The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-03-02
POSTAL TELEGRAPH SCHEME.

Mr. WAYAMAKER has got it into his head
that he would like TO distinguish himself
by inaugurating a postal telegraph SER
vice. There is Il central aim or object in
the MIND of every head OF an executive de-
partment of the government Every cabi-
net officer wants TO do something THAT will
characterize his administration. The pos
tai telegraph is Mr.. WANAMAKER's hobby,
and nc is riding it furiously. Let US hope
that he will soon ride it TO death.
There are some things which the govern
ment can legitimately undertake, but a
postal telegraphis not among them. 1t is
possible that IN time there win be need for
it, but that time is not now, and to estab-
lish the proposed system would be wrong
in principle and decidedly bad in practice
There is very little to commend it, and
very much TO condemn it.
In the first place, it would be
wrong for the government to so into
the telegraphic business as a competitor
with private individuals, or company
nobody win dispute this proposition. If
the government thinks it legitimate to en-
gage in the business it should take it all,
buying out the plants and purchasing the
earning ability whatever that may be,
OF all telegraph companies. Are the people
OF the United States, the taxpayers who
form the government, prepared to invest
millions in telegraph plant, and then con
tribute other millions annually for the
! privilege OF carrying on the business. We
think not. OF course, if the government
goes into telegraphing it will be with the
view of reducing the cost of the service tC
the people, and the reduction will mean 6
the difference between the cost ant
the receipts. 1t will not BIT
claimed that the government can de-
! the work as cheaply as it can be done by
private parties. Government work al
ways costs more than the same work would
cost individuals.
But there are two objections to the gov.
ernment telegraph, either of which should
be sufficient to give the death blow to Mr..
WANAaIAKER's scheme. One is this: O
the G0,OO0,000 people in the United States
only 100000 patronize the telegraph o.
have any use for il; only these 10000
ever send a message or receive one, tbs
100000 being absolutely Indifferent
The 100000 are of the wel-to-do class
financially. They comprise the capitalist
and the business men, the 57,000,090 beinl
the farmers, the mechanics and laborers
Now, are the $1,000 600 who have no US,
for the telegraph willing to tax themSelye:
in order that the !, O0O, 900 may have cheape
telegraph service! Would il be right t
tax the many who do not employ the tele
graph at all, for the benefit of the few VIII
make money for themselves by using tn
telegraph. 1t seems TO us that the countr.
has had enough of the schemes and sys
TENS which take money from the poor an
give it TO the rich, as the postmaster gen
eral would do.
But the greater evil in this plan woul
come from the great increase of politica
power which the government control @
the telegraph would give into the hands c
the administration party. Every man il
the telegraph service, from the superin
tondant down to the fellow who swept Oh
the country Office, would be an active part
san, attached 10 the administration an
working Tor the advancement Of that poll
zeal organization. The control of tn
postotiice department gives the party /
, power an advantage which is felt in ever
campaign, whether national or local, an
{ the army of telegraph employees woul
, make the 'ins'' almost invincjble
2 1t is probably true that telegraph rate
are too high; they must be too high whe
, they are made to pay dividends on so muc
f ''watered' or fictitious stock; but the wa
, to reduce tolls is by legitimate competitio
or restrictive legislation, aud not by Il
government engaging in Il business whic
5 would be no more legitimate than would /
/, a government hat factory.