New-York tribune., 1872-04-29
XI.up CONGRESS-2D SESSION.
SENATE W WASHINGTON, Saturday, April ~ i''z'

XLllD CONGRESS-2D SEsSloS.
SENATE .... .wAsHrYGToN Saturday April ~ i''1'
THE POSTAL TELEGRAPH
Mr.. RAMSEY Rep., Minn.) called up the ros'ai
Telegraph bill reported by him from the eComn'''o VII
Postoffces and Post-roads some days since.
Mr.. RAMSEY, In explaining the BILL said Inc rates
under the present eeaph system arc hgh
and the facilities for using It, except IN cucS ao
limited; while the business Is unrcgilatcd by any UNI
form or competent law The ownership ana cOhtro are
centralized In the hands of The same parties
direct the Western Union Telegraph Tompany, tae
NewYork Central line TO tho West the Union racine
Railroad and the Atlantic and Pacific Telegraph Com
pany aordng the greatest instance OF the
OF power OF private parties that the world
has The object OF the bill now Dciore tne sen
ate TO reduce and simplify the rates 20 ,he he
Capitalization OF power so dangerous To tne Interests OF
telegraph so that it be welded neither by an ndi-
vidual, however wealthy and errat, Dy c9rpopoJ,n
The bin recognizes the telegraph instrumeniaty
for the exchange Of correspondence, 10 esaDllsnes
p and delivery Of kilograms through the post-ofices
and their transmission by parties under confirms. lor
SYSTEM the Offices In the country are at railroad sta
ions, which are not like the post0ices, located only
with reference 10 the accommodation OF the people
The first section provides for the establishment OF
postal telegraph Offices posoiices on or near the
fines of telegraph, when the gross receipts are 800
year. and at such other places rs the need OF pSess @
may require. IL will not close any Office, but II VIII add
thereby afforded is Illustrated by the English system
Nineteen hundred postal teel raph offices have been
railroad stations continue but the postal Offices
much more convenient in all respects TO the puoc that
el per cent OF tho whole number OF messages are 1o
warded from thc and only per cent from the railroad
stations. ~
equal distances comparison OF the proposed Win the
present from Washington will show the reductions
hc present day distances under $50 miles Is 80
cents postal rates cents, being reduction of 3t per
cent distances between $50 and 900 miles the present
rate cents postal rate 80 cents, reduction 50 per
cent For distances between 800 and 1000 miles the
E.rd dstuu he
present rate is 81 A. postal rate ST. reduction 6S per cent
FOR distances 1850 miles the present rate Is s
postal rate 81 90, reduction 70 per cent.
Under the present system 10 free words are allowed e&
elusive of the ADDRESS and .gnaturo under the postal
system 25 words including address and Signature which
allows Oh the average 8 free words, making gam OF 80
nr cent Te rates in the bill are based on the report Of
the War Department to the Postmaster General, fixing
the be paid by the Government foi lts tlegrs
nation to be 45 per less than the rates paid
yet high enough to allow small profit THIS Is as great
OF the difficulty OF providing for the increase OF business
the reduction Of the rates The second section pro
vdes also the of the amounts received Tor
teegrams there delay or mistake IN their Trans
mission registered elegrans which VIII have pr-
ory OF transmission on prepayment OF douDe tates.
For purpose of reducing the expenses by simplifying
the and for the purpose OF securing me nyi-
olaby OF elegams. the third section provides lor the
prepayment OF telegrams by stamps, for furnishing
and slammed paper nmG lor ns o 6y
mail instead of keeping the originals and letterpres'
copies indefinitely.
orders between money order offices Tho lith section
relates " the transmission OF cOiinecia ana press
news 1t the for "specials" AT about half the
present charges, and gives every association ana paper
right at xcd prices. instead OF leaving the
at the mercy OF the telegraph companies as now
is. IL authorizes every paper 10 have private wire
leading directly from the Office OF is corresponding 70
the Office of the paper operated by its clerk,
thus removing the possibility OF Inspection OF the news
The bill was then laid aside. -
Mr.. COLE rep, CALI moved to take up the Naval
Appropriation bill. Adopted.
Among the amendments reported by the Committee
and adopted is the foowing For surveying in the Pa
ci0c, $4,000. .
Mr.. SAWYER offered amendment appropriatlns
5000 for comparing tables Of planets discovered by
American astronomers Adopted
The bill having considered In Committee Of the
Whole, was reported 10 the Sonate. The bill lad
aside and tAc Post-Ofce Appropriation bin taken up
AMI read the second De aud uninportant amendments
agreed to- The senate then, without further actoI at
y. n., adjourned