The record-union., 1894-01-13
4 POSTAL TELEGRAPH SYSTEM
NEEDED.

In 1890 Postmaster-Ge General Wana-
maker strongly recommended the estab
lishment of a postal telegraph system.
Congress, however, gave the matter no
considerable attention. At this time the
subject is revived by the introduction of
q bill by Representative Mcguire of Cali
fornia looking to the establishment of
such system. A copy of the bill is not
yet before US, and we are therefore not
prepared to discuss all its details. But it
is sufficient for present purposes to know
that this important subject is once more
before the people. The RECORD UNION
believes that some sort of a postal tele-
graph system ought to be speedily estab-
Ished. Since the Federal Government
properly monopolizes the business of col
lecting and transporting mail matter,
even to eXaction of postal rates when
others do the carrying, it is the duty of
the Government to keep abreast with the
most rapid means of communication.
Ills 1ANO1fOS1 bIO1 OAOAOs t4O 0sO VI bAO
best means known, and among them is
the telegraph.
Mr.. Maguire's bill is reported as pro-
Viding for the construction of the lines
by the Government. This is as it should
be. There was never a better PROPOSE
ton related to the subject. To think of
absorbing present lines is folly. For
there is in existence no telegraph COM
pany where the capital stock represents
the true cost of construction.
Suppose the Government started out to
buy existing lines, would it not of neces-
sity have to pay for the construction cost
and the added profit of watered stock
supplementing original stock. which in
all cases exceeds by twice the cost of con-
struction2
Whenever corporation forms to pros
ecute an industry the capital stock is al
ways placed at such figure as will cover,
not only the cost of construction of works,
but the enhancement of the value of the
property. For instance, in mining cor
porations capital stock always stands in
the relation to cost of work about as $780,
900 stands to $1,000.
We are satisfied that the Government
will never have postal telegraph sys-
tenn except it itself builds the lines, and
this it can do with immense benefit to all
the people. A postal telegraph system
will be based, of course, upon the letter
postal system, that is, the same charge for
q short as for long distance transmits
sion of intelligence. So, too, like the
mails, it will be open to all the people,
and not be subject to monopolization by
any. Such system would break down
the gigantic news monopoly, and that
would be a distinct and infinitely bene-
ficient gain.
We should have postal telegraph sys-
tenn because, so long as we adhere to the
policy of the Government doing the mail
carriage service, it ought to do more
than furnish railway and coach vehicles
for the transmission OF messages between
the people. AS Mr.. Wanamaker put it,
1.-The people who pay in postage rates the
cost of the postal system have right to
the use of the postal plants as means to
reduction of the cost of telegraphic cor
respondence, and for the instant trans
mission of postal money ORDERS"
over thousands of miles OF thinly set
tied sections we maintain postal routes at
a dead loss. SO far as the receipts of the
routes are concerned. The cost is rightly
charged to the whole system. But as it
is. it is not the speediest means of inter
communication. The telegraph wire is
days and weeks ahead of it, and there
fore the mail facility of a community is
precisely as far, in the measure OF time,
behind the private means OF correspond
ence. So long as this is true, the
Government service is faulty. 1t musi
employ the speediest means, or forever
fail to serve the people well.
Despite the fact that some sections are
mail-supplied at heavy loss to ths treas