The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-10-06
A POSTAL TELEGRAPH
An Argument in lis Favor by ths
Postmaster General.
He Believes II VIII Not be Long Be-
fore the People are Granted
Cheaper and Better Tele-
graphic Facilities.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5.-Postmaster Gen.
eral WanamalSer tonight made public
letter recently addressed TO the chairman
Of the house committee on postofllces,
embodying an elaborate argument in IA
vor of his limited plan for postal tele-
graph.
Appended to the letter is mass of mat
ter pertaining TO the subject, making al
together 223 pages, closely printed.
The postmaster general, in his
letter, says, in part: AFTER stand
ing for n year past in the
midst of the controversy over postal teleg-
raphy, that for over forty years has gone
on with sharper tone and widening
range, / am more than ever convinced
of the wisdom and practicability OF restor-
ing the telegraph TO the postal service and
make il what il was originally intended TO
be-part of the postal system. say this
after closely studying the arguments
made against the bill by the great tele-
graph company which is now its only visi-
BILE opponent. don't believe il is possi-
BILE to argue this question down. There
is deep and far-reaching conviction
among the people that the telegraph SER
vice is by right part Of the postal service.
a vast enlargement of the postal system
and bring home to the people the cheap
use of one of the most powerful agencies
of modern commerce and civilization
As to the constitutionality of postal
telegraphy. the postmaster general says
i'm part: at has been argued by learned
lawyers for number OF years that gov
ernment telegraph is unconstitutional.
| The motives of thsse gentlemen has been
selfishness. They have been the paid
attorneys of corporations whose special
| interests have demanded that monopolies
should in no way be interfered with.
| Other opponents were those who imagined
| the constitution would be exposed to
| every sort of outrage were they to fall
sick for day. Men of the highest zeal
have settled this question. Congress set
| tied il i'm advance OF judicial action 10y
making the United States the owner and
the postotilce department the mana.
ger Of the first line of wire
| constructed for commercial and
| public use. III the old government tele.
| graph schemes were constitutional, what
| shall be said then of the limited postal
telegraph plan which | have been criti
| cized for bringing forward. There is nc
doubt il is constitutional. The attorney
general has assured me that the conclu
sion that the scheme is constitutional can
| not be resisted"
In concluding, the postmaster genera
says he has always invited the most rigit
scrutiny and criticism of the measure. i
is not, he says, "a proposition to takt
money from the treasury or employ ad
ditional servants. Ii is not proposition
to put any power whatever in the hand
of the government which is not at presen
greater and more dangerous where il is
1t is proposition simply to dovetail TO
gether two great machines, so that on,
shall do business equitably and by tina
means make more money which shall
willingly be accorded TO it by tn,
people, the other to utilize its presen
SKINNED and faithful energy to help sup
ply the people with still better means o
communication, furnished still more
rapidly. 1t is not a proposition to buy TIN
railroads, coal mines, sawmills, or bak'
shops of the country.
"If others speak out for telegraph stock
holders, some must stand for the peopl,
in the interest of the cheaper telegraph.
that they want. | believe it belongs 4
this department TO take this stand and
propose intelligently and persistently +
keep this subject before you in the stronI
confidence that il will not be long befor'
your committee will take steps to give tn
people the relief prayed for"