The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-04-20

C6lV0 E0&SOuhUIo SaAhEIGPS duO WOOIN
have, like other postofice officials,
some stability Of tenure.
The object of government in opera
ting the telegraph and telephone serv-
ice will not be to extort high rates to
pay great salaries and dividends on
a six fold watered stock, but to oper
ate this department. of the postal serv-
ice as it does the others, upon fair sal
aries to men and officers and at as near
cost as possible-no profits are desired.
Then, too, instead of restricting itself
to 81, 900 selected points, the govern
ment would utilize the rs, 900 postC Mces
and steadily increase their number.
The increased business would greatly
increase the pay of country postmas-
ters, now inadequate, while the tele-
phones and telegraph instruments be-
ing placed in the postC mces the rents
now paid for Offices by the private
companies would be a clear saving to
the government.
It has been objected by the Western
Union lobby lists that the telegraph and
telephone system could then be con
trolled for partisan purposes. But we
know that the postof1ce officials in the
last campaign were not so controlled
while c~apitalistic pressure was brought
to bear as far as possible upon nearly
every telegraph operator who could be
reached. There is every reason to
believe that under government con.
troll messages would be more sacred
than under the present system. AS to
telephones for private use, the govern
ment in Switzerland rents them at S.
per annum, and even in Paraguay tie
government charges only $12 per an
mum.
But it may be asked why the govern
ment has not been pressed to take this
step when all other governments have
adopted electricity as a motive power
in their postofice economy.
The telegraph in this country origi-
nally Q844-4O belonged to the post
office, and when, from mistaken no,
tions of economy, congress permitted
it to go into private hands, Henry Clay,
the great Wing leader, and Cave John
son, the Democratic postmaster-gen-
eral, earnestly protested and prophet
cally foretold the evils that have fol-
lowed. Repeated attempts to restore
these betterments to the p~ostofice have
been made, supported by leading men
of all parties, including five postmas-
ter general. No less than Is congress
sional committees have from time to
time reported upon bills restoring the
telegraph to the postofice; of these 16
have reported in favor Of it, n re-
port was -committal and one
slightly adverse. The telegraph mo
nopoly, which finds it's revenue better
than a gold mine, has always fought
for delay and by its powerful lobby at
Washington, its lavish issue of franks
to congressman and all public officials
and it's influence over the daily press,
to which it furnishes telegraphic news,
has always, sc far prevented a roll call
on the measure. They will continue to
do go as long as possible. There can
be no doubt that if the measure could
come to a vote public opinion would
force a result in the interest of the peo-
pie.
In 1868, indeed, the Western Union
was virtually whipped and promised to
surrender if given two years to wind
up, and the act was passed, which is
still on the statute book, that all tele:
graph lines built after that date should
be built with the notice that the gov
eminent could, at will, take them over
upon an appraisement of the value of
the plant-Without franchise being al
lowed for. But by the next congress
the Western Union was strong enough
to prevent a vote and has been so in
every congress since.
Boards OF tradein Boston, New York.
Chicago and other leading cities have
petitioned congress for a postal tele.
graph. AS far back as 1870 the legis,
latures of Massachusetts, Alabama and
Nebraska did the same, and the legis
latures of Nevada and Nebraska, in
1873, and%he legislatures of other States
have followed their example.
The report Of Postmaster General
Wanaraaker several years since, con.
tanned a list of official bodies and Ia
Dor, and other organizations which
had asked congress for this great boon
and betterment and the bare list Gov
cred several pages. But the people
have Sc far ask ed in vain. The Yves.
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