Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1872-01-16


Of the tariff duties in legal tenders, would de-
stroy tie demand for $50 100000 in gold per
annum, and would still leave the Government
with its large coin reserve, in apositlon TO
meet all its engagements, and II would so APP
preciate the legal tenders as 10 make resump-
lion safe and easy for the Government and
people. II is recommended that you memo
rial Congress in favor Of the payment Of coin
for all its debts.
POSTAL TELEGRAPH.
The President, in his late annual message,
recommended to Congress the adoption of a
government telegraph system in connection
with our postal system. II would seem that
this recommendation ought TO receive the APP
prOyal OF all parties, except such as now con-
tool the transmission Of the intelligence Of the
country by telegraph, and the gamblers and
stock jobbers by whom the telegraph Is now
so largely used, and whose occupation would
be gone If il was made so cheap and reliable
as to be within the reach Of all. Though the
telegraph system is an American Invention,
and the character Of our people and country
is such as TO make il certain that under equal
w favorable circumstances, It would be used
here more freely than in any other country
the fact is that there is hardly any civilized
country on the globe where the telegraph 10
used so little by the masses as In the United
States. Ia Europe nearly fifty per cent of the
messages are upon social and family matters,
while in this country the same class OF mes
sages scarcely reach five per cent, and IT is
evident that our country is TO be about the last
enlightened country to receive the full benefit
OF that wonderful invention The opposition
to the assumption by the government of the
telegraphc business Of the country, is based
upon three objections:
lst. That II will tend TO largely increase the
patronage OF the government and The concen-
tration Of power at the national capital.
ID. That il will place all the social and
business secrets Of the public in the posses
sion Of the government
81. The great expense that the adoption of
the system would entail upon the government
and people.
All these objections, in my opinion, are
groundless. The connection otthe wires with
the posto nices, will not add to the number Of
postmasters. II is true, that in many offices,
the postmasters would be compelled TO employ
one or NOR operators to assist them in the
discharge oil their duties, but the Inauguration
Of the new system OF Civil Service Reform,
will insure the appointment of telegraphers
on the ground OF their fitness alone, without
regard 10 their political Opini ons, and they
will only be removed for cause. In Europe,
women are largely employed as operators, and
are found to be very capable aud expert in the
discharge Of their duties. If that system
should be adopted in this country, no doubt il
would open up employment for large mum
Der of women TO obtain an honest livelihood
Nor would it be cause oil regret to see one
branch Of government employment opened to
them, which they can eli with advantage 10
themselves and the public. That the social
and buaiuess secrets OF the people would be IN
the possession o. government officials, is not
a serious objection. Telegraph secrets must
be in the possession of somebody Is it not
better tina; they should be in the possession of
persons controlled by efficient and stringent
laws, than as now, wholly without law and
virtually wholly irres possible? One great
objection to the present system IS, that there
is no responsible party 70 whom the public can
complain, for a redress OF gaieVanCes, with
any hope Of success The expense attend ant
on the adoption of the system, has been great
" exaggerated. Better than the existing lines
can be built for Sl0,000,000. Nine-tenths Of
all the lines in the country are controlled by
one company, which, having watered its stock
many times, is now represented by nominal
capital of over $l0,000,000. It's understood
that a majority Of the stock is held by one
man and his immediate friends, so that in
truth, the power Of transmitting Geographic
Intelligence is in the hands Of one man, aud
lac the largest monopolist IN the country. Can
a worse Capitalization OF power be imagined?
Less than one year ago the stock OF that com
pany was worth in the stock market less than
80 per cent. on lis watered capital, which was
its full value as dividend paying stock, and
the present quotations at more than double
that sum, in no way represents its true value,
but simply an intention 10 impose upon the
government in case II should determine TO buy
the lines. II the government cannot buy ex-
listing lines at their fair cost, It should proceed
at once TO build new lines. Lines covering
all the territory now reached by the telegraph
could be erected for One-iourth OF the nomi-
nal capital now representing the lines. That
sum raised upon five per cent. bonds would
involve an annual expense for interest OF
S50O,0C0, which sum would be met from The
net earnings Of the system in uniform tariff
Of % cents for 20 words, TO any part OF the
country. The Government has given upwards
OF $4,000 900 TO a Pacific railroad, involving
an annual expense for interest OF S3,00O,OOO,
and men in Congress voted for Il who now
cry out against the expense of the postal tele'
graph. The difference in the propositions is
that the one is for the benefit OF the whole
people, virtually costing the Government moth
ing, while the other was for the benefit OF
cOmpar alive few, and imposed heavy annual
burden upon the people. The experience Of
European and other countries, fully justiies
the statement that the system here would be
sei-sustaning. Republican Switzerland was
the first countryto adopt il, and The result is
that for ten cents a dispatch Of twenty, words
may be sent 10 any part OF the country, and
yet at that low rate the system is not only self
sustaining, but a source OF revenue TO the
government. The same may be said of Bel
GUM. Even cold and sparsely settled Nor
way am Sweden are far in advance Of us, for
there, for twenty-eight cents, a dispatch of
IL ha q, niara n
those countries, without imposing any burden
on the Government Great Britain was the
last European country to adopt the system,
which she did IN February, 1870, IN the face
Of the most bitter opposition from the tele-
graph companies. The result has more than
justified the predictions Of the most sanguine
friends Of the measure. That government
has now the most perfect telegraphic system
in the warld Al uniform rate, prepaid BY
stamps, Of one shilling for twenty words, the
business has more than doubled il has paid
all expenses and returned large revenue 10
the Government, so that a reduction OF tariff
10 six pence for twenty words has been prom
ised at anearly day. In Australia, country
vast 10 extent and very sparssy peopled this system
has been adopted and self-sustAning and At uni
form rete 81 one shilling, dispatches Of twenty
words may be sent from extreme OF the country
10 the other. Believing that this will large
~ Ma ~ the material interests OF the country pro-
mote butiness and friendly intercourse, aud bind ths
Union together In intimate and friendly reia-
tonsand that the people desire satisfied ~ an
thdt the telegraph will only be reliable institution
and brought within the reach Of the masses, in th
hands OF the government, recommend that you me
tnoralize Congress IN favor Of the recommendation
the President.
have thus brought to your attention such matter
regard as important Y the welfare otthe state
The people expect 81 you rigid economy IN expendi
ures and that All public officers be held IN strict &C
countability.
with grateful hearts 70 the Divine Rnlsr OF N
world for all the blessing We euioy. and hrm reh
auce on Him for our guidance andeupport let pro
coed 10 discharge the duties imposed upon us by tn
cGDWALDADER @. wAsHBURS.
MgdIsou. January II, lsY9