The New York herald., 1869-02-25
POSTAL TELEGRAPH.

appellants.
POSTAL TELEGRAPH.
Adverse Report Of the Committee Post
Offices and Post Roads-None Of tue Plans
Proposed Considered Advisable or Practica-
ble-ArGument OF the Committee Against the
System.
WASHINGTON, Feb "a, 1869.
The House Committee on Post Offices and Post
Roads have rendered an adverse report on the seve
raj schemes OF Mr.. II. b. Washburne, Mr. G. G. Hub
bard and Mr.. J. r. Hall, for the establishment OF
some postal teegraphs.
The committee began their report by careful an
alyss OF each OF the three bills under discussion,
and followed it up by the general considerations ap
plicable to the whole subject aud the special obiec
tions to which each OF the proposed measures are
open.
Mr.. Washburne's scheme is TO establish four
wire experimental line from Washington to New
York, to be operated in connection with the Post
ONCE Department by persons wholly in the govern
ment employ. The bill fixes uniform tariff OF one
cent a word, exclusive OF date, address or sigma
iure with five cents additional for postage and de-
livery. 1t appropriates for the construction OF the
line $4,000, which IN an accompanying paper MI.
Washburne thinks ample to construct the line and
10 sustain IL until II becomes setsupporIing. if
Successful and remunerasive to the government the
lines to be gradually extended into all parts OF the
country. Mr.. Hubbard asks for the passage OF law
which by one act OF legislation should create q
new branch OF pubic Service the postal
telegraph system, and also grant charter TO him
self and his associates the United States Postal
Telegraph Company, authorizing them TO .erect and
maintain lines OF telegraph all over the states and
Territories with the right to enter upon and occupy
post roads and routes, across the public domain,
navigabc rivers. &C. The bill fixes the tariff OF
messages at maximum of twenty cents for twenty
words, including date, address and signature, for
each distance Of 500 miles or fractional part thereof
ys cents 70 p aeasS aor postage ana ae,ef ~
everything but supply the wires and other telegraph
machinery, which are to be supplied and operated
by private parties under contract with the depart
ment, at rates not exceeding those specified The
receipt ana delivery OF messages ofllce room, fuel
lights, blanks stationery, bookkeeping, the supern-
tenderce Of the ines, al o be at the expense OF
the government. The contractors are to be required
only to establish lines and do business at towns hav
Ing population OF 5000 or over, though the Post
master General may open Offices Of any railway
stations and al smaller intermediate places. Both
the corporation to he created under the act and any
existing company may bid for the contract and in
case no better offer Is received the United states
company is required to accept contract az the rates
established If the same Is rendered by the rostnas-
ter General within SIX months from the passage OF
the ac,. on penalty Of forleiting their Charter.
Mr.. HALLS bill, introduced by Mr.. Van Horn, OF
New York. is for the construction OF line between
Washington and Boston, under the direction OF the
Post Onice Department, ihe line TO be built by Mr..
Han and his associates over and upon any llBc or
Of travel by posi- Office road, or otherwise by
rallroad and the bridges OF all kinds over streams
and rivers used, that may he used mall routes
OF the United states; and that said party or parties
sall be protected IN the construction, erection pre-
servaIion and thereof upon the lines or routes
above designated, said line lines TO be built OF
metallic poles aud air cables The tariff between
any two points on the line to be one cent word,
counting date, address and signature. The owners
OF the line are 10 have the right to import any ma
Lerias suitable for rbe construction aud working OF
II, includng poles wires instruments, NC, free OF
duty. After three years successful operation OF the
line the government is required to buy il at It's cost
and seven per cent interest.
with regard TO the general subject of assuming
troll OF the telegraph the committee advert to the fact
that In the infancy OF the Invention Professor Morse
offered II TO the government and experimental line
was established between Baltimore and Washington,
operated by The Post OfIice Department; that upon
the working or this line and the proprety OF assun
ing the business the Postmaster General at The re-
quest OF Congress, made an adverse report and the
business tnereup0n remlitcd to the hands o the
people and the legislation OF the States, After
lapse of more than twenty years. when the system
had grown to vast dimensions under the authority
and protection OF state laws and by force
Of private ,sa energy and capital ne subject -
an application for private act to incorporate
a telegraph company. and also by the Introduction
Of bill TO create postal telegraph system. These
propositions received the fullest attention and ell
cited much debate. especially IN the Senate. The
opinion OF Postmaster General Dennison was again
invoked, in lsf5, and he reported against the
auPuration OF the proposed system OF tcleRlaphs.
as part OF the postal SYSTEM not only because Of ~
doubtful financial success but also iis questionable
feasibility unaer our political system. yhe result
was denial OF legislation NJ q private persona
anu iDaSSaEc oi Htncfui cNtenu-
ing TO all telegraph companies then existing. or
to DC IN future created by state laws,
rights Of way over the public domain
our post roads and routes and across navigahle
rivers, upon condition that they should grant the
privilege OF use of the line to the government
officers on pubic business ut rates to besixed by
the Postmaster General; and alse agree to sell their
entire hines and property TO the government at an
appraisal as any time after five years. All the lead
lug companies accepted THIS act, and are now sub
ect 10 Its ohligattolS and In two years from Jny,
1862 the government will have the right to take the
lines and property OF any or all of them at an ap-
pralsal ols their falr value at the time OF the up
pra'sal. The purpose of this act was obviously To
The telegraph control management ny u.
congress refused to interfere with the legs-
iative control OF the business heretofore exercised
uniformly Nv the States for the reason that H both
Congress and the state legislated about lt there
would be an unavoidable conflict OF jurisdiction. On
the otber and they extended 10 corporations created
Dy tte states certain valuable privileges on condition
that tue government might at future time, " de-
sreu 70 assume the business. obtain possession OF
thc property ny paying q fair price Ion IT, The act,
Wuen accepted. created q compact between the
government aud the corporations. and the reason
amle construction o that compact is that during the
peiiou the obligation the government should do no
act whicn would impair the value OF the property over
Whch u hed the Suspended right OF purchase such
compact as TINS, II between private parties. would
We enorceu IN It's spirit and In its letter by Tue
courts ana Congress viii not deal less Justly with
cu,.ens than the lawtequres them 10 deal with
earh othcr. ibis mode OF acquiring The tclegraphc
properly ana business In precisely that pursued by
belglnH anu Lnglaud, which acquired 1t by negotia
pen apd purchase of private companies.
Mt- Wasliburnc'a plan Is not calculated 10 sn6
cceu Ior several reasons. The Appropriation Tor
Is rntteiy inaheqIl4e. TIE Bankers and Brokers'
iine Y . substanty built -four wire line between
cores oFds TO the proposed experimental line Of MT
NaAhuInc. The capiias stock OF that company is