The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-03

THO Tele8Rupa ana inc 6Overnm0uss
The Capitalization Of power In the hands OF
individuals Of vast wealth or Of wealthy COR
porations is the tendency Of the age, and may,
unless carefully watched and checked, provo
more injurious to the interests and liberties Of
the people than political despotism. In no
case are there greater evils to be apprehended
than from the telegraph monopoly. Railroad
corporations or combinations may tax the
public enormously for travel or transportation
of freight to pay dividends on inflated stock
on stock watered three or four times over, and
raising 1t several hundred per cent over the
original cost Of the roads-but this Is not as
great an. evil as imposing q heavy tax
upon the business communications, social
Intercourse, news and intelligence Of
the whole community. Yet this Is
SO under the existing telegraph monopoly.
The tariff of charges is based upon stock
three or four hundred per cent in nominal
value over the capital actually expended. One
great company has absorbed nearly all the
other telegraph companies, and by this skilful
combination has been enabled to charge what
over it wishes The power Of this one is 80
great that hardly any other can exist. Com
petition is out Of the question. The people
have no remedy, for they must use the tele
graph, and are compelled to pay whatever the
monopoly demands. Neither State nor fed
eral laws can reach the monopolists, and the
public has no protection.
If this business were like the ordinary BUSH
ness in trade or commerce, where people can
have their choice In dealing, whore they can
make their own bargains or transfer their Gus
tom from enc place to another to suit them
selves and their pockets, government interfe-
renee would be out Of the question. Or if the
business Of telegraphing were merely local or
limited in its operations the argument against
government supervision or control might have
some reason in it: but It is as extensive as the
republic, intersects every State and Territory
and involves the interests Of every citizen. It
is as broadly national and general In use as
the Post Office. In fact. the time is near when
it must be used as widely and as much as the
mails are, and when it will, to very great ex-
tent, supersede the postal service. How absurd,
then, to suppose this mighty agent of every
day life, intelligence and civilization can remain
in the hands of an irresponsible private mo-
nopoly! How ridiculous to talk Of It's being
under the control of few individuals! The pub
lie interests demand that the government shall
take possession of and control the telegraph.
It is folly to talk of the vested interests of
few men and stock spectators when the well
fare Of the whole community and cheap COM
munication throughout every section of the
country are in question. Besides, the gov
eminent will be under the necessity of
connecting the telegraph system with the
postal service soon, or the latter will
become heavy burden upon the Trea-
sury. With the progress of telegraphing
the Post Office in less than ten years will not
pay half the expense Of supporting it if the
telegraph be not under the management Of
government. As to the argument Of the
present telegraph monopolists that the rate of
charges could not be materially reduced under
government control, that Is all bosh. They
make the business ray well on stock
watered three or four hundred per cent. We
are satisfied the rate Of charges need not be
over q third of what It is now under proper
government management. What vast saving
this would be to the public Congress should
at once adopt the necessary measures, either
by purchasing the existing lines at fair valu-
alton, based upon their cost, or establish anew
and general system Of its own. This is one of
the most important and necessary measures Of
the time and should be taken up without delay