St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-29
Ideas Expressed by the SEN
ators and Congressman
From This State.
A Long Series Of Resolutions,
Which Define the Position
Of the Knights.
The Forfeiture Of All Lands
Granted to Corporations
Strongly Demanded.


lutiOnS were adopted favoring the eS-
tablishment of system of postal teleg-
raph,. For the purpose of finding out,
for the benefit of those interested, the
feeling of the senators and representa-
tives from this district in relation to the
matter, says the Labor Echo, copy of
the following letter was sent to each,
signed by j. +. CrOnin. secretary of the
district executive committee, X. of l.. ::
1.-The Knights of Labor in this state,
particularly in this district, would like
to know your position on the question
coming before the present session of
congress, of a system of postal telegra-
ply to be owned. and controlled by the
government and operated in connection
with the pOStOffice department.
IF you will write me at your earliest
convenience, stating your exact posi-
ton, the information will be appreci-
ated by this body of workers, and will
undoubtedly be of interest to no small
portion of your constituents outside the
Organization
Senator Sabin wrote:
''My first convictions were very favor
able to this theory of government
facilitating our postal and Geographic
communication throughout all parts of
our country, and in theory am still
favorable to the scheme. \ Il Your
Interests, however, and my interests, to
my mind, will be much better served,
for the present at least, by public i'm
pr0vementS, such as the construction of
public buildings, navy and coast de-
lenses. and the improvement of our
waterways, the cheapening of transport
alton to the markets of the world, build
ing up our various Industries and agri-
cultural interests, and furnishing work
at fair wages to the very men you rep
resent, and whose best interests you
desire as I do to promote"
SENATOR DAVIS.
Senator Davis enclosed copies of the
Cullom bill and the EdmundS bill, al
ready introduced, which relate to the
operation of telegraph lines by the gov
ernment, and said:
''If L were required at this moment to
vote for one or the other | should sup
port the Cullom bill. The result will
probably be that the committee will re-
port a bill combining the meritOriouS
features of both. | assure you that any
effort of mine shall not be wanting to
relieve the business public and the peo-
pie generally from the present tele-
graph monopoly"
CONGRESSMAN RICE.
Congressman Rice, after citing the
objections to postal telegraph system,
added:
''On the whole, it seems to me, that
for the present, at least, it would be
wiser to place the whole telegraphic
business of the country under the SUI
pervisiOn of the interstate commerce
commission, to be subjected to such
control and restraints and to such re-
quirementS as the law shall point out
for the welfare of the people, in like
manner as it applies to railroads, and as
it will probably apply to sleeping car
and express companies, all of which are
alike common carriers"
CONGRESSMAN WILSON.
Congressman Wilson expressed him
self as follows:
81 am in favor of taking such action as
may be nee eSSary to prevent either eX-
tortion or discrimination by the owners
of the interstate telegraph lines. or any
use of those lines prejudicial to public
interests; but, not having concluded
what action it is proper to take to effect
this, can say no more at present"
CONGRESSMAN MACDONALD.
Congressman Macdonald answered.:
II am upon general principles opposed
to mOnOpOlieS of any form, and in favor
of controlling the telegraph monopoly,
or any other, in the interest of the
whole people, but as to how this should
be done | have not yet fully made up
my mind, nor will l until [ have exam
ined the different bills upon the subject
and listened to arguments in support of
and in opposition to them.
CONGRESSMAN NELSON.
Congressman Nelson's reply was
brief and to the point. He said: 81
am now and for long time have been
impressed with the conviction that some
radical remedy should be applied to our
Geographic monopoly. With some mis-
givingS, my present impression is favor
able to postal telegraph system by the
government. We're our civil service on
good basis, should have no doubt at
all. We must either take this course,
or put the existing system under rigid
interstate commerce cOntIOl-snch as
the railroadS-but more rigorous and
complete"
CONGRESSMAN LIND.
Congressman Lind replied by sending
copy of a letter written by him to G.
B. Tr0wbridge, of Mankato, relating to
the same question. After lengthy
argument. the letter concludes: LAS
matters now stand, should Judge, that
the only thing that can be done, is to
place telegraphy under the control and
supervision of the government (perhaps
by means of the interstate commerce
commission) and possibly to establish
maximum rates. l shall, of course, sup
port such measure il one in full ac-
cordance with my views cannot be
carried"
These letters were read at the last
regular session of District Assembly No.
70, K. of L., in st. Paul, at which were
present delegates from the various local
assemblies of the state, and a series of
resolutions drafted by j. f. CrOnin, Il.
w. Brosnan and G. II. Lucas. defining
the position of the Minnesota Knights
Oh the question of postal telegraphy,
restoration to the people of coal lands,
and forfeiture of railroad land grants,
were adopted, and were ordered sent to
the Minnesota congressman and Sena-
tors. The preamble to the resolutions
on postal telegraph alludes somewhat
caustically to the expressions of the let
tiers as indicating disposition to evade
the question, advance arguments
against it, or attempt to pull the wool
over the eyes of the working people.
THE RESOLUTIONS.
The first section of the resolution
reads:
| That we demand of congress the es-
Enlistment of such system, either by
purchasing lines already built or erect
ing new ones, and adapting it. by taking
control of the latest devices and i'm
provements i'm the present service, to
the wants of the people. The second
section is in the nature of an argument.
After reciting the various objections to
postal telegraph, it reads: 1--WE do not
believe the increase of public patronage
as dangerous to the perpetuity of our
government. as is the present power of
corporations to corrupt our public SER
wants. We are opposed to
placing in the hands of commission
that power which alone belongs to the
| peOple-the regulation of interstate
commerce." The tkird section of the
resolution diScloses that free and in
dependent press is incompatible with
the present telegraphic service. The