Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1894-04-13
THE POSTAL TELEGRAPH.


when the Present Postohics Service was
Insugurated 1t Excited Opposition.
Judge Walter Clark In Washington Times.
When cheaper postage and q uniform
rate were demonstrated to be advanta-
geous by the example Of the English
postoffice under Sir Rowland Hill, con-
eress promptly applied the same in our
own postal service. In like manner fol-
introduction of free delivery into cities,
the adoption of the money. order sys-
TEN, the issuance of postal notes, and
many other improvements in the hand
ling and distribution of the mail. None
Of these thinks were dreamed OF by the
trainers OF the constitution. They were
details wisely left to be worked out by
the progress and intelligence of succeed.
ing generations. When our postoffice
was first inaugurated mails were carried
on horseback or, in q few instances, by
mail coaches. When steam was intro
duced the postoffice promptly awaited
| itself of the new agency. In fact, every
appliance and every improvement to
facilitate the social and business inter
course OF the public has been laid hands
on, and been made subeervient to that
purpose save one. Why the department
has been forced to stand still in the pres
ence of the agency which is most espe-
cially adapted for that purpose, and, af-
ter having awaited itself of the potent en-
ergies Of steam, has RETAINED from the
use OF the more potent agency Of cleo
tricity Is we'll known to all men.
1t has not failed to adopt them because
il is unconstitutional to do 80. That ie
too plain for argument. 1t would be easy
to fill pages with citations of legal au.
thorities showing its constitutionality
Indeed, it could be better said that it il
unconstitutional for the government MOI
to adopt them for the purpose of giving
the people the beet and cheapest anC
speediest postal facilities which the mos,
improved methods known to science car
afford. The clause of the constitution
ia understood to be mandatory upon thu
national government to establish ant
J maintain q proper postal service, since
in the face Of that provision, neithe
states nor private companies can do 80
Besides, the first telegraph established
was, in fact, part of our postoffice; ant
the government was in the hands OF stric
constructionists, was recommended b.
Hon. Cave johnson, the then postm aste
general. This wise recommendation wa
not acceded to, simply because Congress
! not foreseeing the value and importanc,
of the invention, deemed the price aske
. by the inventor too great, and in an evi
. hour permitted this great agency to pas
into private hands. The public interests
the popular will, and the constitutions
provision, all alike require its restoration
to its original function as part of an en-
D lightened and progressive postal service
+, Nor can it be said that It would be O.
3 experiment. Every civilized country
. with the sole exception Of ours, ha
long since made the telegraph part {
its postal service, and n'all it has worke
satisfactorily. The rates In Great Bril-
ain and Ireland are, like postage, un
form for all distances and are Ger
y per word. In Germany the rate is th
!, same, and in Austria less. In France an
] Belgium the rate is under 10 cents (half
j france for ten words between any tw
points. No department of the postoffiC
. in any country pays better than the tel
9 graph. In most countries the telephone
9 too, has been added. 1t is very certai
Q that the telegraph and the telephone, {
parts Of our postal service, would n,
only wonderfully improve the means
. intercourse, but it is believed that vel
. cheap uniform rate-probably five cen
;, q message-would pay handsome re
/. enue to the government.