The Louisiana populist., 1897-02-19
2. There would be loss If 1t did.

quoted unueE private eulel ~ Ase'
4. The government rates would be
higher.
5, And the use of the telegraph
would decrease.
6. The government service would be
nonprogressive. no stimulus to inven-
ton, etc.
T. The secrecy of messages would be
violated.
8. The telegraph would be used as
party machine.
9. The government could not be
sued.
10. To establish a public telegraph
would be an arbitrary and unjust inter-
ference with private interests. The
companies had risked their capital in
the new enterprise, and just as they
were about to get their reward the gov
ernment was going to take the busl-
ness away from them. Private enter
prise experimental, and the people
wanted to steal the fruit.
These objections are very familiar.
Our monopolists know them by heart
and use them over and over, taking
no notice of the answers to them no
matter how many times they are re-
futed. It is easy to answer them q
priori, cnd the overwhelming demon
stration of their falsity by the 'actual
experience of England ought TO nave
buried them forever beyond the posi-
bility of disinterment.
1. 1t is the governments business W
transmit intelligence, and tnat Dusi
ness includes the use Of the telegraph
and all other appropriate means Oh
transmission.
2. II rates remained the same al
increase OF profit instead Of loss was E
10 be expected by reason OF the ecoho,
mics that would result from a uhlteu
telegraph in combination with 1he
postal service, The people could keep
rates up and realize large prof1t, or
put rates down, thereby increasing the
usefulness Of the telegraph and taxing
their profit in the form Of more ana
better service for the same money
They did the latter, and, as matter
of fact, they have saved. at the lowest
estimate, S150,00o,0O0 in twenty-five
years. The telegraphing they have
done would have cost them at least
$3.50, coo, 900 more than 1t has COST, IN
Guiding expenses Of operation, exten-
sions, repairs, interest on the capital
water purchase and all.
8. It stands to reason that servant
appointed and paid by himself, anu
whose avowed interest and effort are to
line his own pocket with the utmost
possible ""giltiness" consistent with his
personal safetn-it stands to reason
that such a servant will not conduct
your telegraph or any other business
Of yours as we'll as you can DO 1t your
self or have it done by your own
, agent. AS matter Of fact, the public
, telegraph service turned out to be
vastly superior to the private telegraph
> service according to the universal YER
dict Of the English people.
4. It was reasonable to expect tha'
: the government rates would be lower
3 because the government would work a
$ cost and would, moreover, secure al
: absolute economy relatively to private
s corporations in the conduct of the tel
s egraph. In fact, the rates dropped a
G once one-thirdo to two-thirds, average
one-half,o and afterward the ordinar!
= inland rate was again reduced almos
one-half.
s S. The use OF ths telegraph doubled
70 the first year.
d 6. The government service has adopt
q ed new inventions and shown pro
It gressive spirit in respect to employe
IS as we'll as the service OF the pubic.
10 4. There has been no complaint G
ID violation Of secrecy.
J. s. Nor the least suspicion OF partlsa
le use.
a. 9. The government can be sued an
er is sued. Claims against the govern
W ment are tried judieially the same
W other claims.
er 10. Interference with private intc1
ct ests to accomplish public good is nj
Of arbitrary and unjust; it Is the very e.
ly sence OF justice and good governmen
We The private interests OF gamblers, 81
ad loonkeepers, opium sellers, shipowne
&c housebuilders, powder makers, bol
b. grinders, grain elevator men, etc., pr
ex vate interests both good and bad, a
zee interfered with for the sake OF the pu
cir lie welfare. Telegraph interests for
ph no exception. The companies had
ch ready received large returns on the
es- investment and would receive full COZ
/ a pensation for their capital when t
ng public took their plant-more than II
compensation as it turned out.
sh The companies themselves kns
wn enough to understand that all tn
We pleas from one to nine were nonsense
the mere scarecrows to frighten ignora
m timidity. 1t is possible they mig
aes have put some faith in the tenth poi
OF Men who have long enjoyed the pr
hlc ilege Of putting their hands in tn
re- neighbors' pockets may really regs
m an interference with their time ht
ant ored custom as arbitrary and unju
hou ~