The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-09-09
THEY BELONG TO THE PosToFFIcE

Although the United States is credited
with being the freest and most advanced
nation in the world, the people of this
country are still lacking in some of the
advantages enjoyed by those living under
more autocratic form of government,
and there is no doubt that they bear
without complaining many burdens which
less law-abiding and self restraining
population would soon relieve themselves
of by revolution and bloodshed. They
are cursed with monopolies of many
kinds, created and fostered by protective
system, which was well enough in it's in
ception, but which, now that its work is
ended, tends toward the consolidation of
the industries and wealth of the country
into the hands of few at the expense of
the many.
This is especially true of the telegraph
and telephone systems. In all European
countries of advanced civilization these
services are part of the postoffice and
their increased use has made them the
sources of extensive revenue to the gov
eminent. This consolidation has resulted
in a substantial reduction of the rental of
telephones and in the cost of messages by
telegraph, which puts them within the
reach of all classes OF the people and
therefore largely increases the pecuniary
returns. In Switzerland the government
charges So per annum for the use of a tel.
ephone and in Sweden the yearly rental
is only Sc; while the usual charge for
telegram in all the enlightened countries
except the United States is 10 cents.
In view of these facts it may we'll be
asked why the people of this country,
with so many facilities for developing and
extending their telegraph lines, should be
charged doubly and even trebly as much
as those of other countries not enjoying
one-half the advantages that we posse SIS?
This is a government for the people, by
the people, and yet the facts show that
they are enormously and most unnecessa-
rily taxed to support one of the greatest
monopolies in this or any other country,
the Western Union Telegraph Company.
The figures show that less than $500, 900
in cash have ever been paid in by the stock
holders of this corporation, and yet the
capital stock is now over 500, 600, 900, all
either water or the net earnings of the
company, over and above the large annual
dividends to the stockholders.
1t is making millionaires constantly,
and yet the people are bearing the bur-
dens comparatively almost without COM
plant, when it is within the option of the
government to take possession of the sys-
tern at any time. The telegraph in this
country originally belonged to the post
Office, but it was turned over to a private
corporation. The act of Congress of 1867
gives the Government the right to take il
back at any time, and every mile of line
built since then has been in the full
knowledge of this option. AS the service
is now run the rates are out of all propor-
ton to the Accommodations. While the
postoflice is conducted on system nearly
hhlf century behind that of progressive
nations. With this telegraph and telephone
eliminated it is nearly as Anticipated,
compared with the advantages afforded by
electricity in the countries of Europe, ms
the old system of our forefathers in the
latter part of the eighteenth and the
beginning of the nineteenth century.
The remedy is, however, in their own
hands, and the people should apply it
without delay by making the Telegraph
and telephone part of the postal system.
When this is done the mails of this coun-
try will be delivered with a promptness
and celebrity that will distance all compet-
itors, while at the same time the increased
use of the telegraph and telephone will
enable the Government to make the most
substantial reductions. both in the mes
sages of the one and the annual rental of
the other. Surely the people will not
much longer rest quietly under the cx-
tortions of this monopoly, when they have
only to will the change and it will be
effected.
A RAINED CONSULAR SERVICE.