Omaha daily bee., 1883-08-08
THE POSTAL
How THE Chicago Tribunc's' Propo'
sition Is Rregarded by the Press
Its Advantages to the
Public.
POSTAL ~TRLEGRAPHY.

O|IHCenOluerS, the lear IS CillleTlcdl'f lHc
country would never know, by any inter
ference with public affairs, that such an
army existed. The people selected for
the service would necessarily be experts.
They could not be displaced by wholesale
at the change of every administration.
Besides, the new ivil-service-reform sys-
TEN would apply to them. They would,
therefore, be under ne temptations TO
take an active part in primary packing
and convention running.
NO VESTED RIGHTS IN CANADA.
Montreal Witness: We trust that the
government will come TO a decision at
once in favor of the proposal-which they
have had 80 long under consideration-to
establish a telegraph system in connect
ion with the postal system. 1t IS to be
hoped that the people will urge upon the
government the immediate necessity of
doing so without a~pprehensions as to any
distractions which stand in the way OF
n cheap undertaking OF the work.
LET THE GOVERNMENT BUILD.
indianapolis Times: 1t is said by some
that the government ought not to come
in competition with private citizens. A
sufficient answer to that is that the gov
eminent has the exclusive right to carry
the mails. The same argument was used
when it was proposed to carry small pack
ages through the mails and to introduce
the m~oney-order system, yet the govern
ment did not see fit to buy out either the
express companies or the banks. The
government could build new lines
cheaper than to buy the old, or cheaper
thar individuals, for it would not be re-
puired to purchase the right of way, as it
has the right to use any post route, and
all railroad lines are post routes. The
govern nent has the money to build with,
and it ought to have the control. Then
the people and business interests of the
country would not be under the dictation
of a monopoly.
II PUBLIC N II TELEGRAPH.
st. Paul Pioneer-Press On the other
hand, the objection which has always
been most unansw erabla is in u fair way to
disappear. The lion in the path has been
the matter of patronage. The fear that
the telegraphic service would be used t.
intrench a political party in power has
fought more powerfully against it thar
any other consideration. This argument
looses it's force in the presnce of n system
of civil-serviee reform already in oper
alton. With the rigid application of thai
to the service, and the repeal of the foul
years, tenure, the political objection
would have but little force; and besides
the nature of the occupation, required
skill and previous training, would make
it less liable to the abuses of rewards ant
appointments for political reasons.
GOVERNMENT AS A REGU
LAToR.
New York Herald: The proposition
which finds most favor does not look to
government telegraph monopoly at all
We need not and should not follow blind
ly European p~recedents. The British
government bought out the private tele
graph companies and paid, as is nov
known, much more for their wire
r and other property than these wer
worth. That is a plan which would sui
the telegraph m%onoplists here very well
but to that the public will not consent.
The planfavored b ySenators Edmunds
/, Sherman, and Platt looks to the building
of an independent government line, to b
operated as an adjunct to the mail service
, There is nothing improbable about that
e nor would such a government line driv
out or take profitable business away fror
y private lines. The government line woul
=" enable a person to telegraph a letter in
stead of sending it by railroad; tn
telegraphed letter would be delivered i
the ordinary course of mail delivery at it
point of destination. This would be
great public convenience; but it woul
. not supply the business and pressdeman
y for the utmost speed, and the privat
Y companies would still have their lines flu
of business. Only the competition {
!, government lines would force them
" reasonable rates, and, what is even MOI
Dc urgently required and less attainab
under the present private monopoly,
accurate and quick transmission an
rs delivery.
POSTAL TELEGRAPH.
Worcester Spy; Another propositic
to is that the United States, without int
~ fering with the property or franchises
:, the existing companies, should esta
u lish its W lines over such routes as co
gress may direct, and doa telegraph bun
ness in connection with the postal sc
vice, not to the exclusion of but in col
r. petition with any private corporatio
n now i'll existence or what might be esta
ng lished. Such a postal telegraph, wi
ch rates fixed 80 as to meet all the cure
IL expenses with a low rate of interest
wv the cost of the lines, would provide
on permanentcompetitor Of the private line
,rs compelling them in order to cecure II fl
I'm proportion of the business to serve t
he public Mt moderate rates, with spec
so accuracy, and civility. 1t would Il
on probably prevent them from earning
in fair profit, for its believed that ofiic
he management, with its greater formalit
ess its subsection to laws and regulations l
mt readily changed to suit changing con
&C. tions, and without the stimulus of pr
led ate interest, cannot adapt itself SO well
are the popular requirements as that Of
a., private corporation can.
W. Enterprising local agents wanted IN t
I'LL. town for an ~orticla that ia SIRE Ia "a