The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-21
ABOUT TELEGRAPH LINES.

There 4 Que feature Of the proposition 10 csiab
lish a Government telegraph which has escaped
ecneml attention. and which has not been dis
cussed 20 the extent which u deserves. The
schcme Of the HOUSE Committee l. TO have the
Government build telegraph line, and 10 run q
In competition with the lines of existing COM
panies No greater outrage upon Individual rights
could b. committed by Government than the one
proposed IN that bin. For tho Government N en-.
Ter upon business with the avowed intention Of
carrying II on without rgard 10 coat, and nj the
outset 10 m ~ charges ~ a. W Involve dcnclt
aud 70 do thls In composition with private enter
prise dependent upon rcmuncraiivc rates b. main
tain It, existence would he an act tyrannlcal aud
Infamous. Nos Tort ladicrtor
The telegraph In every civilized country
In the world is branch Of the postal SER
vice and Il ought TO be In this country aud
must be, unless We confess 10 the power Of
monopoly and permit Il 10 rule us at
pleasure The Western Union Telegraph
Company Il the mos, gigantic aud COM
pleie Of all existing Trusts aud there Is but
one way open 10 the people 10 ilnd release
and relief from H. That Is by building
telegraph lines Of their own which they
can manage and control In their interests
n suits them. The Government should
also own the telephones well as telegraph
lines and every appliance aud means that
has or may be invented for the rapid
Transmission OF communications and all
mail matter. But II isno, the competition
Of the Government that troubles The Ner
Yort Indicator. That widc-awakc organ Of
Wal. street Is morc interested In tho
Governments alleged pledge 10 buy out
the Western Union Company at liz highly
waicred prices II reminds us that
ny a., Of conrrss Of July. isss. entitled "Au act
to aid In The construction 81 telegraph lines aud ~
.ccuv 10 the Government ne 80 Of the amc for
postal. military and other PURPOSE" In section .
may tc bound The following
Provided. howeNrf ThHt the United States may
AZ any time after thc ctplmiion ~ Eve ycau irnin
Tie dal, ~ me l..lfc ~ lhls act ioI postal mill
tnry ~ other piuuns purhasr al tho telegraph
liuss pfutsrij and ,lts ~ all aid companlcs 1T
| IA appraised value IN b. arfofiainci by live CON
lsess X, 's' ee,sI " su ,s nnin
states two by thc cumtany interested and one hy
the iuur - pWfioufly sricriVi
The terms oi The at Of issd have gcncfally hccn
acoepled BY The telegraph companies. aud Mt
Ncviu Grccn, IN a memorial 20 the unlic,i STATE.
Senate Last .Jsnuaiy explains ven clearly the
operation oi the Law aud the relations ietuceu the
telegraph compauic and the Government which
have bccn created BY that law. NJ Green sa,s
substantially an q the telegraph companies thcn
In existence. and which have come Into existence
snce the passage OF thai act. havcduly and iofmai
" by rsoiutions OF theft boani Of drCion. ratified
by their stockholders ceriacd under The icsl Of
the company. and hlei with the Secretary Of sttc
accepted the provisions Of that act Having ac
cepicd the provisions Of that act the telegraph
companlc, have bound themselves 10 surrender
their properly whenever The dover nmcut by act d
Cougrc~ shall decide 10 take a.
Mr., Green here assumes that the United
States has entered into bargain with biz
Telegraph Company 10 pay Il 100000
OOo, nay for telegraph lines. that Il can du'
plieaic Tor sso,Ooo,OOo, or less In this he
! is mistaken. The oct quoted irom simply