The Washington times., 1894-05-05
OWNERSHIP OF TELEGRAPHS
Important Hearing Before the Com
mittee on Post Offices Yesterday.
FAVOR OF FEDERAL CONTROL
President Gompers, Of the American Fedora
tion Of Labor, and Messrs. Randall and
Bell, Of the International typographical
Union, Oppose Present Private Monopoly.

A hearing was granted yesterday by tno Com-
mittee on Post Offices and Post Roads to repre-
sentatives of the International Typographical
Union and the American Federation of Labor,
who made appeals for favorable recommended
tion on one or both of the bills introduced in the
House for the government ownership OF the tel
egraph lines of the country. Besides the COM
mittee and the gentlemen who addressed 1t
there were present a number of representatives
of the press and others interested.
Mr.. A. L Randall chairman of tho 1nterna-
tional Typographical Unions committee on gov
ernment ownership and control of the telegraph,
was the first speaker He outlined at some
length the history of the Western Union Com.
pany and alleged that by far the larger part OF
stock was watered and that by the present rates
of toll those sending messages were obliged to
pay interest on this watered stock. He quoted
the charges prevalent for telegraph service in
Great Britain, France, Germany, etc, showing
that the average price in this country was about
twice what 1t is in those countries abroad where
the government controls the wires.
As further reason why the monopoly should
not be a private one Mr.. Randall declared that
great news monopoles were being built up by
the present system which resulted in excessive
prices for news franchises, and therefore put an
artificial limit on newspaper production. This,
he said, kept great many of his craft out OF
employment who otherwise would have work
Following Mr. Randall came Mr.. Samuel Com
pers, president of the American Federation OF
Labor He stated that he did not desire to go
into unnecessary details concerning the statis-
tics of operation or administration OF the teie-
graph. He simply wished TO show how great an
injury was being done to all classes OF the peo-
pie by the private control of a great means OF
communication like the telegraph. He stated
that all the Postmasters General in recent years
Ayho had discussed the question had come ont
repeatedly for government control of the tele-
graph and insisted on its natural connection
with the postal service. Some of the mere re-
cent reports he dwelt on in detail
With regard 10 the benefits which would ac-
crue to the people from government owner
ship, Mr.. Gompers stated they were innumera-
bic Tho most important Was that there should
be cheap and easy communication for the mass
of the people 10 all others who We're within the
limits of civilization He cited the great educa-
ting power of the postal service, and commented
on its low rates for newspaper transmission
through the mails. He thought the time would
come when all great natural monopolies, and
such artificial monopoies as telegraphs, rail-
roads, etc, must ultimately come under control
of the people of the country control the peo-
pie. He regarded this as only the opening
wedge Mr.. Gompers declared that he repre-
sented s00OO0 people, and that there were others
innumerable who shared in this opinion and IN
this demand.
Mr. Gompers read at some length from a re-
port by the Post O1ice Committee of the Forty
seventh Congress, and showed that the movement
was by no means a new one. He then discussed
the financial course which he thought the gov
ernment ought to pursue should it control the
telegraph. lie thought it should be run on a
revenue basis, at least for the present he
thought it should be treated in all respects like
the mail service. Experience would determine
that question, well as the wisdom OF having
one or more tariff rates for distance. These
questions, he declared, were matters oil ad-
ministration and need not be inquired into at
this moment. In closing Mr.. Gompers thanked
the committee for their courtesy in hearing his
and expressed the hope that they
might be fruitful in good results.
Hon H. W. Blair, of New Hampshire, next ad-
dressed the committee. He said that he had
long favored a telegraphic system in connection
with the postal service. He traced the origin
and growth of the mail service from the post
man up to the fast mail trains, and urged that
our postal system would never be complete until
the government had annexed both the telegraph
and telephone as part of it
Mr.. Blair then spoke of the beneficial effects he
felt sure would follow not only to the business
Of the country by substantial lowering OF the
rates, but also in the speedy and
cheap Transmission of intelligence among the
entire people. More newspapers would be
started everywhere, and the papers published
in the smaller cities would be greatly improved,
as they would be enabled TO get the news on the
same terms as those of larger places He main
tanned that under the present system the num-
ber of newspapers was restricted. and instanced
his own town. where for the last fifteen years
there was a field for another paper, which could
not be supplied, because parties desiring TO es-
tablish. one were shut out from obtaining tel
egraphic news.
Congressman Mcguire, of California. stated
that he desired TO make an extended argument
later on, and requested that subcommittee be
appointed TO conduct the hearings
Chairman Henderson replied that subcom-
miitee would be appointed before the close of
the session.
Mr. S ii. Bell, secretary Of the committee on
ownership and control of the
Typographical Union, closed the
hearing by brief address of about ten minutes,
in which he summed up the case and urged that |
il was high time that action be taken
He emphasized the fact that the means of COM |
in every country should be under gov
ernment control and not reserved for monopo- |
stic corporation He had given the matter care |
ful attention for many years and felt that it |
was one of the most important matters for the |
people of this country of the middle classes He
also discussed the question whether the service |
under government control ought TO be revenue |
producing, and thought that it ought at the out
set. although he instanced the of the trans
mission of certain mail matter, especially news
paper publications. at a loss, n defense for |
ex xperimenting with low figures and recogniz- |
ing the educational advantages of cheap tolls |
and communication
Altogether the hearing was a very satisfac- |
tory one, and the consideration of the subject |
will be resumed at II o'clock this morning