The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1882-02-07
a NATIONAL TEHEeRAPH.
4 EsitI Introduced in GOn gres-
rs Place Wire. in Gov
ernIHent Charge.
RGEtiniore Hera'i .

A bill has been introduced in congress
by Mr. Ford, of Missouri, to place the
telegraph business of the country under
government control and management,
making it exclusive, like the postal busi-
ness. The bill provides the condition
of purchase of existing lines by ap-
praisement, and fixes the tariff at
twenty-five cents for twenty-five words
for 1000 miles, and five cents for each
additional ten words, night messages
to be transmitted at half rates, and
press kilograms at special rates.
| No doubt this bill will meet with
strong opposition, which will come in
part from the monopoly interests, and
III part from those nervous people who
are afraid that too much power may be
lodged in the general government. The
arguments of the latter, however, will be
| like the arguments of all. 1t is curious
to note how suddenly some people grow
patriotic when proposition that looks
| like centralization is made, who are per-
fectly happy and contented under the
dominion of private or irresponsible
corporations. They are afraid of a pa
ternal government, of even so mild q
form; but they rather enjoy the master
ship of monopoiies. 1t is to this class
that the monopoiists appeal when any
remedy is proposed for the wrongs
under which the people suffer from
soulless corporations.
With the splendid success OF our
postal system before us, it is idle to talk
of the superiority of private service of
this respect over public one. We can
easily imagine what the postal service
mould horo Lan,, IL
private management; it would have been
what the express system is, what the
telegraph system is-a mine Of wealth
for few and burden upon the many.
No private Institution would have car
ried letters across the continent for
three cents, and even one; but the gov
ernment does it, besides carrying tons
upon tons of free matter, at a loss of
only S2,000,000; and the system will soon
se self-supporting.
1t may be urged, among other things,
that the government has no right to
take their property away from these
telegraph companies. Perhaps not. But
it has a right to prohibit the transmits
sion of intelligence by telegraph except
over government wires, just as now it
has the right to prohibit the carriage of
letters except by government mail. If
it offers to buy the old lines at an ap-
praisement, that is favor to the compa-
nies which they may accept or not, as
they choose. If they do not, the loss is
theirs. 1t may also be urged, or it has
been, that it is unfair to those whose
brains, labor and money have been de-
voted to the establishment and promo
ton of telegraphy to deprive them of
their legitimate profits. But these are
not to be deprived of anything.
Those whose labor, money and
brains are now devoted to tho
of telegraphy receive upon
an average about $100 a month; they
would not receive less under govern
ment. Those whose labor, brains and !
money were devoted to it in its infancy |
are dead, and they didn't die very rich,
either. The rich men now connected |
with telegraphy derive princely incomes
from it; they contribute nOtf ing to it.
Besides all it should not be forgotten
that If was the government purse that
opened to make the telegraph n success
when private capital was shy, as it
Usually is unless the Investment is a
sure thing" Mr.. Ford's proposition is
rot new, but it will be fought harder
han it was before, and every effort II
le made tn give II shape adverse to pub
lc interests. Government management
S worth more and will cost less THAI the
,est adv ,sory commission that can be
reated.