Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-07-01

A Goxernment telegraph.

Ono OF the postal REFORMS Which, ''S
public will hear much about until these
reforms are accomplished is the PROPOSE
ton 10 have lines. of telegraph under Gov.
eminent control. This is one of the
numerous "paternal schemes which will
continue 10 be advocated by the masses
until they secure the object they have IL
view. Pubic schools are the most pater'
nal of institutions: but nobody opposes
them for that reason. At any rate the OPP
position to them is too feeble u
attract general attention. Gasworks
vater-works, pavements, public markets
and many other things are examples Of
paternalism, or, if you prefer the word, are
"communistic." Government tele,
graphic system cannot be more paterna
than public-school system.
One of our exchanges objects to postal
telegraph that the masses of the people
who toll in the fields and workshops do not
make personal use of the telegraph from
one wears end to another except to send
an occasional social message. True enough
That is the very reason we desire the Gene
raj Government TO take possession OF the
Geographic field and open telegrapbic
Offices that will be used by everybody, not
once year merely. but once day. In our
psper il was stated few days ago that the
free delivery of mail matter in small towns
had been proved to be successful re-
form, and one which the people concerned
recognized "a q benefit TO them. 1t was
added that the people were so well pleased
with the experiment that they would pro-
baby insist upon il that their congress
men should make il a part OF the postal
system. Besides. in q number OF small
places the increase in the use of the post
Office had been so great as to result IN
causing even small towns TO pay back to
the Government the additional cost OF de-
iiyering the mail matter free.
Results still more remarkable would
probably follow the addition of telegraph
10 the postal system of the United States.
The Government could not at once supply
every village or hamlet in the United
States. but in this case as In so many
othhrs increase of appetite would grow by
what il fed on, and the new system would
vuRk out grand results. Telegraph-ope
.eators and postmasters and station agent:
are already numbered by the thousand
The Federal Government would have tc
allow the new system time to grow Just a.
the Post-O Office Department has grown III
~ be the largest feature of that Govern
ht.
IS objected further that the bulk o
money which il would be necessary t
md upon postal telegraph would have
/ Is come out of the earnings of industry
ma labor. Very well. Let the industrial
and laboring classes be consulted OF
this subject and it will be found that the
have sense enough to know that to EN-
power them 10 send for five or ten cents
message which it now costs them IA dolla
I. 70 send would be to render their earning
more valuable to them than these earning
!, have hitherto been. II is preposserous TO
monopolists thus TO attempt TO make ]
appear that they are working IN the int
rest of the masses when their whole objec
IL TO monopolize the Geographic bushes
IN the interest of the spectators who hav'
already made so many millions of dollar
out Of it,. We can say with these smooth
toneued gentlemen that the less the Gov
eminent has TO do with the private affair
of the people the better for both Govern
ment and people; but we beg leave TO adj
that the postal telegraph is not to b'
private affair, but Government blessing
falling upon ALL high and low, rich an,
moor