The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-02-14
MS TELEGRAPH SCHEME.
A Government Rival for the
Western Union.
rBN CENTS FOR Twenty WORDS.

The Postm aster General Presents His
Plan and Argues for His Biii-The Ser
vice would He Self Sustaining and Pub
lilo Benefit, He Says.
WASHINGTON, Feb 12-Postmaster Gen
srsl wanamaker appeared before the house
committee on postofilces and post roads and
read an elaborate statement in favor Of q
system OF postal telegraphy. He said he had
prepared bill based on the four bills which
had been introduced in the house this session
on the same subject, and he believed that it
would be satisfactory.
To Begin with 400 Onaces.
He proposed to begin the experiment by
establishing postal telegraph communication
between the 400 free delivery offices in the
country, and to gradually extend the SER
vice to smaller offices. A uniform rate on
messages could not be established. Mr..
Wanamaker believed that the scheme should
be tried for ten years on leased wires.
His Plan OF Operations.
Postmaster General Wanamaker, in speak
ing Of his proposed bill, said that it invested
the postmaster general with authority to
contract with responsible parties TO connect
the free delivery postoffices of the country
by telegraph by leasing wires and instru-
ments TO be operated by postoffice employees.
He docs not propose in his bill that the gov
ernment should purchase or build telegraph
lines; nor that large sum be appropri ated;
nor that new body of employees be created,
but simply the utilization of the postoffice
buildings, clerks and carriers now in use
and by the convenience and economy Of
service, to greatly accommodate the public
IN business that should not be divorced
from the postoffice, as it is nothing more or
less than the carrying of messages.
To Help the Common People.
He suggested to the committee that au-
thorlty be given him to lease in the differ
eat cities, telegraph wires such as the great
newspapers, great corporations, brokers
and others have from city to city, in order
that the common people may communicate
through their business offices (the postofices)
from city to city or by dropped messages in
their mail boxes. All that Is needed to
build up the service is authority and a wire.
He argued that such a service is the legiti-
mate work Of the postofice and that the
people are right In stoutly demanding tele-
graph facilities at postal stations. He then
gave brief history of the origin and duties
| of the postofflos department and spoke Of
how the telegraph, when first brought into
use. was placed under the direction of the
postmaster general, but owing to the failure
| Of congress to maintain the service in 1847
Il passed into the hands Of private persons,
The Western Unions Profits
| After tracing the movement inaugurated
in 1s6v for q postal telegraph service and
| the unanimous reports in its favor from
postmaster generals and from congressional
committees of both parties, Mr.. Wana.
.Aker said that the opposition to it is be.
Hevcd to come from two most powerful and
interested parties. He then went on to com
pare the receipts of the postoffice depart
ment with the Western Union and said tina,
the gross revenue Of the department In 1871
was s20, ,6S7, 900, while the receipts Of tn,
Western Union last year were $50, 7S3, 600
One hundred millions of dollars of net
profits he said have b en- paid over by the
people TO this one col ipany in twenty thre'
years The revenues Of the department have
doubled within fifteen years, while the bust
meas and receipts of the Western Union hav,
doubled in ten years He read statistic'
showing that this country led Great Britain
In the number of communications sent by
mail, but was far behind in the number o
telegrams
| The People Would Like 1t.
He maintained that experience has showr
that every decided advance in the way o.
added facilities, convenience and cheapnes
has been appreciated by the public, anC
cited rs examples the reduction of postag
from three to two cents and the introduction
Of the postal card and the increase in bust
nss and in revenue that followed both o
thsss changes. He thought that this woult
prove to be the case II telegraph rates wer
| vsduced. He claimed that the service woul
to he self sustaining in a very short time, /
nOs from the start
Ten Cents Per Message.
Under the proposed bill the telegraph toll
in any one state shall not exceed ten cent
for messages of twenty words or less, count
ing address and signature, nor over twenty
five cents for any distance under 1900 miles
nor over fifty cents for any greater distance
said rates and rules and regulations to b
prescribed by the postmaster general.