Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-02-06
DAILY posT-IHTEluGEHcER.



AoovReHm9NT TgIDeeApo.
7, = reeant inesevtoV on the sub5ecs
n poetal sslseraphy Senator Edounds'
- hss introduced bill in the Senate
urovidine for Q Government telegraph
exurssped his views at considerable
leneth. Senator Edmonds IL conceded
% b ths best lawyer in that body. and
probably upon questions Of conssifo'
tional Law his Judgment will have ~
much vsieht - that Of any man IN sns
rJui>sd States. Thsre are but two quss-
tions which can arise under the propo-
.iHion 10 establish postal telegraph.
Piref the enthusiastically of such .
~..e.rs. and, second. the question OF
uub,ie pslicy. A to the e''nss'totiosai
,o~er Of Congress, Mr.. Edmunds avows
hiu,sslf satisfied that il has the right TO
10 what II proposed in the bill, under
thu ureyisions relating to war, post
oAsoe and finance. Before the commit
e. - whom the bill was referred, Mr..
Edmunds, discossine the que ssion OF
policy, argusd that - the National and
eHase (3oysruments were Instituted 70
pronots the public welfare, Congress
especially may do whatever appears y
b. for the general welfare. Upon that
principle the Post Ofice Department
vas eetablishsd, eomusroe Ia regulated
a,d money ooinsd. The telegraph ~
more nsosssasy 70 the country in time
At var than in time Of peace. 1t 10
yastly important to oar military estab-
Kehmsnts, to the welfare Of the coun-
tsy, The happiness Of the people. In
short. instantaneous interc0mDunica-
ton between citizens, relatives and
friends In distant parts Of the country
On subjects Of domestic solicitude'
such % sickness and dssth, and evcry
spssiss Of family intelligence, have b.
come necessities. From these facts thu
Senator areosd that the policy Of pro
vidine for this means Of communities
ton, within and according to the con
Stitution. seemed plainly and perfectl,
established.
Regarding the complaint Of presen
telegraph companies, that their business
vould b disturbed BY competition, Nj
Hdmunds deslsred such objection no
veil taken. His bill does not prohibit
- in tho postal systematic transmits
sion Of intelligence by private partie
through lines owned by themselves, ant
open TO public business. 1t merely pro
vidss for the public q cheap and relia
be method Of ntsroommunicatio
Telegraph companies which afford equa
facilities will only Be injured ny divi
sion Of business. He takes the groun'
that the government incorporate. l
would when established not stand Il
any different relation legally toward q
istinG telegraph companies than voul,
. nsW company OfRanized upon privat
capital. The only difference would b
in its power Of self protection that j
% ny, that whereas private individ
uM OF corporation may be I" squeezed
q !" frossn ous" BY cutting down rates
or bought up. or pooled with. 30 a. h
create An actual monopoly Of telegraph
10 ssevios, rival companies could not x
sssvs the government, nor thus oonspis
70 Asscs The people. He declared d Il u
eorpesation should have the power +
absolutely AZ the prices Of intelligence
e 70 decide what kind Of intellieenc
shall 70, whom II shall 20, and unds
who's control. The BEST interests o
~ country demand that any spplianc
With which IL welfare IL 20 intimatsl
eouneeeed - Ii the instantaneou
transmission Of intelliesnes, shouI,
b "subjeot 70 no censorship. to n
corporate man's viii, 10 NO question
q bow u - going 10 Affect stocks
% The Standing Of corporations, or o
persons, but IL should be free to al
ne0, - the post oflice IL, and sub
jost 70 no moro espionage than IL th'
pat ofaes." Il u at this time essen
tial 70 The interests Of the United State
and growing moro and more % in con
nsotiou With great social questions an,
tie a0gregAtions Of vast susus Of none,
under corporate power, that this buai
men shoold b taken in hand BY tn
government On the constitutional priu
sipls stated should be undertaken in
dspsndently and subject 70 NO contract
a. arraneemeuts With pArties.'
senator Edmunds anticipates no pra<
tioal difficulty With the operation Of
0ovssnmsnt system Of telegraphy. Ih
''rub" viii come al the starting Of OPEL
atoms Resistance to entry upon land
or ~ Of particular operating maehir
cry viii. e II occurs. b made BY th
ovnsrs thereof 1t the instigation of u
'eofporstion that nov has control q
the telegraph businsss." 1.-The tug
said. ''woald probably come in the Ar,
stx months With injuncsions sll ovt
The soansry - fast ~ vs try 10 do an,
thing; but the moment that fight
onoe done With, u will mot happen ono
Agar. that any dispote vill 90 70 u
OsaEt At Claims in regard 10 coupena'
t3ou." senator EdmunAs has no fait
n Obtaining The pcsssns linss BY o.
tem Of negotiations or coadsmnatio,
Thsss y no tribunal 70 whom hs woul
b WILLING 10 intruse THAR appsaissmsn
Hi taea h that when the 0overnmer
Aad bailt 5000 or 600 ,ailss, and thu
~ It, sysesso IN operation shs era.
eoss could b asosrtainsa, and Il miel
I'm b oppoEtuns 10 propose purohas
Ct existane lines ct j1ss valuation. b
wants he experiment tried. So Do th
psople. Il y usslsss 10 attempt 20 bu
eAene unss nov, because ''ths Telegram
nooopolists believe they have the
hana On The throttle and that no bi
YIN b got through Conersus. lei
perhaps TOO much to expect that Hses