Omaha daily bee., 1898-12-11

TIME FOR THE POSTAL TELEGRAPH.
In time of peace prepare for war.
With this bit of condensed wisdom ex
banded In various forms congress will
be urged to make appropriations aggre-
eating millions upon millions for the re-
organization of the army, the enlarge
ment Of the navy, the strengthening OF
the coast defenses and a hundred and
one other purposes suggested by expert
nee In the recent war with Spain.
One of the great object lessons Of the
late war, as Of all modern wars, is the
absolute necessity Of government con-
troll Of the lines of telegraphic communi-
cation not only in the military field but
connecting the military forces with the
seat of government. Were the items Of
war expenditure examined they would
disclose huge sums paid to the telegraph
and cable companies for the voluminous
telegraphic and cable correspondence
rendered necessary by the operations
on land and sea. Just how much of the
war fund went for telegraph and cable
tolls is not yet ascertainable, but it Is
safe to say that 1t would pay interest
several times over upon all the capital
represented by the plant thus pressed
into the government service.
But 1t Is not the military prestige nor
the money saving alone that makes 1t
imperative for the United States to take
up the postal telegraph in the near fu-
ture. Since the military occupation Of
Cuba and Porto Rico by the United
States the government has been COM
PEELED to assume control and operation
Of existing ~telegraphs in those islands,
While the officers Of the signal service
upon whom has devolved this duty have
reopened the lines primarily for govern.
ment business, they have found them.
selves practically forced to accept COM
mercial messages for transmission.
Here the United States has another ex-
ample Of the time-proved fact that
under modern methods no sharp line Of
distinction can be drawn between OFF,
cia and private communication and
that the government must either op-
crate the machinery itself or remain
helplessly dependent upon private cor
porations who work the wires purely for
a profit and refuse to work them when
there Is no profit. If the latter course
is pursued the prime object Is often de-
feated in territory where, like Cuba
and Porto Rico, the commercial business
does not justify the operation of a tele-
graph system. Yet its operation Is alb
solutely essential to an efficient govern
ment whether 1t pays a profit or not.
The same is true in even more marked
degree with reference to the ocean ca
bles connecting these island possessions
with other parts of the world. Already
steps are said to be making for agree
mentS between The different govern
ments directly interested to guarantee
the neutrality Of the West India cables.
If the government Of the United States is
TO be responsible for these ocean cables
1t might as well acquire the ownership
and manage them through its own re-
spOnsible officers and employees.
From every point Of view no time was
ever more propitious for the United
States to enlarge its Postofice depart
ment by the acquisition Of a postal
telegraph. At no time has the govern
ment eve required the use Of the tele-
graph to such an extent To-" its own serv-
ice. At no time has the demand been
SO great for improved and enlarged
telegraph facilities in these sections Of
the country where rapid communication
owe long distances at reasonable rates
would be q potential factor in upbuild-
ing sparsely settled territory and de-
veloping unused esources. At no time
has the credit of the nation stood so
high and it's ability to raise the neces-
sary funds been SO great.
ignoring all the vast benefits that
would be conferred not only upon the
Industrial and commercial interests of
the country but upon the common peo-
pie, for whom t%elegraphic communica-
ton is now a rarely-enjoyed luxury, the
establishment of a postal telegraph
would be an economy for the govern
ment from the point of view both of
efficient and reliable service and of
actual outlay for the government bust
ness.