Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-25
TUESDAY. FEBRUARY %. 1890
Postal Telegraphs.

Last week in Washington tho House
Committee on Post-Ofliccs and Post-Roads
heard an argument by AIR WILLIAM A. A.
CAKsEY, of New York, the chairman OF the
Executive Committee OF the ADti-MonOpo-
ly League. in opposition TO tho limited
postai-telegraph bill which had been pre-
pared and submitted 70 that committee by
Postmaster General WASAMAKER. Mr.. CAR
Fry claimed that he represented the labor
ing men Of the country. and said he OBJ
posed the bill, among other reasons, be-
cause il contemplated turning over the
business of the Government 10 private
corporation. II, as Professor Ely teaches
VS.. gas-works and water-works and electric
plants are natural monopolics. why IS not
the telegraph a natural monopoly What
Is natural monopoly II Is a business
which admits of no real competition. For
example, II we had two or more sets of
Cas-works or watcr-works in this city the
consequence would be, not cheaper gas
but dearer gas. seeing that If two compa-
MES were kept UP the consumers must pay
the cost Of operating both. Or II either
company got out Of the way the other
could at once raise the price of gas, or
what would be Just as bad under some
circumstances, would refuse to lower the
price of gas though the cost of making 1t
might have been reduced by 90 per cent
This is, we suspect, Dir. CARsEY's theory
as TO the present telegraph system-name-
Nv. that il is sort of natural monopoly.
Certainly competition has made poor pro-
cress in this direction. But whether this
be his theory or not, there Is "a necessity
for a Government telegraph. In Europe
the matter has been tested.
Mr. WASAMAEEE proposes to 60 only halt
way when he proposes torrent the telegraph
lines instead Of proposing to buy them OF
60 construct new lines. II will be impossl-
bic for any party to withstand the popular
demand for cheap telegraph lines owned
md operated by the Government. VINO
can draw q distinction between sending
aetters over telegraph line and sending
letters over a railroad lineI When the
Government shall have got its telegraphs
Into operation the telegraph will be just as
much a part Of the postal system as the
railroad now is. and it Will be just as easy
10 post telegram as to post letter. Let
us not be deceived by a mere word or form
Of words. The Constitution empowers
Congress 10 establish post-ofices and post
roads. What sort? None but common
country roads could have been in the
minds of the trainers Of the Constitution;
but that fact has not prevented the Gov
eminent from using railroads and steam
boats. Ia like manner the paths OF the
lightning must be used as Government
roads.
Mr.. CAHsrY said that the working people
did not use the telegraph to any great ex-
tent. and consequently would get but lit
tle benefit out OF the postal-telegraph
scheme. 1t is because the working people
have been unable to employ the telegraph
chat the Government should open 1t to
Them. Reduce the rates to ten cents FOR
ten words for all distances, and the tele-
graph will receive as many messages as 1t
tan carry from the working people. No
body need fear a paternal Government OF
that sort.