The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-01-20
POSTAL TELEGRAPH.
THE NATIONAL BOARD OF TRADE
Discusses tho Question of Government OOn.
troll of TolsEraph--A Resolution in Fs.
vor of the Policy AdOptsd-A Reduce
uon of the Revenues Demanded.

WASHINGTON, D. O., Jan. 19.-Befort
the National Board Of Trade. Capt, &. @
Taylor, ottbe United States Navy, read ar
interesting pspsr on the progress Of the
work Of the Nicaragua canal and the i'm
portant commercial results to follow IL
construction. Capt. Taylor said that the
requirements OF commerce make 1t Ger.
tain that there will bs transit for chips
between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
The only questions are when, where and
how?
Postal telegraph was the first subject
taken mp on tho regular programme. Mr..
3, B. Thurbsr, Of New York, spoke in
favor Of the Postoftice Department assum-
ing charge Of telegraphic communication.
| He read letter from Kenric B. Murray,
Secretary Of the London Chamber of Com.
merce replying to certain questions pre-
yiously submitted by Mr.. Thurber.
Among the more important questions aud
answers are the following:
Question-Has the result Of the pur-
chase and corporation OF the telegraph
by the government ot Great Britain bsen
successful or otherwise2
Answer-sucCess'u as far as service 10
concerned, but not financially, to the post
Office, The government working Of the
Telegraph has been indeed 80 satisfactory
that public opinion Is now In favor oil
their taking over and working the cables
to Europe, the monopoly Of which Is now
expiTing.
Question-Wns the quickness and csr.
tainty Of the service improved or diminish
ed2
quickness, certainly and secrecy Of the
service have improved under the poet.
office.
Qseslion-Has the increase in the mum.
ber OF employees In the Postotfics Depart-
ment bsen productive Of political evils?
AnSwer-Nune worthy OF being noted.
Slight complaints have occasionally arisen
in regard to promotion in different do.
partments OF the poatoffice, but consider.
ing the magnitude ot the service number.
ing 81, 800 persons regularly employed and
about Al, 900 persons irregularly employed,
1t Is exceptionally free from "political
evils." There have been ono or two agl.
taHons for increase Of Bslaries, one OF
which was puccesslul.
Question-Have improvements and in
yentions in telegraphiC communication in
consequesCs of the telegrRphs being own
cd by the Government ceased or DIM
inished as compared with those previous
TO the purchased by the Government?
Answer-Not altogether ceased, as the
Postoffice Department have in their en-
ploy eminent electricians and engineers,
who introduce improvements annually,
or adopt outside inventions when thought
desirable. The inducemeut is probably
not go great ito invent" as when the tele-
graph were in private hRndP.
Question-Has the recent reduction in
the price OF telegrsphs to 6 pence for
twelve words throughout Great Britain
been Of benefit to the public, and how
much has 1t decreased the revenue OF the
telegraphs and increased the number Of
kilograms?
Answer-It has undoubtedly been OF
great benefit to the public, although the
utility OF the change has been somewhat
detrsc!ad from by the fact OF the address
being counted in the words sent. The
number OF messages exclusive Of railway,
press, official and foreign telegrams-
which are not affected by the reduced
rate and number Rome ten miiiions-dea.
patched in 1857 was 40137,l7 COM
pared with 80 OS7 500 in 1856 The rev.
enue in 1867 WAS 1854, $40 pounds,
against ] ,277, sos pounds in 1856. The
number of messages thus shows an In
crease Of SO per cent, while the revenue
only increased by per cent. This was
the fret complete yesr under the reduced
rate.
Question-Wou the public be willing
10 have the telegraph 90 back into the
hands Of private companies?
Ansyer-The overwhelming, in fact al
most unanimous, feeling would be in
opposition to the return OF private man
agement.
Mr.. Ersstus Wimsn, Of NEW York, spoke
in opposition to government control.
After further discussion, the following
resolution was adopted:
Resolred, That the usefulness OF the
Postofice Department should be extended
in the direction Of telegrsphic communi.
cation, and we urge upon Congress the
earliest favorable consideration OF this
question. "
Resolued, That the executive council be
directed to memorisliEe Congress to pro-
vide for commercial relations with the do.
minion Of Canada upon the bread and
comprehensive principles oil complete re-
ciprocity.
Rs.olGed, That recent events have shown
in manner which cannot longer be dis
regarded, the danger to the business In
teTests Of the country from our Govern
ment continuing in time Of peace the ex
cessivs taxation which was necessary IN
time OF war.
ReSolred, The business men OF all par
ties, whether proteCtionists or free traders
should unite in demanding early action
by Congress to reduce our present enor
nous revenues in way which will lsas'
embarrBss existing industries.
ResOlped, That while 1t is desirable tc
reduce the internal taxes 1t is not desira
bic to abolish the internal revenue sya
tenn Gs whole.