Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-02-09
Postal Telegraph.


In a recent article on The Govern
ment and the Telegraph, Senator Cul-
lom makes his points ably and clearly
and pretty ,effectually disposes of the
arguments urged against his bill. We
have all along believed that the Postal
Telegraph system would place too
much patronage in the hands of the
dominant political party. In answer
to this, Senator Cullom urges, that this
objection has not prevented the extern
sion of the postal service and will not
in future. "The telegraph" he says,
sis properly branch of the postal SER
vice and there is no more reason to be
alarmed at the increase of officials
from the addition of new branch than
from the extension of branches now in
operation. 1t requires special training
to be telegraph operator, and these
places could not be given in reward for
political service as is the case in post
Offices" In many instances the tele-
graph operator will supplant the post
master. If the government gets con-
troll of the telegraph, rates will be at
once reduced, and as consequence
telegraph messages will often take the
place of letters. The telegraph, as a
transmitter of intelligence, is surely
part of the postal service. What the
public wants is cheap rates and expe-
ditious service. If postal telegraph did
mean larger patronage, if it gave ten
cent rates, instead of seventy-five cent
rates, the public would be apt to choose
the lesser evil. 1t don't make so much
difference to the average man. whether
a democrat, republican approximations
ist or mugwump operates the tele-
graph, as it does how much he has got
to pay for that operation. The chief
cry of civil service reform is ''fitness
for Office regardless of party" A tele-
graph operator must know his business
thoroughly and his political convictions
would be matter of small Importance.
The Western Union company cries out
against monopoly, which is the old
story of the pot and the kettle. Govern
ment telegraph will force the one man
monopoly to competition, will reduce
rates, and extend telegraph facilities to
every place in the United States where
there are postoffices, thus placing the
telegraph within the means of every
citizen. The Western Union could still
carry on business but it could no longer
extort exoritant charges and deliver
messages at its convenience. The
United States is the only civilized ma
ton in which the telegraph is not under
government control and the advantages
of the postal system are clearly proved.
In Great Britain the average charge for
the transmission of a telegram between
any two points is sixteen cents. The
Cullom bill rates are: Ten cents for
each message containing twenty words
or less, counting the address and sigma
ture, but not including the date, for any
distance less than 500 miles, and for
distances of 500 miles an additional
rates of five cents for each $50 miles or
fractional part thereof. For messages
of more than twenty words an addition
al rate would be charged for each word
in excess of twenty words as follows:
s'For any distance less than $50 miles,
one-half cent; for distances of ESQ miles
and less than 1850 miles, three-fourths
of cent; for distances of ], 250 miles
and less than 1850 miles, one Scent; for
distances of 1850 miles and less than
$500 miles, one and one-quarter cents;
for distances of $500 miles or more.
one and one-half cents. Lower and
special rates are made for newspaper
dispatches If the Western Union
can furnish better rates. let them pro-
duce their figures. We are not in favor
of extending the functions of the gov
eminent, because we believe that every
thing ought to be in the hands of the
government, but because in this instance
we believe that the people will be bet
ter served than by private enterprise.