Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-12-05
GENERAL GRESHAM ON POSTAL T2LgG
RAPHY.

The report of Postmaster G eneral
Gresham on the postal telegraph PROPOSE
tion is a surprise to the country. 1t was
thought ne would make some positive
recommendation. But he carefully re.
Trains from doing So though he sets forth
an argument establishing the power of the
Government to establish postal telegraph
and completely refutes the position taken
by DR.. Norvin Green on constitutional
grounds. Perhaps Gensral Gresham is
wise politically in not committing the Ad-
ministration, so far as his department is
concerned, to sry certain scheme. The
Democracy has control in Congress, and
upon It let the responsibility fall of re-
spending to or refusing the demand of the
people for transmission of postal intelli-
gence by telegraph. The General sets
forth in brief each of the several plans pro-
posed, TO wit E; acquisition of existing lines
by the Government construction of new
lines by the Government creation of a
SCAAt PAM ~ WHICH ilhtn VI tSltSIdpu are
to be run to each State Capital and other
places, thai company for privileges granted
to transmit postals for stamps affixed at
agreed rates. In response to the consti-
tutional objection the General clearly
shows mat the Government has the power
under the post-road clause and the author
ity to regulate commerce between the
States, and to make laws necessary to carry
expressly granted powers into execu-
ton, to introduce a postal tel
egraph system as part of
the general postal system. Forty years
ago a committee of the House reported
that the improved means of communica-
ton might be lawfully awaited of by Con-
gress, and as late as 1875 House Ju-
dietary Committee arrived at the came con-
clusiou. So, too, the Supreme Court of
the United States in Pensacola Telegraph
Company vs.. Western Union Telegraph
Company, held that the powers granted to
Congress by the Constitution were not
AAAh4lNNA ~ AlAS vi ppoNdl
zion known at the time of the grant, but
that they must be held to keep pace with
the country, and extend from horse and
rider TO the stage coach, to the steamer
and to the rail-car, and now to the tele-
graph. The General reaches the conclu-
sion thst Congress has the power to en-
gage the telegraph in the work of mail
transportation. He reaches the sam point
attained in that respect by Mr.. Hubbard
in his recent exhaustive paper on the ques.
ton in the North american ReUie,0 Even
Independently of the Act of July, 1856. the
Government has the power, says the Post.
master General, to exercise the right Of
eminent domain and appropriate property
TO enable it to perform its proper functions.
From the earliest times it has been con-
ceded that Congress possesses the power to
absolutely prohibit the carriage of letters
on post roads or parallel thereto, and so if
it should adopt the telegraph as a branch
of the postal system, it could prohibit all
competition. The Supreme Court has held
thSt the telegraph is an instrument OF
commerce, and as such subject to
the regulating power of Congress. 1t
bears the same relation to commerce as a
carrier Of messages that the railroad com.
psny does Sc carrier OF packages. To
carry out any Of the plans proposed, says
tha Eanara1 mill ipvnl,s . ,...t III. +
money and the engagement OF multitude
OF employees, and thus add largely to the
patronage of the Government. ANY in.
crease of that patronage beyond what is
absolutely necessary is to be deprecated,
as it is one of the dangers that menaces
the purity and duration Of our institutions.
de asks the question if in times of great
political turmoil there would not be dan.
ger of the lines being selfshly used for
partisan purposes by the dominant
party? But il they could be kept
entirely free from such control, he
says he would still hesitate TO advise that
the United States should become the pro-
prietor of lines and operate them by their
agents. As to the chartering of COM
psny, as suggested by some, to carry mes.
.sages on contracts with the postal depart
Tnent that plan is free from some of the
objections raised. 1t would, however, de.
snAnd an increase of postal employees. The
plan Involves new policy that the Gen
eraI does not feel at liberty to recommend.
Taken SIS whole. the report is sntago-
nistic to any ection regarding the postal
telegraph at this time. There are objections