The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1884-03-15

| AhVJ Ohly Watb bntOuBn tuO nlhhJ
The coming of the May.
There is no death An angel form
Walks DER the earth with silent tread
He bears our best loved things away,
And then we call them "dead."
The Postal Telegraph.
BOssier Banner.
The Postal Telegraph bill, or bills,
rather, for there are several of them
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 postotfices 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 the part Of the
government, and no authority is given
for the exercise of such, even by impli-
cation, except in case of war or some
great emergency. Our theory of gov
ernment is to allow the people the
largest liberty consistent with good
government. The latter has no right
to interfere with the legitimate bust
ness of the former, so long as it is
carried on without injury to the peo-
pie and, of course, does not conflict
with rights of the General Govern
ment. Many millions of private capi
tai are interested in the telegraph bust
ness throughout the country aud many
thousand people get their living in its
employment. Now, to make the gov
ernment postal telegraph system remu
nerative, these private enterprises will
virtually have to DO broken down or,
at least, badly crippled. Is this good
policy, and is it justified anywhere by |
our Constitution and laws! The gov
crnment could, with the same right
and propricty, soon monopolze all the
railroads, steamboats, and other kinds
of business it thought proper, but
would it be wise or polite to do it?
Now, if it has the right by postal
telegraph system to crowd out all
these private enterprises with the mil
lions 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 performed
for the government or directed by
government agents costs the people in
the long run great deal more than if
done in the interest of private indi.
yidualS. In this case in order to make
telegraphy cheap for everybody, it is
proposed TO virtually break down all
private enterprise in that line, depre- ,
ciate tho great many millions of prop
erty involved, and take away the
means of living of many thousands
who are now employed throughout the
land, and after all and at last and
least, at tbs 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 deductiug expenses Timothy
will get but mere triae while Paul
and Peter with their families and re-
Iainsrs will be left dependent. In
short, while professedly in the interest
Of the people, will this new postal tel
sgraph system, conducted and con
rolled by the General Government :
With its army Of officers, not be a c
greater tax and curse to the whsIe
people and country, than the lines
low, and to be established, which con-
stantly operate as check upon each
other and by competition will eventu-
lily supply this important demand
cheaper than it could be done by the
government, and at less risk to our !
public morals as a natiOn2