The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-20

graph; that large additions TO plants have |
been made and paid for out of the current |
receipts, and II the telegraphs haven't |
each year paid the interest on the bonds |
issued for their purchase, il they had been |
credited with these belterments, and with |
the free service to the government depart
mcnts, they would have been able to show
a credit sufficient TO pay the interest on
the bonds, and II they were credited
with the increased service given the
public beyond what the private
companies were giving at the time
the telegraphs were taken over, it would
show an enormous balance on the credit
side; that private companies would never
have tried the experiment OF reduction
in rates. first to one shilling for twenty
words and subsequently TO six pence for
twelve words.
Mr.. Erasmus Wilson, OF New York,
spoke in opposition 10 government con-
troll. He said that in the British post
Office report of 1887, the table OF receipts
and expenses for the years lSS0-Sl TO
lSS6-S7 inclusive show steadily increas-
ing deficit, amounting during the last
fiscal year 10 over S300,000. To meet this
loss the whole population are taxed TO
afford cheap telegraph service TO the
very small percentage Of the population
that ever use il. The telegraph is essen
tally the adjunct OF commerce, and tits
estimated that not more than per cent.
OF the entire population use the telegraph
in any one year, and in the United States
not over per cent. Of the revenues of the
telegraph is derived from family and social
messages. About 8 per cent. Is derived
from news service, and the remainder,
about 81 per cent, is commercial and
speculative, the greater part being the lat
ter. A large portion Of this speculative busi-
ness is for "buckct shops" and poolrooms
where chances are sold on races thousand
miles away. Is IL III and proper that the
whole people should be taxed TO lightcn
the expenses OF 2 per cent. of the popula-
tionY Leaving out the press service which
Is rendered here for less compensation than
in Great Britain, the whole number Of
messages is about a., 100000. This is an
average OF two-thirds OF q message 10 each
inhabitant. As to the quality OF the serv-
ice. all persons Of any experience in Eu-
ropean countries unite in recording the
service on government tclegrams M gener-
ally bad, with no accountability or redress
for even the most fragrant negligence. IL
| is more especially tarly and uncertain in
/
or more systems Of government telegraph
and the rate Of tolls for the message
passing from one country 10 another il al
WAYS greater than for like distances in this
country.
OF the 1900 Telegraph Offices or sta
tons maintained In the United States,
more than two thirds are operated by rail-
road companies, who are obliged 10 main
tain the stations for railfoaS service, 9TH
erwise they couldn't be maintained except
at loss Are these all 10 come into gov
ernment employ
II the British telegraph system, In It's
compact and circumsenbed area, in thor
oughly clear country Il ccnse population,
and with its low salay -, made deficit of
g, $50 600 n year, government telegraph
In the United States with four times lis
length Of lines, aud three aud half the
length Of wires TO maintain, covering an
area Of country twenty times M great, aud
with larger salaries, handling only about
the same number of messages, and adopt
ing the British rate oi tariff would proba-
hly make n deficit OF Sl0,O00,OO0 per an
mum. II the rightiul demands Of taxpay-
ems should require the lines 10 be branched
and extended and telegraph stations 10 be
opened at every postOiiice, the outlay Tor
the plant would run up 10 nearly SOD, 900,
600, and the deficit upon lis operation be
still more greatly multiplied. There
arc IN tho ncighborhood OF 5000 post
offices at which Telegraph stations would
bo needed. Each station would require
an operator, and NJ the larger commercial
ccntcrs. from 200 10 500 employees, with
ten 10 thirty at each Of the intermediate
sized towns and cities. 50 that the
aggregate appointecs would soon cx-
cccd 100, 600. or duplicate in number the
present appOiniees under the administri.
ton OF the general government, all oI
whom would presumably feel bound "a
work in the interest Of their immediate
employers. IL would be- the longest stride
ever made by one act towards ccniralika
ton Of power and a significant step In ihC
direction Of socialism and the theory oI
parental government.
After further discussion the following
resolution was adopted:
Resolved. That The usefulness OF the
posloiIice department should be- extended
In the direction Of tclcgraphic communi
cation, and We urge upon Congrss the
earliest favorable consideration OF THU
question:"
Tho question Of commercial union
with Canada was discussed at some lcngtl
and the following resolution was adopted.
Resolved, That the executive council
be directed 20 memorabilia Congress Il
provide fer commercial relations with th,
Dominion Of Canada upon the broad anc
comprehensive principles OF complete 70
ciprocity."
, The discussion Of the question of the
! abolition or reduction Oi the internal rev
enue tax occupied n large part Of the alter
7 noon session. At the close of the discus
= sion the following resolutions wcr'
adopted;
"llcsolvcd, That recent events hay,
; shown In manner which cannot longc
I be disrcgardcd the dnugrr "a the business
+ interests Of the county from our govern
} mcnt continuing, In time Of peace, the cx
ocssiyo taxation which was necessary ~
I time Of war. A largr surplus IN the treas
ury ties up the circuhiing medium, which
! is the lifo-bloOd Of commerce, exposes th,
Z people 30 still greater taxation In the shap'
Z Of high rates OF interest, acts menace 4
, industry, dwarfs business enterprise, give,
2 the trcasurya power over commerce whicl
I was never contemplated, aud Is constant
temptation 10 extrayagance In the admin
y isifation Of our government
: Resolved, That the business Of al
. parties, whether protccti0nists or irc'
D traders, should unto In demanding earl
: action by Congress ~ reduce our prescn
= enormous revenues IN way which vii
: least cmbarrass existing industries.
Resolved, That While Il Is desirable 4
D reduce the internal lAxca, u is not dcsira
, bic 10 abolish tho internal revenue system