The Portland daily press., 1888-01-09
GOVERNMENT TELEGRAPH.
Senator Hoar on Congressional Con.
troll of a Great Monopoly.

WORCESTER, Mass, Jan. Tn accord
ance with vote of local assembly 1858,
Knights of Labor of this city, Mr.. James H.
Mellen wrote to Senator Hoar for an ex-
preston of his views respecting government
ownership and control of telegraph lines
Senator Hoar replies as follows:
UNITED STATES SENATE
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Jan. 8, 1888.
My Dear Sir: have received your letter IN
curing on behalf OF the local assembly No 2353
Knights of Labor, my views in regard to the pro.
posed establishment of government system OF
telegraph. must, of course, reserve my right 10
vote upon any bill which shall be proposed In re-
lation TO this Important subject as shall seem to
me in accordance with my duty to the public after
examining the Pin, and hearing the argument IN IN
stating to you my fpresent opinion. think the
existing monopoly Of the means of telegraphic
communication in this country is one that should
not continue. i think Congress has ample power
to regulate the prices and conditions Of the tele-
graphic communication among the, States and
with foreign countries, as 1t already has exerted
the power to regulate transportation among the
States over railroads. think that it unquestiona-
bly, possesses the further power to construct ma
tional lines of telegraph at the public expense
ana operate them, as II now establishes post
Offices and post roads and takes charge of the pos
There are, hover, two serious difficulties which
need to be overcome. First, there is danger that
in times of great political excitement or strife the
government may abuse its power over private
correspondence of the people if 1t has charge OF
the telegraph Letters sent by mail are sealed,
and very severe penalties are enacted for the Of
fence Of opening them by public officials or other
persons before they reach their destination; but
two public officers at least, one at the station
where the message is received, and the other
where it is delivered must know the contents of
ever telegraphic-transmitted message. This, In a
time of civil strife, or great and bitter political
controversy, is most dangerous power te be pos
sesSed by tany government, and one TO Which the
free spirit of the American people will never sub
nit The second difficulty is the necessary in
crease of political patronage, with which the exc
cntlye is clothed already to far TOO great degree
The abuse Of the power of appointment and re-
moval from office for political objects las been q
subject of complaint by our wisest statesmen and
thinkers, from time preceding the inauguration
of Mr.. Jefferson. 1t exists in undiminished force
today, except far as the hands of the executive
are now tied by statute passed during the last
Republican administration. No executive ever
so abused this power OF appointment and removal
for political objects as the present executive has
abused it within the domain of his existing legal
power. To give the government oi the United
ST lte the sole control Of the telegraph would re-
quire large addition to the number Of offices to
be appointed by the President and the heads of
departments, numbering, according TO varying es-
Inmates of persons who have carefully examined
the subject from o,000 to 100, 900. cannot as
sent in the present condition of public sentiment,
and with the present habits of the political par
ties, to add this vast number OF political officers
70 those whose tenor is to depend on executive
flvor.
If measure can be devised in which these two
objections can be obyiated, / should cheerfully
support the plan of having a postal telegraph
managed and controlled by the government, do
not now see my way clear TO give 1t my support.
shall, however, gladly receive any suggestions
represent, as / shall fiom the eminent gentlemen,
now in public life, who have given attention to
this subject. Hoping that way may be found to
overcome these objections, | remain. very iaith-
10 MI. James II. Mellen representing local as
sembly 1858, Knights of Labor.