The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-02-28
The Postal telegraph.
Bellevue, La, Feb. q, 1884.

/
before Congress, is just now attract
ing considerable attention throughout
the country. These bills propose that
the General Government shall organ
ize telegraph system in connection
with the postofices throughout the
country. While in favor of any sys-
tenn that will benefit the people, there
are some important questions con-
nected with this new departure which
ought to be considered. There is not
the least doubt but that the trainers
of our Constitution never anticipated
such high privileges on part of the
Government and no authority is given
for the exercise of such, even by
implication, except in case of war or
some great emergency. Our theory
of Government is to allow the people
the largest liberty consistent with
good government. The latter has no
right to interfere with the legitimate
business of the former, so long as it
is carried on without injury to the
people and, of course, does not con-
flict with rights of the General Gov
eminent. Many millions of private
capital are interested in the telegraph
business throughout the country and
many thousand people get their living
in its employment. Now, to make
the government postal telegraph sys-
tenn remunerative, these private en-
terprises will virtually have to be
broken down or, at least badly Grip
pied. Is this good policy, and is it
justified anywhere by our Constitu-
ton and laws? The Government
could, with the same right and pro-
priety, soon monopolize all the rail
roads, steamboats, and other kinds of
businessit thought proper, but would
it be wise or polite to do it? Now,
if it has the right by postal tele-
graph system to crowd out all these
private enterprises with the millions
invested in them and throw out of
employment the many thousand poor
men, women and children under its
employment, it has the same right to
build opposition railroads and en-
gage in any other kind of business
now conducted by private individuals
or companies. We have already more
offices than the government can con-
troll with credit to the administration
in power. The new postal telegraph
would nearly double its now over one
hundred thousand employees. 1t is
also well known that any service per-
formed for the Government or direct
ed by Government agents costs the
people in the long run great deal
more than If done in the interest of
private individuals. In this case in
order to make telegraphy cheap for
everybody, it is proposed to virtually
break down all private enterprise in
that line, depreciate the great many
millions of property involved, and.
take away the means of living of
many thousands who are now employ
ed throughout the land, and after all,
and at last and least, at the expense
OF the great mass of the people whom
they propose to benefit. After all it
is like stealing from Peter and Paul
to pay Timothy, and after deducting
expenses Timothy will get but mere
trife while Paul and Peter with their
families and retainers will be left de-
pendent. In short, while professedly
in the interest of the people, viii this
new postal telegraph system, con-
Quoted and controlled by the General
Government with its army of officers,
not be greater tax and curse to the
v, whole people and country, than the
lines now and to be established.
which constantly operate as a check
upon each other and by competition
will eventually supply this important
demand cheaper than it could be done
by the Government, and at less risk
to our public morals as a nation