Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1883-08-15
Postal Telegraph.

B.F. HILLIARD, of Washington twp
Postal Telegraph.
The strike of the telegraphers and
the consequent interference with the
business of the country has revived
discussion of the postal telegraph
question. The sentiment of the press
which reflects the opinion of the pub
lie. is generally in favor of the estab-
lishment of Government telegraph
service. Charles Sumner, October II,
1875. delivered lecture in San Frau
cisco on the postal telegraph, wherein
he said that we must look to a Gov
ernment telegraph system as the only
effective remedy for the evils and bur-
dens of telegraph monopoly. One
straight blow of legislation, be said,
and the reform is established and rem
dered as enduring as the Republic it
self. Senator Edmunds, on the floor
of the Senate, and in an article pub
lished in the North american ReUieao,
expressed the hope that the day was
not far distant when the postal tele-
graph would exist in every city and
village of the country.
The report of the special committee
to the National Board of Trade in De-
cember, 1880, after an examination OF
the unsatisfactory service, high charg-
es and frequent consultations of the
company which has enjoyed monopoly
of the telegraph business of the United
States, recommended the establishment
of postal telegraph. The report made
to Congress March 8, 1883, by the
committee on Post-ofices and Post
roads, with favorable recommends
tion of bill authorizing the appoint
ment of commission to examine into
the telegraph system Of the country,
gave full history Of the many consoli-
dations which the Western Union
Company had brought about by the
use Of annoying litigation, and con-
cluded that, although there had been
an increase of the Western Union
capital from $40, ,0O0,0O0 in 1880 to
$50, 600, 900 in 1881, a dividend of six
per cent. had been paid on the doubled
capital and surplus accumulated, thus
proving that telegraph rates could be
reduced by the construction of lines for
cash. The act of 1866 gives Congress
the power to purchase at an appraisal
the property Of companies asserting to
its provisions, among which companies
was the Western Union.
A postal telegraph was established
in England IN 1869. In 1881 the
the length of wires was l21 900 miles.
The number of dispatches sent in 1881
was 31,345, ,86l; the gross receipts,
fI,633,8 1884 expenses, f1, ,305, ,0O6. The
price of message of twenty words to
any part of the United Kingdom is
twenty-five cents, while in Canada it is
FIVE cents lower. In 1882 Mr.. Fawcett,
the postmaster general, seconded
motion in the House of Commons to
reduce the rate for domestic telegraph
ing from one shilling to sixpence In
1881 the Western Union Company
operated 327, Ill miles of wire and
traHsmitted 80, 500, 600 messages The
receipts were $14, 393, ,54385; the ex-
penses, $S,4S5,264.13. In England,
Germany and other European countries
the postal telegraph has reduced the
price per message and proved proGta-
BILE to the Government.
The main objections to a postal
telegraph in the United States are that
it would add immensely to the patron
age at the bestowal of the party con-
trolling the Government, and that a
postal telegraph could only be attained
by the purchase Of telegraph property
whose vsluation has been greatly in
flated above its actual worth. The
Government could build telegraph
lines more cheaply than it could buy
the lines already constructed, but it is no
part of the business or policy of the
Government to injure the property of
individuals by becoming their COM
petitors for the patronage of the public.
Should the Government erect lines in
opposition to the Western Union, as
has been unwisely suggested, the SER
vice and business would both be un-
satisfactory. As it is with the mails
it must be with the postal telegraph.
To be successful the Government should
control the entire telegraphic system of
the country.
But until the civil service of the
United States is so thoroughly pro-
tected from the shifting of political
winds that qualifications, merit, char
acter and general capacity to perform
the work at hand form the criterion
which determines Government ap-
pointments, and until permanence in
office is guaranteed faithful and capa-
BILE Government employees, there is no
assurance that the service of postal
telegraph would not be less satisfactory
than the present telegraphic service.
The way to postal telegraph is
through the establishment Of the civil
service upon the firm basis which
guarantees the successful conduct of
private business.-Philadelphia Press.
Large Shipments of Arms and
Ammunition to China.
Five hundred cases of arms and am
munition were sent from San Fran
cisco last Thursday, on the Pacific