The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-09-23
THE POSTAL

It ia to be hoped tfat the defeat OF SEM
ator Hill. of Colorado, may not brig
about the end of the agitation in behalf OF
a Postal Telegraph. Through the persist
ence and strong arguments presepted by
Mr.. Hill, and especially by his mastery
report as Chairman of the Senate Commit
tee on P~ostofices and Post Roads, he had
made so much progress that the estao'
lished monopoly, the Western Union Tele-
graph Company, felt very shaky. Inc
figures he presented, all based upon facts
developed by the examination of experts
before the Committee, showed how unmer-
cifully the country was being bled to enable
that great monopoly, with more than $780,
600, 900 of watered stock, to earn dlvl-
dends upon this capitalization. He demon
strated that with a capital OF more than
$50, 900. 900, the actual cost OF the plant
was only about 2O,OOO,O 900, and that
consequently the people were compelled to
pay from so to rs per cent. more than a
reasona BILE rate for the Transmission Oh
messages. He made SO strong a showing
that the Government is now doing it's busl-
ness on contract on a near approach u
the figures given by the Senator in his re-
port.
The subject is one of vital Importance to
the whole nation. It is one that affects IN
a serious manner the commercial circles OIL
the country and the private citizens as
well. The question at issue is, shall the
Government give us a cheap telegraph sys-
TEN in connection with the postal depart
ment or shall we remain in the clutches OF
a greedy monopoly which, in order to earn
dividends on $50, 600, 600 o fwatered stock,
grinds it's employees down to the lowest
notch and taxes the business world IN a
most outrageous manner?
The Postal Telegraph bill was the most
important measure introduced into Con-
gress since the close of the war. 1t was at
inst an unpopular measure, because it's i'm
portance and scope were not understood,
either by those in authority or by the peo-
pie. Senator Hill had, however, by force
o. persistence and magnificent will-power,
bv a determination, research and enthusi-
asm rarely seen in a public servant, SO i'm
pressed the members OF Congress with the
racticability and desirability OF the meas
IRE that. had he remained in the Senate,
il would undoubtedly have become a law
during the sessions of the mex Congress.
The managers Of the great monopoly real
lied this and being unable to bride or by
other means swerve the Senator from his
course, they joined with the land grabbers.
cattle kings and railroad ~monopolies in set
ting aside the will OF the people OF Colorado
as expressed at the polls, bv defeating Mr..
Hill by the corrupt use OF money and elect
ing instead the tool which served them so
faithfully in the Interior Department.
It is to be hoped that some one may be
found to take Mr.. Hills place in the Senate
to raise his voice against ~monopolies and
to stand between them and the people.
Senator Van Wyck and Senator Vest have
the heart and in some measure the ability
to do it, and We trust that they will in De-
cember take up the work where Senator
Hill left off. The Postal Telegraph bill
should become a law next winter despite
the money and the influence OF the Western
Union Telegraph Company. The Senator
who will be instrumental in it's passage will
find it a monument more lasting and credi-
table than any stones any nation could
raise to his memory.