New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-12
A POSTAL TELEGRAPH SCHEME.
FEATURES OF A PLAN PROPOSED By Mr.. WANA
MAKER.

Washington Feb 1.-postmaster-General Wanna
maker WAS before the House Committee on Postonices
and Post Roads today, and discussed fully with tha
committee the establishment Of limited postal tele-
craph Dr. Norvln Green, the president Of the West
ern Union Telegraph Company, and Mt. Chandler
the president OF the Postal Telegraph Company had
lecn invited 10 attend the meeting, but they were not
pre,ent Mr. Wanamaker said lie asked the support
Of the committee in favor Of short bill investing tha
Postmaster General with authority 10 enter INTO
contract with rc~pon, be parties to connect certain
number Of postoffces with each other By telegraph
by leasing wires and instruments TO be operated by
postofnce employees. He not proposing he said
that the Government should purchase or build ele.
graph line, nor the appropriation Of A large sum Of
money from the Treasury. nor the creating Of new
body Of employees but simply the utilization OF me
Office buildings, clerks and carriers now IN use. and
by convenience and economy Of service greatly to ac
cOmmodate the public in business that should not bt
divorced from the p0>t0iAcc, as it was nothing m0N
or less than the carrying Of messages. lie said ia
proposed union Of post and telegraph a basis that
In his iudgmcn. would Interfere to appreciahls
extent with any existing rights. hut that would ofI
incalculable service 10 classes not enjoying tht
Of the telegraph 70 any large degree. lie asked
that he be directed 10 negotiate and secure a set
leased wires, such the great newspapers have from
cry 10 city, so that the COMMON people might corn
municate through their business object
thc ro-toHiec1 from city to city. o.
By message, dropped in their mail-boxes
lie held, and declared most emphaucaly, he said that
such service tie legitimate work OF the Sstofc,
and that the people right i'm stouty demanding
telegraph facilities AZ postal stations.
IN ls47. when the telegraph passed from the CON
troll % the Po'tonce Department the number Of letters
mailed was J7173.Ooo: tho number %. messages trans
mitted by tie Western Union telegraph Company IN
tie last year was 54lO@.oo0 Tie gross revenue u
The Postonce Department in 1871 was S2o.637 ,oo0;
thc receipts u IN, Wc.'cn Unon in the last year
were S2O.7-3.O0o. one hundred millions Il dollars Of
net proA's had been paid over ny the people to this
one company IN twenty three years The revenues Of
the Po,tof,e Department had doubled within fifteen
years The business and receipts OF the Western Union
Telegraph CON- had doubled I'm ten years.
1t said that 70 o. 80 per cent Of the telegraph
bushes, Of the United states commercial and
speculative, less than per cent family ard social,
whereas in Great Britain the family and social bust
ues, was over 80 per # the whole. II was also
stated tina, not more than per cent OF the people 4
the Un'd state, used the telegraph and Mr. Wanna
maker said that cooOOOoO people should not be taxed
10 pay deficit 20 Dee caused boy cheap telegraph
rates beuen,ne 100000 ouly-rch and commercial
spectators. This proposed system would enable the
Po-toiice Department 10 increase il, business very
larrcly and make more money and there would be 10
deac!t. lie ~'id: We oS"..'c l'tiditH IS Apt
now sef,i,tt.uln- - usc 10 !, charged with carry.
inc f7cc The c5.Ooo.ooO o. >f.tuo.po1 Wor.A OF bal
matter OF the vaIlou, Executive Departments of ITO
Government, handling the newspapers OF ne country
for practically NOTHING and allowing the opportunity
70 pass Il Transmitting tcc-.tplc messages Dee suse
There are ih'oilo'ti'0 companies VINO dispute "ii
ground and maintain an exclusive and h.-"y PAD
lie did not want 10 Dee understood say.ns that his
proposed plan would e~>'a tAr business %; The western
Union. \ new bushes, would he created. He sub.
miuet that the new plan was practical one ana
irN from valid objection. Auer reading me text -
u.s. pt"posyu Ol4I' Mr' N'.'H'" vr "S' A,Nou - ~
her y questions by me Mrn',r' 3t me Gomm!ttee.
lie Nuf he dld not deem u ptuc"ole at the present.