Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-12
WANAMAKER,S PLANS.
He Is Very Intent In Advocating n Postal
Telegraph BIIi-FeaIures Of the Measure
Proposed by Him.

He is Very Intent In Advocating a Postal
Telegraph BlH-Fearures Ofthe Measure
Proposed by Him.
WASHINGTON, February u.-Postmaster
General Wanamaker appeared before the
House Committee on Postofices and Post
Roads to-day, and read an elaborate statement
In favor Of system OF postal telegraphy. Mr..
Wanamaker 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. He
proposed to begin the experiments by estab-
fishing postal telegraph communication be-
tween the 400 free delivery offices in the coun-
try, and to gradually extend the service to
smaller offices. A uniform rate on messages
could not be established. Mr.. Wanamaker be-
lieved that the scheme should be tried for ten
years on leased wires Mr.. Wanamaker said be
was not proposing that the Government should
purchase or build q telegraph line, nor the ap-
preparation Of large sum from the Treasury,
nor the creating of new body Of employees,
but simply the utilization Of the office build
ings, clerks and carriers now in use, and by
convenience and economy Of service TO greatly
accommodate the public in business that should
be divorced from the Postofhce, as it was
nothing more or less than the carrying of mes
sages.
He said he proposed union of post and tele-
graph on basis that in his Judgment would
not interfere to any appreeiable extent with
any existing rights, but that would offer in
calculable service to classes not now enjoying
the use of the telegraph to any large degree.
He asked that he be directed to negotiate and
secure set of leased wires, such as the great
newspapers have from city to city. or brokers
and bankers have connecting their ofices in
the different cities; that the common people
might communicate through their business
offices 1.-THE postofhcesl city to city, or by mes
sages dropped IN the city mail boxes. The
people had now the business offices, the clerks,
who could soon learn the tick of the machines
the carriers, who travelled with bundles OF let
tiers over the same streets traversed by tele-
graph boys and the stamps for payment That
dispenses with bookkeeping, and all that was
needed to build up the new service was su-
thority and wire and new thrill Of life
would soon be felt throughout the country.
He held and declared most emphatically, he
eai5, that such service was the legitimate
work of the postoffice, and that the people
were right In stoutly demanding telegraph
facilities at postal stations. The bill provides
for the establishment of the limited post and
telegraph service, as bureau Of the Postofice
Department, and all postofices where the free
delivery service exists, or may be hereafter es-
the Postmaster General may designate, shall
be postal telegraph stations. The Postmaster
General is authorized to contract for period
not exceeding ten years, with one or more tele-
graph companies for the transmission by tele-
graph Of postal kilograms, or for the furnish<
ing of the lines. Postal kilograms may be for
warded by mail from any postoffice in the
United States to any postal telegraph ONCE,
and shall there be transmitted by telegraph,
provided the necessary rate be paid in ad-
dition. Postal kilograms bearing special de-
livery stamps shall have special delivery. No
liability shall accrue against the Postofhce De-
Partment or telegraph company on account OF
errors or DELAYS in the transmission of tele-
grams. Nothing in the act shall be so con-
strued as to prohibit any telegraph company
from performing = general business for the
public as the same is now done.
The money order service of the Postofice
Department shall, as soon as practicable, be
adopted under such rules and regulations as
the Postmaster General may prescribe, be-
tween such postofices as may from time to
time be designated by him as postal telegram
money order offices, and he shall fix the fees to
be charged for postal telegraph money orders,
which shall not exceed double the rates now
charged for domestic money orders, in addition
to double the charge for postal kilograms of 20
words; but no postal telegraph money order
shall exceed in amount 500. The Postofice
Department shall be entitled to ascertain sum
mot f1xed) for each postal telegram originating
in the postal offices. The charges in any one
State shall Eot exceed 10 cents for messages of
70 words or less, counting address and sigma
ture, nor over Is cents for any distance under
], 500 miles; nor over 80 cents for any greater
distance, the rates and rules and regulations to
be prescribed by the Postmaster General The
sum appropriated to carry out the provisions
of the bill is left blank