The New York herald., 1872-12-20
THE POSTAL TELEGRAPH BILL.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:--
The bill as reported by the Senate Committee at
the last session OF Congress charters new COM
pany which Is to contract with the government
to do the public and private telegraphing Of the
country at certain fixed rates prOp0rtioned to
distance. which on an average are, we believe,
fully one-third less than the rates now charged by
existing companies the whole to be under the
supervision Of the Post ONCE Department, and
every message to have three cent stamp adixed,
which will inure to and help postal revenue now
seriously interiered with by numerous telegraphic
messages sent in substitution Of letters This plan
does not increase the number Of government off,
cials or patronage-it simply places under the care
OF the representatives OF the people the tele-
graphic correspondence OF the public, in the same
way that the written correspondence is now
placed. The bill seems carefully guarded In so far
that the capital shall only represent actual expen-
ditures I'm other words, there shall be no watering
OF stock), and when the net revenue reaches ten
per cent on capital the tariff on messages shall be
Admitting, as we think every impartial person
will, that the telegraph is fast assuming as Inn
Interests OF the country as the mails ever did, we
ask, Is 1t safe to leave such tremendous power
IN the hands ol any private corporations without
the supervision ana control OF the people through
The position Of the telegraph companies Of the
country is now somewhat peculiar. They consist,
the Western Union, the Atlantic and Pacific and
the Franklin. Wherever these lines compete the
not Compete the reverse Is the cssehish charges
long delays, and In case Of non-delivery or mis-
takes in messages inOivility and rudeness are the
charge for single message from Boston to New
York s thirty cents, while from places less distant
that are not competing points the charge ID ffty
The Western Union-now much the largest COM
pany-having swallowed up most OF the lesser con-
lions to forty, has avowed its belief through Its
spokesman Ia the House Of Representatives
panies~Atiantic and Pacinc I INA and W FRANK %
ana ana i,ssly ~. soon % = become sssaes; ssnTsSps;;
the Western, Union-whlch will again water its
stock-governed BY . private and irresponsible
the a SSua es and TTssds Of the
hands OF a private corporation extending to the
farthest limits OF the nationf Do they understand
that every message private, public, political or
stock gamblers, with headquarters in Wall street,
who may use this tremendous engine, almost as
Even pow through its CONTRACT wsn
the Associated Press, large part OF the news
papers Of the country are in the hands of the
" western union, limited monopoly though 1t be at
the present moment.
BY Its contract with the Associated Press the
latter agree not to employ or use any other tele-
newspaper that does so employ other lines. At
the present moment the press Is practically muz-
zled upon this important point, and we hear not
word from 1t, except in depreciation Of government
interference Let this monopoly 60 on to its natu-
raj sequence and what shall we have when they
have absorbed the other liness A power almost as
great as the government ITSELF to be used for DO
litical or financial erect In the interest OF the
managers for the time being, responsible only to
the stockhoders, who, as we have seen lately in
right themselves when unscrupulous directors
chOosO to hold on to ONCE.
1t has been urged that 1t Is placing too much
power In the hands OF the government to give It
charge OF the telegraph. Why is not the same
argument used against the government controlling
the mailss What government can exist or be OF
use to the people when business 80 vital to the
general interest Of the country is to be controlled
BY private corporation and, as has lately been
the case the use Of its telegraphic lines refused for
For ourselves we would much rather take our
chance OF fair dealing from government ema-
mating from and directly responsible to the people
governed solely by their own private interests
or that OF soulless corporation. To doubt this
ment and the responsbty the rulers to
the people. But no such plan, Is proposed BY
the senate report Il ts 70 incorp6rats COMPANY
with guarantees for its good conduct and fair deal
with railroads for transportation or the mails. \
matter placed In charge Of one railroad corpora
lion, as, for example, the Pennsylvania Centralf
Tom Scott would soon attain to the office he is now
States.
Leave the telegraph where it is soon to be and
you have an 'tspe'7,n . tn anperao" and the ONCE
In point OF power and money, be more desirable
than that OF President OF the United States and en-
tirely beyond the control Of the people;