the Duty OF COngresGs
From ne ~. y. Herald.
The reports so far received Of the reoonstruo-
tiOn elections in North Carolina, South Caro-