The news & observer., 1897-07-29
IS THE FIFTEEN CENT RATE TOO lOW?


1t is understood tba- the telegraph com
lpanies will resist the reduction IN the
nr;ce of messages in North Carolina from
twenty-five to fifteen cents, and may take
the matter to the Federal courts.
The New Orleans Times-Democsat, one
of the leading Democratic papers in the
country, is highly gratified at the action
of the North Carolina Commission, and
iustifes the reduction that has been made
in the following able editorial:
''The good work has begun. Ehe North
Carolina Railroad Commission CAST week
reduced the rates on telegrapfAc MESA
ges within the State to fifteen: cents for
ten words, the reduction to take effect
September l. That is, a telegram can
be sent after September FROM any point
in North Carolina to any other point in
the State for fifteen cents, a reduction of
from 40 to 20 per cent. on the present
rates
'"This is on the line suggested by the
Times Democrat some time ago, that the
best way to deal with this monopoly is to
attack it through the undouhied right of
the State to fix telegraph tolls within
their limits. When the power of the COM
pany has thus been crippled, and its exor-
bitant profits cut down, it vial be an easy
matter to secure an act from Congress
providing for the Federal control of the
telegraph 1t was in this way that we
secured the interstate commerce law. Con-
lgress would never have passed that law
had not the States taken Che initiative,
created railroad commissions and proved
that State regulation was in the interest
of the public and necessary for its pro-
lection from extortion, oppression and IA
voritism on the part of the railroad COM
panies. BY the by, the r&ilrOad owners
shouted 'Populism'' then as the Western
Unions friends are doing Today.
"When it is shown that the States can
control the telegraph and fix the rates
of telegraph tolls, and that it is to the
public advantage for them to do so, pre-
venting gross spoliation and robbery,
there will be little difficulty in getting
favorable action from Congress, either in
fixing rates, or, better still.sin establishing
a postal telegraph; for willie reduction
lin rates is one Of the improvements we
one.
"The action Of the North Carolina Com
mission in reducing the Geographic tolls
in that State is all the Iaore gratifying
for the reason that the western Union
made fight against it; hut as we have
frequently shown, whenever this question
is brought up for discussion and action.
the inevitable conclusion = reached that
the present service is poors and the rates
charged exorbitant. Thf is why the
Western Union is afraid tc. have the mat
ter discussed, for the discussion always
results to its disadvantage,
''In the North Carolina Legislature
bill was introduced at the late session fix-
ing the telegraph rate ats fifteen cents
between any two points in the State. The
Western Union sent it's lobby down to
Raleigh to watch the work, and the bill
was beaten by exactly one vtte, so closely
did the lobby calculate its strength and
use it's victory. But it was "a barren VIC
tory, for the State Railroad Commission
has the right to fix telegraph rates, and it
did so last week, making ths. tolls exact
ly what the Legislature hfd proposed.
The Western Union lobby Hould not get
in it's work this time.
"Although the reduction in the tele-
graph rate in North Carolin& is very en-
couraging, being a cut of 4e to 70 per
cent. on existing rates, it is snot oppres-
sive; the Railroad Commission has left
the Western Union a very5 handsome
margin Of profit, as the following table of
charges in other countries for: kilograms
shows: