Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-29
QUITE A CLOSE CALL.
The Chamber of Commerce Favors
Government TelegraphY
BY A VOTE OF ELEVEN TO NINE.
Speeches Made For and Against Mr.. Wan
amaker's Scheme.
OTHER WORK OF THE LOCAL BOARD

The directors Of the Chamber of Com.
merce held an interesting session yesterday
afternoon. The attendance was quite large.
The meeting was presided over by President
Schmertz, who has fully recovered from his
late sickness.
Hon. G. H. Anderson, Chairman of the
Legislative Committee, which has had under
consideration the act of the Postmaster
General for the establishment of "tele-
| graph system" made the following report:
| WHEREAS. The Postmaster General has
| drafted an act to establish limited postal
telegraph system between all carrier delivery
| postoffces by which the usefulness of the tele-
| graph will be greatly extended and the public
| given uniform service at a much lower rate
than that at present charged by the existing
| companies; and,
Whereas, The United States is the only coun-
| try of Importance on the face Of the globe that
| does not operate the telegraph as part of the
| postofice system; and,
Whereas. The Chamber of Commerce of Pitts
burg believes that the interest of the whole peo-
| pie will be greatly enhanced by the establish
ment of a limited postal-telegraph system on
such basis as Congress In Its wisdom shall
deem equitable and just to all, but always rec
ognizing fully the rights of the companies now
in existence, or that may be hereafter organ
lied; therefore,
Resolved, That this Chamber welcome the
proposition of the present Postmaster General,
and heartily commend TO the favorable eonsid.
Grafton Of Congress any bill that will effect
this purpose.
A MINORITY REPORT.
This report represented the sentiment of
the majority of the committee, but the
minority, consisting of Hon. Morrison
Foster and Captain William MeClelland,
held opposite views and presented the fol-
lowing report:
ResotUed That the Committee on Legisla-
tion, to whom was referred the communication
from the New York Board of Trade and Trans
portation recommending favorable action upon
the proposed act of Congress establishing a
postal telegraph system by the United States
Government, respectfully dissent from the ma
jority report. and that at the present time it
would be unwise to adopt any system which
may lead to control by the Government of the
private telegraph correspondence of the people,
but believe that the same good results may be
accomplished by proper regulation of our
present system of private telegraph companies.
A discussion arose. Mr. Anderson stated
that ne believed the Government should
hire the present companies and regulate
them at a greatly reduced rate. He referred
to the European system, and spoke highly
of it.
President Schmertz differed from Mr.. An
derson in regard to the system in Europe,
and said he found the system there to be un-
reliable, unsatisfactory and unaccommo-
dating.
John B. Jackson objected to the majority
report from comparison of statistics he had
seen, showing figures about the system of
Europe.
ALL IN THE WAY.
8. B. HARRISON objected to the majority
report, and stated that the condition of the
civil service in this country, the party diff
ferences, and the motto ''to the victor be-
longs the spoils," all stood in the way of
Government control of the telegraph, as it
would be a Capitalization of power and an
increase in responsibilities. Captain Nc
Clelland and Mr.. Foster spoke in a similar
vein.
Captain John A. bravo stated that he
was in favor of anything new, and that
Europe's failure would not prevent the sue
cess of the system in this country. He
believed in making the telegraph the SER
want of the people, and make the Govern
ment custodian.
A vote was taken, and the majority re-
port was adopted by a vote OF II to 9. On
motion, it was decided to send the action
of the Chamber to the Postmaster General.
A. B. Cochrane, of the Revere Rubber
Company, was elected a member. He is
brother of "Nellie Bly,"
The report of the Executive Committee on
the resolutions OF the New York Chamber
of Commerce, protesting against the passage
of 81. r. bill No. 6, 420, entitled "An act to
provide for taking the eleventh and subse-
quent censuses, " was received and approved.
The report was an approval OF the action Of
the New York board.