The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-12-15
Postal Telegraph.
Reasons for Adopting the syIism--HhAt
Congress Should DO In Order 10 Re-
dnee the Rates ON Messages and News.

Congress Should no In Order TO Re-
dnss the Rates ON Messages and News
The President Of the Western Union
Telegraph Company, in letter to q
New York paper, says 1.-THE Herald
is probably correct in assuming that
further reduction in rates will not be
made by the companies now doing the
telegraph business for some time to
come" The Western Union Company
have adopted some uniformity in their
changes within a few years past, and
made few other reductions in their
rates to the great benefit of the public
and Of the company; but the public
are under no obligations to the COM
pany for making these reductions for
President Orion, in his annual report,
informs his stockholders that they were
forced upon them from the competition
from opposition companies. They have
recently purchased the principal oppo-
sition lines, and have reduced their
rates so low that the remaining COM
pAnies are unable to make any money.
Now that this great monopoly Is free
from all fear OF competition, they an
nounce that they will make no further
concessions in rates.
That the company Rre able to make
further reductions is shown by the facts
given in the annual reports. From
these II appears that the rates have
been reduced nearly one-third in six
years, yet the cost Of doing the business
is so much less, in consequence Of its
great increase, that the net profits are
greater At the lower than at the higher
rates. Mr.. Orion has 80 often reiterated
the proposition that the expenses in.
crease in nearly as rapid ratio as the
business, and therefore reductions in
rates cannot be made, that he has per.
suaded himself OF its truth, and is
unable to appreciate the force OF the
facts which we have given.
Mr.. Orion truly says that the tele-
graph is only in its infancy; The
growth OF its business is much more
rapid than that Of the express or post
office, and at the same ratio Of increase
til , number Of kilograms that will be
annually sent ten years hence is larger
than the number OF letters sent when
the postage was reduced to five cents.
Tho immediate increase in the CORES:
pondence that followed upon the use OF
the five and three cent postage stamp
was enormous, rapidly increasing from
90, 900, 900 to 5OO,000,00O. There will
be the same increase in the tolcgrnphic
correspondence II the same relative re-
ductions in rates were made for the
same causes would operate TO produce
like effects. The people cannot hope
for such reductions from the Western
Union Telegraph Company, because
there is now no reason 10 induce 1t to
make them, and because the loss OF net
revenues from the great reductions in
rates necessary TO popularize the tele.
graph weuld DO greater than the saving
OF expenses on each telegram from the
great increase in the business. Such
reductions can be made under the post
al telegraph system, for that will save
nearly one.quarter OF the present ex-
penses, and would therefore authorize
reduction in rates Of nearly forty per
cent, and yet leave sufficient profit on
the greatly increased business.
The Postmaster General will ask Con.
gress to purchase all existing lines Of
telegraph, and build the new ones re-
ouired for the business. The expense
Of purchasing these lines has been esti-
mated by committees OF Congress ut
from siO,OOO,OOO to s70,0OO,0 900. 1 do
not think Congress will feel disposed,
in the present conditioned our finances,
10 authorize such an expenditure, es.
pecially rs the object sought can be
accomplished without any expense to
the government.
Tie Post.oillce Department will fur.
nish the offices and the Postal Iele.
graph Company will transmit the mes.
sa8es at rates fixed by Congress.
II the people desire to have cheap
telegraph, and to have the news fur.
nished to tho press Mt low rates, they
must support the postal telegraph sys.
TEN, and urge Congress to pass bill
authorizing tho Postmaster General to
contract rs he now contracts for the
carriage OF the mails. II, on the other
hand, they desire toperpetuate an over.
grown monopoly, which is every day
growing moro powerful, then let them
cohtinue the present system by which
single private corporation controls the
telegraphic correspondence OF nation,
and has the power to give or withhold
news to the press, md to mold public
opinion in It's own interest. Such
power is too great for any private com
pany 10 hold, and should be in the
hands OF the people, to be used only for
their benefit. -Nicdgo Inter- Ocean.