The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-01-26
Grnnt,s Greatest.

This is preeminently the age Of jobs,
but it has remained for the President
of the United States to endorse one, be-
fore which all othero, San Domingo in
cluded, "pale their Intellectual fires;" we
refer to the postal-telegraph scheme re
commended by Grant in his last message
to Congress. AS this subject will prob
ably be brought up for consideration at
an early day, we desire our readers to
be acquainted with its merits. 1t is
proposed to buy all the telegraph lines
of the country and place them under
the management of the Post. Office De-
partment. The cost Of these purchases,
although very large, amounting to
some 10000, 900, is but minor mat
ter compared with the subsequent ef-
fects which would be produced by plac-
ing these lines under Government
sway. The President gives as reason
why these lines should be purchased
the probability that "the cost of tele-
graphing could be much reduced" and
the business transacted equally as well
''if not better" than in private hands
We believe the people pretty generally
understand that the Government
always pays more for labor and materi-
ais than individual operators, and that
the chances are more decidedly in favor
of an increase than a decrease of expen-
ditures. Again, there would be no
privacy in messages all would be un-
der the direct espionage of the admin
istration through its employees. 1t is
hardly necessary to dilate on the power
which this would confer in cases of
closely contested elections when the
Democratic candidates would be COM
PEELED to abandon the use of the tele-
graph or expose their plans to unfriend-
ly criticism. This is perhaps the
strongest objection which exists. Grant,
with that foreknowledge of paying in
vestments which forms so strong a
point in his character, has already pur-
chased telegraph stock in anticipation
of future emoluments. This alone
should condemn the plan.
Another strong argument against the
scheme lies in the fact that it would be
placing in the hands of the Administra-
tion powerful electioneering weapon
The number of Offices in the gift of the
President is already enormous but who
could estimate the number which would
accrue to him, should these purchases
be made? Thousands upon Thousands
of new Offices could be erected, and
men appointed to fill them, their po-
sitions depending upon the sotes they
cast. Miles of wires could be put up,
whether necessary or not, for the pur-
pose of providing situations for the hun
CRY office seekers who besiege the White
House. The salaries of these multitud-
inous employees, the cost of erecting
and maintaining the lines and number
less incidental expenses would come
from the pockets of the people, and this
too on the problematical reduction
only, OF the rates for sending messages
We have seen enough of the uses to
which this Administration can put any
means placed in its hands, to know that
this job If carried out would become a
political engine to be used in controll-
ing elections and the Democracy would
actually be paying the salaries of count
less officials all working with what zeal
is in them to secure the triumph Of the
Republican party.