The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-01-10
POSTAL TELEGRAPH.
Postmaster General Wanama-
ker's Scheme Explained.
THE POSTAL SAVINGS BANK
Plan Now Before Congress..-why
Democrats Oppose Both Prop
osItions see Republicans En-
titled to All orthe Credit.

llklGu " Alt IA
Special Dtspoteh 10 he InieligeHeer.
WASHINGTON, D. G., Jan. 9.-Postmas'
ter General Wanamaker said the other
day,in discussing the probability Of final
action at this session OF Congress upon
the Postal Telegraph and Postal Savings
Bank bills, that the Democrats were
exercising more politics in their attitude
toward these propositions than the
Republicans. The Postmaster General
added that of all the measures that have
come before this Congress these two
proposed more direct benefits to the
people as mass than any others.
Heretofore propositions. looking to-
ward the government control OF the
telegraph have contemplated the pur.
chase OF existing lines or the construc.
ton Of new ones by the Federal govern
ment. The scheme invented by Mr..
Wanamaker contelnplates no outlay
whatever by the Federal government or
the people. He has invented an elabor-
ate plan for postal telegraph which the
people eau secure through the medium
OF the government aud competitive
bidding, the prices 10 BIS made by the
people and To- be much under those now
in existence. There has for several
months been pending in each branch OF
Congress bill drawn by the Postmaster
General "lo establish limited post and
SERVICE" which may be de.
scribsd very comprehensively in o few
words.
EXTENT OF THE SERVICE.
The Postmaster General proposes that
all postoflices where the free delivery
service nov exists and the Offices Of the
telegraph companies with which con.
tracts would BIZ made shall be postal tele.
graph stations. In. addition the Post.
master General world be empowered to
designate from. time to time other post
offices as telegraph Offices. He is 10 be
authorized, after inviting proposals by
to contract with one or
more telegraph companies now in exist
ence or that may be incorporated, for a
period OF ten years, for the transmission
Of postal kilograms on conditions and at
rates OF tolls set forth 10 the bill. Rates
may be reduced by the consent OF both
parties to contracts at any time during
the continuance OF the contracts. Postal
kilograms are to be sent in the order OF
filing, except government kilograms,
which take precedence. II is proposed
that the charges for the collection,
and delivery Of postal tele-
grams other than postal money order
and special delivery kilograms shall be
as follows:
THE PROPOSED RATES.
For twenty words between stations
within State or Territory, or between
stations three hundred miles apart or
less, fifteen cents; for twenty words be.
tween stations in the States Of WiScon-
sin, Illinois, Connecticut, Tennessee and
Mississippi and the States east OF them,
twenty-five cents; for twenty words be.
tween stations in the States OF Mime.
sofa, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas and
Louisiana and points west OF them,
twenty five cents; for twenty words be-
tween stations in States forming, gen.
orally speaking, zones up and down on
both sides Of the Mississippi, twenty.
FIVE cents; for twenty words between
any two stations not above provided for,
fifty cents; for all words in excess of the
first twenty, one cent per word; pre-.
payment OF replies 10 bo made at the
office from which the original telegram
is transmitted.
There are to be separate accounts kept
in the Offices for the postal telegraph ser.
vice. The stations or postotIices not
having postal telegraph service aud
telegraph lines can utilize the postal
telegraph by simply mailing the postal
kilograms to the nearest office having q
postal telegraph service. The postmas.
ter will at that place open the messages
and finding the proper stamps enclosed
file the messages for transmission by
telegraph. At the receiving point the
operator simply encloses the message in
an envelope and deposit 1t at the post.
Office or any street box and the mail.
carriers are utilized for the delivery OF
messages. 1t is held by Mr.. Wanamaker
that one.third Of the cost Of handling
telegraph matter is in carrying the mes.
sages to and from the Office. All OF this
expense will be saved 10 the Govern
ment and the patrons by the utilization
OF tho regular mail.Carriers.
SPECIAL DELIVERY.
In any CAGE, the payment OF ten cents
extra would provide for an immediate
special delivery in the same manner as
a letter is now delivered when the
special delivery stamp is affixed in
addition to the regular postage. No
matter how remote postottiCe may be
from pUstal telegraph stations, they
could always have the advantage Of the
telegraph service forward and backward I;
for postal kilograms could always be sent
by mail to the nearest telegraph station
for transmission thence by wire to their
destination, or they could be received
by mail from the telegraph stations
similarly.
In cases where the amount Of bust.
ness done would not justify the tele.
graph company in the maintainanCe Of u
separate telegraph staff, the postmaster,
il not an operator himself, would en-
ploy an operator, his extra compensa.
ton from the telegraph company en-.
abling him to procure such help. In
many cases the postmaster's assistant or
one OF his clerks would be selected
with view to his ability to telegraph.
POSTAL SAVINGS BANK.
The Postmaster General is also greatly
in earnest in advancing his Postal
Savings Bank scheme, which he now
has before Congress. he has shown
that postal savings banks could in no
wise be competitors Of private institu.
tions, but on the contrary would edu.
cate the people to patronize banks and
save their money. He says that where
saving banks are most needed they are
never found-in rural communities. He
SAYS further that the people would be
impressed with the stability Of postal
aavinpA banks more than private ones,