New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-12-19
eminent to regulate the management of State
affairs.
THE POSTAL TELEGRAPH SCHEME.


THE POSTAL TELEGRAPH SCHEME.
One grave difficulty IN fighting successfully
a lob like that of the Government Telegraph
is that it will not be kept down. 1t comes up
to disturb the public mind as well AS private
values with undying persistence. The House
Committee on Appropriations are now consid-
ering this scheme. and the chiefs OF various
telegraph companies are called 10 tes-
tify before them. Their evidence Is all
against the wisdom, justice, and expectancy
of consolidating the telegraph system OF the
country in the hands of the Government
The President of the Western Union Teie-
graph Company representing the largest or
ganization of its KIND, made sharp ana
vigorous argument against the PROPOSE
ton. He objected to the misunderstand-
ing about the terms relative to sending
Signal Service messages being seized upon
as pretext for the advancement OF
scheme which is founded on misap-
prehension of the facts and is buttressed by
figures and statements which are utterly un-
fair and unsubstantal. For instance, the
Report of the P0stmaster-Genefal puts the
cost of the telegraph property OF the country
at $4,000 O0O-an easy way OF jumping 10
desired conclusion; but it is shown from
the same estimates which Mr.. Cres-
well quotes so complacently that the
telegraphs of the country could not be replaced
for less than 23SOOO,O0O; and Mr. Chester,
the Postmaster Generals authority, puts the
cost at S18yOOO,OOO. We do not pretend to give
the real value or cost Of the property; but it
is evident that no trustworthy estimates OF
deductions can be taken from such "a hopeless
mass of contradictions rs are presented IN TINS
| official document.
The popular argument used by the adyo-
Gates of this plausible scheme is that 1t VIII
cheaper telegraph rates and make the wires
accessible to the people; but in reply IL IL
argued with force that 39,OOOOW OF the
100000 people of the country never use the
telegraph at all; cheaper rates will not greatly
draw them to it's use by what right does the
Government propose to tax the country to
maintain a telegraph system for the benefit OF a
few. while thousands of citizens lack the com
moncst necessaries of life7 Gould any more
striking evidence of the centralizing tenden-
cies of our times be imagined than this at
tempt to compel the United States Govern
ment to buy and maintain telegraph lines all
over the Republic for the use of compare
lively small class of persons1 The proposition
is direct leader to another not more prepos-
terous-the purchase and maintenance OF al
railway lines by the Government.
The TRIBUNE, ever since this insidious
scheme was preached, has steadily opposed II
with arguments which have not yet been sue
cessfully met. 1t has had more recent Occa-
sjon-on the publication of the Presidents
Message-to restate its objections to any
such proposed transfer. Aside from any
considerations of injustice to the own
ers of the lines which may be con-
templated, the scheme is undesirable and mex
pedient. 1t would reinforce the present army
of Government employees by many thousands
it would centralize in n governmental bureau
the enormous business of the commercial in
| terests of the country, well as the sensitive
! lines which reach out into every community
| IN the land: IT ,rnulh odd ola
| nent of strength to the already overgrown
control governing power; it would turn
over to the Post0llice Department, which has
inefliciently managed the mails and their ma
| chinery, q system OF telegraph wires which re-
! quires the finest discretion, the most delicate
handling and the most prompt attendance OF
any known to modern times. Beside these
considerations. those of mere cheapness have
nothing more to do than the beauty of impe-
rial Paris had with the stability of the lmpe-