The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-03-16
MOVE ON THEIR LINES.
Throw Open the Telegraph and TeIe-
phone TO the Masses

PASAC ~ SAG @3@SSSS
There is no more oppressive restric-
ton resisting on the masses than the ex
orbitant charges on the use Of the tele-
graph and telephone in this country,
which practically debar the use Of these
great conveniences by the masses and
reserve their advantages to the few and
to pile up more millions for million
aires. In practically every country ex
cept ours the telegraph and telephone
are g part of the postal service, and
they are in use at nearly every post.
Office, even off railroad lines. The av
erage rate for kilograms IN Europa is 10
cents for 30 words, and in Italy as low
as 5 cents for 90 words. In England,
when the government took over the
telegraph and reduced the rate to 10
cents for 30 words, the number Of mes
sages promptly increased 80 times in
number. IN Switzerland, the govern
ment rental for a telephone, originally
SO per year, has been reduced to S. per
year and even in semi civilized Para
quay the government rental for q tele-
phone is only $12 per annum, Com
pare these rates for kilograms and
telephones with those the freesG people
In the world $50 called permit the
gigantic telegraph and telephone cor
porations to extort from us.
The telegraph in this country origi
nally Q844-4O belonged to the post
Office, and when from mistaken notions
OF economy congress permitted it to go
into private hands, Henry Clay, the
great whig leader, and Cave johnson,
the democratic postmaster general ear
nestly protested and prophetically fore
told the evils that have followed. Re-
peated attempts to restore these better
ments to the postCffce have been made,
supported by leading men OF ali par
ties, including five postmaster generals.
No less than Is congressional commit,
tees have from time to time reported
upon bills restoring the telegraph to
the postc flee; Of these, Is have re-
ported in favor of il, one report was
non committaI and one slightly ad-
verse. The telegraph monopoly, which
hnds it revenue better than q gold
mine, has always fought for delay and
by its powerful lobby at Warrington,
it's lavish issue of franks to congress
men and other public officials and it's
influence over the daily press, to which
it furnishes telegraphic news, has al.
ways 10 far, preveLte ted a roll call on
the measure. They will continue to do
80 as long as possible. There can be
little doubt that if the measure could
come to a vote public opinion would
force a result in the interest of the
people.
Now, a suggestion, as most of the
state legislatures are in session. Seeing
the great difficulty in getting a postal
telegraph and telephone bill through
congress, owing to the dilatory and OBJ
%structive tactics of the Western Union
lobby, and while waiting the passage
by congress of a postofice telegraph
and telephone act which shall give us
a uniform rate Of 5 (or 10Y cents be
tween any two points in the union, let
each state whose legislature re presents
the people and the corporations, pass
acts providing for a maximum rate fer
kilograms of 10 cents for 10 words for
a message between any points in lis
own borders, and a maximum annual
rental for telephones of $l2 at a resi-
dence and $18 at an Office or store.
This will % give the people immedi
ate relief, as the larger part Of teIe
graphing is done within state Iimits,
and it will incidentally cause a reduc-
ton in interstate rates.
~ By accustoming the people to
lower rates and legislative control of
telegraph and telephones it will hasten
public ownership.
60 1t will reduce the ~exorbitant
profits and salaries of these overgrown
corporations and disable them from
spending so much money in lobbying
and franks to prevent p~ostofice owner
ship of telegraph and telephones.
The power of state legislatures to
regulate the charges of t~elegraphs and
telephones within their own limits is
well settled by the decisions of the
United States supreme court.
In Kansas, the Morrill, bill is pend
ing to fix telegraph rates 10 cents for
10 body words between all points in
that state. In North Carolina bills
are pending in each house to fix the