The New York herald., 1869-01-19
THE GOVERNMENT AVID THE TELEGRAPH.
Strong Argument In Favor or the Postal
Telegraph Of the Government.

fFrom the Boston Traveller, Jan. 1871
There Is not more important question before the
country than that which relates to the proper
management Of the telegraph, and the opinion
that government should take charge Of that great
business OF carrying letters, Is daily growing
stronger. The reasons for this are not OF recon-
dte n nature: % Il clear i that the telegraph never
long az shall be controlled and managed as It Is at
present and as 1t has been during the quarter OF
veyance OF intelligence public and private at rates
that shall make the telegraph as useful ana as low
has ~ ae rg y tns Posi once now E ana az
sending letter . few hundred miles was really
enormous-so great. In point Of fact that bad mer-
chants charged at the same rate for bringing goods
rom foreign countries commerce must have come to
O close. But we have changed all that, and now we
get our letters at rates far lower than 1t would have
seemed possible to get them in the last generation It
s no exaggeration to say tnat threelourths OF the
ancient prices paid for the conveyance OF letters have
been abated, taking the world over; and the con-
dti0n Of mankind has been vastly improved in con-
sequence Of this great abatement or the cost OF
carrying out one OF the most valuable OF the pro-
cesses by which the race IL elevated in the scale OF
being. NO one can fairly appreciate what has been
done 10 tins regard who i not aware how loud were
the declarations that low rates OF postage would be
ruinous TO all concerned and that the mail service
would come TO an end were the reformers to have
M tneir E way. Rut they DID have their way and with
What has been ddhe in relation to the post once
should De done IN relation to the telegraph. The
cost OF telegraphing Ii simply enormous and 1t
ought no longer to be borne with; and 1t should
the less be borne with because the effect OF the
charges made IL TO favor the monopolizing spirit
in the worst possible manner. To be moderate in
expression We VIII go no further than to say that
Of the present charges for teierlapnIn. could be
done away with Were a Jndicious system to DE
adopted. Others 90 further than this, and probably
by Mr. Ramsey to the United States senate, Ito In
corporate the United States Postal Telegraph Com
IA na Section e sMene q . ssgss y
that the Postmaster General shall offer to the
pany to make . contract TO transmit messages by
MESSAGE OF twenty words figures, or less and Ave
cents for each added I've words or ngures or less
Sa an ss n m s
other messages. Tho gentlemen whose names ap-
pear IN the % first section Of the bill !Messrs Gar.
Howe) are OF high character, and they are
not persons to engage IN any enterprise which
they do not understand or OF which they have
not counted the cost; and yet they are ready 70
accept the terms above quoted, ana they would we
are very thrive t n CARVING on the r business IN
are 30 much lower than the present CHARGES that the
saving to the host Of persons who EMPLOY the tee.
telegraphng business would be gigantic; aud the
largest profits to the company w0uld proceed
from the increase OF business ann an increase that
extortion, which Il reprc1sive OF business and
which prevents the telegraph from becoming what
promotion OF the welfare OF all Should 'fhe United
States Postal Telegraph Company" be chartered and
ACT under contrncl Win Rovernnent-for we assume
that government must follow the example Of a.
most al other governments, and take the telegraph.
1t has the post once, into its hands, and run
itn-it will hourfsh but IL VIII not 1ourish at the
cost OF the country, but ~ consequences Of doing
good 70 the country by placing q grand instrument
for human advancement within the reach OF every
one who shall desire to avail himself OF beneficial
labors. Such q company would not have any OF the
0dious features OF corporation as the terms under
which II would exist would place it at the
control Of the government, which itself is at
the control OF the people. The attention OF
the people is earnestly invoked 10 this makier. In
order that the opinion may be made up IA con-
centrated In favor OF the proposed change, "a
change that must take place. and which ought 70
take place ct once, as every day OF delay In making
II involves heavy charge upon the country.
hearing the subject win be had on Tuesday next
January 10, before the United States Senates Com
mittec on Post Of1ces and Post Roads when It IL 70
behoped, the matter viii be pushed vigorously.
what Is most needed IL that the business world
should be reused TO . full and clear conception OF
the necessity that exists for the bringing about the
reform desired. The teeeraph's proper concerns
us all, as all are concerned In the proper manage
ment OF the postal service; but II most closely
Germs the business world that the change sought
should be made at once. made thoroughly and made
Ia accordance with those liberal and eDlkGbtened
principles that characterize age and In the tri-
umph Of which the followers OF commerce are
peculiarly interested.