The New York herald., 1869-01-07

The PROFITS have been large increasing with each re-
duction " rates. The Intimate relations between
chants familiar with the working OF both systems
aud the superiority OF the continental over
among them TheIr reiterated complaints
finally induced the Postmaster General to
examine into ,he merits ns, , 3. spbect pos
made 0y him to Parliament This report stated az
the opinion OF persons well qualified 70 Judge
FiTst-That the charges tor the transmission OF
messages too high and tend to check the growth
OF teIegraphic correspondence.
Secofad-Tnat there Is very often great delay IN
transmission and inaccuracy In rendering the mes
T9,frd-That many important towns are unprovided
with facilities for teiegraphic communication.
FOtrue-That In the great majority OF places the
ONCE is nconveniently situated and open for 100
Fyts-That little or no Improvement can be ex-
pected while Its working IL conducted BY companies
striving chiefly to earn dividend and engaged In
wasteful competition with each other.
Sirth-That under the existing system the deve-
opment OF telegraphic correspondence has been re-
.Serents-That the growth Of such correspondence
has been greatly stimulated IN Belgium and Switzer'
Eighta-That in England like results would fol-
low and from the annexation OF the telegraph TO the
Post Onice would accrue great advantage 10 tue
public and, ultimately large revenue to the STATE
A supplemental report was made In February,
union OF the two systems were considered These
arguments we're intended to prove that the cost or
inland messages In Belgium resulted IN dead loss Of
thrtyfour per cent? that any considerable extension
OF the system in England would involve an annual
loss to the State that village postmasers and post
mistresses were totally unit TO work the telegraph;
that the delays in sending out the messages by the
letter would be very great and that the con-
solidaton and anialgamatlons OF the different COM
panies could be better effected by the companies
| themselves
though there had been loss on the inland messages
transmitted In Belgium, that was occasioned
part tho s san fact and mat sas per
| formed without charge; that the number OF
these messages was $4,000. against eo2,5a6
inland messages, the charges Tor which would have
exceeded the actual loss; that although the reduc
/ tion In rates OF onehalf had not suiced to reduce
by onehalf the average cost OF each inland message,
yet but for the extraordinary increase the number
OF inland messages the cost OF the other messages
would have remained the same, instead Of being
largely reduced there would have been less loss on
the inland service but q smaller pront on the other
service; that 1t was proposed to extend the lines
| that postmasters and their children have worked
/ and are working telegraph instruments In some
and in private establishments they are eu-
| trusted TO warehousemen, porters and cellar men;
tSev % Woud bs mors free ana
4 rapid; that an extension OF the duties and
compensation OF the postmasters could give In
creased efficiency to both services; that the substitu
tion OF o consolidated management with one set OF
| officers and offices must effect large saving In
i expense over divided management and triple es-
tablishment at present employed in the conduct Of
| business with which one management and one es-
nst me q s IL
comparison with the Belgian service shown by the
fact that there had been the same OF tee
would have been 19, 100000 kilograms transmitted
instead OF 900, ,ooo These reports were referred
| heard evidence upon the various points raised and
| reported the Teegraphic act OF 1858. The preamble
contained the reasons for the passage Of the act.
graphs within ,hs United Kingdom Of Grs. britain and Ire
oui snr ays such mesns o. sommagcaon ana
Whereas would be attended with great advantage TO the
generally II cheaper more widely sssndsd and more
som q and snd
expedIent that her Aajesy Postmaster General be
sa ion Of The fos 6ads "A '''
chase the existing lines OF telegraph, maintain and
work them. II fixes the rates at one shilling, with
out regard TO distance for me nrst twenty words Of
the reception OF messages at every street letter box
and Post ONCE in the Kingdom. The act does not
by Parliament putting at the disposal OF the post
master the moneys requisite for carrying into eject
The irst action taken by Congress- In reference to
the union Of the Post ONCE and telegraph was q
| resolution reported by the Hon. Mr.. Nixon in March,
Routes calling upon the Postmaster General
to lay before the Senate all the Information In his
of establishing teegraphc lines in connection with
te mail routes for the transmission OF government
and private business. This was supported By the
he might obtain tte necessary Information my pre-
| decessor, Mr.. w. Dennison addressed interrOga
George ss B. Prescott author Of wosE on TIE seIe
graph, and to the executive ocers Of the American,
panIes. From them he % Obtained iniormason IN re-
gard to the cost OF construction and maintenance Of
lines Of telegraph the effect OF reduction OF rates
ana competition with government, and other facts
In regard to the operation OF the system. Their
answers were appended to his letter In reply to the
senate resolution contemplated the establishment OF
the telegraph along the principal mall routes only
that this MS rCad cs. y require mes ~ or ss
OF his investigation he was Of the opinion that il
inaugurate the proposed system Of teIcgraphy
as 9 part Of the postal service, not only
but also it's questionable feasibility under our
political system. The gentlemen intefrogated. with
the exception Of Nm Mr. u Rogers. were then and are
December, 1884, bills were introduced In the House
by Mr.. Kasson and by Mr.. E. b. washburne for the
General These bills did not pass In March, 1868,
Mr. f. b. Washburne again introduced bill for the
win onT Se or
General between New York and Washington, with
offices at any Post once on the line, the
each word exclusive OF address and signature pro-
vidcd that no message shall be sent for less sum
cents for delivery with the right OF reducing rates
IN order 10 compete with private companies n neces
Whenever the union OF the telegraph with the
Post ONCE Department has been heretofore con-
sidered Il has been proposed that the department
should either construct or purchase lines of tce.
graph extending over the whole country, at great
expense, or construct an experimental line between
Washington and New York, which would
have 70 compete with lines extending over
the entire country. These lines would charge
those two places and the experiment would probably
prove failure. This would throw discredit upon
the postal system Neither OF these plans has met
with the approval OF the department. and both ars
open TO many objections. II these objections could
be obviatcd the advantages which viii arise from
the Introduction OF postal telegraph apparent
upon slight examination OF the subject In their
operation the telegraph and the post have many
things In common. Both are for the transmission OF
correspondence. The same ofices, general manage
ment, clerks and books would answer equal
~ well for the reception, stamping, forward
ing, distribution and delivery OF messages
and letters. Nearly ali OF these expenses in-
Cured by telegraph companies would be saved and
great reductions rates made. Great additional