Evening journal., 1890-10-06
Mr.. WANAMAKER Is FIRM
He VIII Continue the Postal
Telegraph Agitation.
TO THE DEFENSE or HIS MEASURE


and WIN BE Great Benefit to the
People ~ 1t becomes a Law-His In
terested Opponents.
WASHINGTON, Oct d-postmaster Gen
eral Wanamaker has made public letter
recently addressed to Representative Bing
ham, chairman Of the house committee on
postoffices, embodying an elaborate argu
ment in favor Of his limited plan Of postal
telegraphy. Appended to the letter is a
mass of matter, including opinions Of the
press for and against postal telegraphy,
opinions OF former postmaster generals,
and prominent public men on the constitu-
tionality Of postal telegraphy.
DIR. Wanamaker's Views.
The postmaster general in his letter says
in part: Your subcommittee on postal
telegraph informs me that all the parties
that have signihcd desire to be heard on
the postal telegraph bills have submitted
their testimony, and that it is in order for
me to add anything upon the subject. AZ
ter standing for year past in the midst of
the controversy over the postal telegraph
that for over forty years has gone on with
sharper tone and widening range, / am
more than ever convinced Of the wisdom
and praoticability Of restoring the tele-
graph TO the postal service, and make what
it was originally intended to be, part Of
the postal system. / say this after closely
studying the arguments against the bill
made so vigorously by the great telegraph
company which is now its only visible op-
ponent do not believe il possible to ar
que this question down. There is a deep
and far reaching conviction among the
people that the telegraph service is by
right a part of the postal service. To carry
the postal service from pony riders to
stage coach and on to railroad service, and
stop all further progress because 8, 900 own
ers of telegraph stock oppose, is not in ac-
cord with the genius Of our people or the
spirit Of the times
The viii Of the People.
'sThe will Of the people in this respect
has manifested Itself Enthusiastically before
congress in public speech and statement
during the last twenty years Resistance
TO that great popular demand may not be
the wisest thing, nor is II fair to count
those who urge the adoption in some form
or other of the postal telegraph as hostile
20 existing corporations We stand con-
1
portance or magnitude. It is TO give the
country vast enlargement Of its postal
/ system, and TO bring home to the people
the cheap use Of one Of the most powerful
agencies Of modern commerce and ciyiliza-
ton"
Constitutionality Of the Scheme.
AS to the oonstitutionality Of postal teleg.
raphy, the postmaster general says: III
I hau hoo .I IA.
score Of years that government telegraph
is unconstitutional. The motives Of these
gentlemen have been one OF two in all
cases They have been the paid attorneys
OF these corporations whose special inter,
ests have demanded that their monoplies
should in no way be interfered with. They
have known their business and have done
it we'll The other opponents were those
who imagined that the constitution would
be exposed TO every sort of outrage If they
were TO fall sick for day.
"The courts of highest appeal have set
tied this question. Congress settled it, in
advance of judicial action, by making the
United States the owner and the postofiics
department the manager of the first line oi
wire constructed for commercial and pub
lie uses. The old government telegraph
schemes were constitutional. What shal
be said. then, of the limited postal tele
graph plan which l have been somewha
criticised for bringing forward2 There il
no doubt that it is constitutional Thl
constitution permits the general govern
ment to transmit intelligence for thl
people.
The Attorney Generals Opinion
"The postoffice department has been do
ing this, with the money and improve
ments at its disposal, for 100 years. Il il
preposterous to argue that the telegraph
ought not to be utilized for the cheaper
speedier and more accurate transmission
OF messages. have had prepared anS
submit for your reference an appendi,
which touches upon this consideration
The attorney general for the department
assures me that the conclusion that tn
limited postal telegraph plan is constitu
tional cannot be resisted
The object OF the Bill.
The postmaster general then follow
with an elaborate explanation of thl
limited plan, and Of its operation, arguing
that it would pay the telegraph companie
and be more efficient as well as lowe
priced. In conclusion, he says II desir
in conclusion 10 explain, as politely a
may be, one or two things that are no
understood have challenged the mos
: rigid scrutiny of the limited postal tele
r graph bill l ask 70 have printed al
! OF the printed criticism OF it which hav
come to my notice, as an argument in it
favor. The limited postal telegraph bill
Is not proposition to take money fror
the treasury or to employ additional civ
servants; 1t is not a proposition to pu
any power whatever in the hands of th
government which is not at present create
and more dangerous where it is. 1t is
proposition simply TO dovetail togethe
!. two great machines so that one shall
business equitably aud by that mean
make more money (Which shall be will
ingly accorded TO it by the people,; til
other to utilize its present skilled an
faithful energy to help supply the peopl
with still better means Of communicate
= furnished still more cheaply.
He win Continue the Agitation.
1T is a proposition incidentally
quicken the telegraph service by encoural
4 a