The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1870-01-20
POSTAL TELEGRAPH.

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II Hon. G. G.. Washburn of Wisconsin delivere
speech in the House of Representatives
Washington, on the 22d day of last December
upon the subject of Postal telegraphs. TIL
speech is replete with statistics and facts, evi
dencing deep research and close study OF TIT
subject by that gentleman. The position which
he holds-that the Government should TAKE
control of the telegraph and make it a part O
the postal SYSTEMS one which will meet will
hearty response from the people, and we
hope that the proposition may at an early day
be carried into effect. Mr.. Washburn, in his
able speech, refers to the telegraph system in
Switzerland as it operates under Government
management, the result of which brings the
telegraph within the reach of all classes of cit
liens on account of the rates being greatly re-
duced-One half franc, for twenty words being
now the tariff charged for transmitting dis
patches from one place to any other point in
Switzerland.
In Belgium the same policy has been pursued,
and Great Britain has recently, by an act of
Parliament, taken possession of all the tee-
graph lines in that country, and, by reduc-
ton of rates, brought the use of the telegraph
within the reach and means of the majority of
the people. But this matter will not be ac-
in the United States without Il &C.
we're struggle. 1t is admitted on all hands that
Congress is governed by the corporations aud
Dvergrown monopolies in the country. and that
the whole body of the legislation of that cor
rupt assemblage is shaped in the interests of
1ondholders and miionaires who control aud
'urn, in speaking of the opposition 10 the pos
al telegraph system. winch vii! come princi-
'ally from the Western Union Telegraph Com
'any, says:
monopoly welding nominal capital Of nearly |
~ million dollars. having thousand, ot intelligent
Employees scattered all over the country with whom
Communication can bc had ~ Auy moment: u mo- /
opo!y that dictates terms - tie newspaper press ,
al compel :! - Sign contract a.lys ANYTHING
. appear IN ia columns er.,!cs.He the telegraph
4Ay not be a'Y cEol "liA impuEa!.
II is difficult matter 10 contend successfully /
Sa'''Ss u htIs+At to9 poIaRluy OF ANY klIu. tut
lorc particularly Is this the case with railroad
nd telegraph companies When the press. in
rdcr 10 get the dispatches. slca contracts such Il
! stated b! NJ. WasAburn-at lcas; those pa.
lpcrs belonging 10 the Associated Press. OF
ciudcd within that ''rug''-it is 4 Difficult,
after for the people 10 form at, estimate Of
y ''''" P'"'''''" - Inc Telegraph mo-
POI! o' ''' 'N' S0'J''' !" or proper! ven
1'e' before Tie people as 'he leading papers :
lac '''"'F! belong |" that a'soc'a''on. aud i
'"'"'''S |" AT. "as"o"Fn are under contract .
=" '"' 'f''RFaPo co:npah! not 10 a.."" any 3.
'"e 70 appear J" 'ae'F columns "'!t@cls'ns the j
engagement OF thAt institution, silence The ]
rs ana Inc people are then hep; ~ the DARK =
70 '"r oppression a"i Wholesale c1tor:son y
Ae'''" .! t@''e s"'"d1"s monopo'ies We n
o'e '"F'a'F from Mr.. ashbuTn's speech ~
'7'' 4""c app ~ Illustrating The condition y
""'''' q INC telegraph Under tn" manage
~ u monopoly: =
Arrin ,d ,snb -, a., ' t'e ' - was O
'e' "ero tic hrs' t" adopt 'hA; measure n convey II
to enjoy the iuil lcsca,s a ,h~, wandcrfI -.
h,n. - -, 49, i9 fe,.nh te asA1e@ thA' ''Io
caFa'e. uncertain. and ;aFdy IN transmission and
Isucd by all other civilized ha.,ons ia, The SAM