The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-07-16
TELEGRAPH TOLLS
SHOULD Be LOWER
Congressman Smith of Michigan
Believes Cost of Messages
Can BE Reduced.
COMPANIES SHOULD USE
MORE MODERN METHODS
Effort Will Be Made to Secure
Legislation on This In
portant Point.
Special to The Tribune.


WASHINGTON, July 15.-Congress-
man S. w. Smith of Michigan, who has
pending a bill in the House TO force
q reduction OF telegraph rates through
out the country, says there Is not
shadow Of doubt that If the tele-
graph companies would use the mod
ern ideas and inventions which have
been perfected they could largely cut
down the prices now charged for the
transmission OF kilograms. He made
one speech on the subject during the
last session of Congress, and is pre-
pairing to make another next winter,
end since Congress adjourned, while
locking for material bearing on the
su bject he has made the discovery
that Hon. Don NJ. Dickinson OF Michi-
gan, while master-General under
Cleveland, held the same views that
Mr.. Smith Is now exploiting. In No
vember, 1858. Mr.. Dickinson wrote into
his annual report the following signifi-
cant statements,
Problems Can BE Solved.
"If the correspondence of the coun-
try is to continue TO be under the
charge and protection OF the Govern
ment. the vast and increasing volume
conducted by telegraphy and the right
Of the great body of the people TO be
afforded facilities for the best and
QulCkeSl dl ldlGS NlNHl|i
the means OF all. Will press this sub
ject upon the attention of the Con-
gress with more and moro urgency.
The chief difficulties In the way are
tho great cost OF present methods and
the absence Of safeguards, which, ac-
cording TO the theory of the present
mail service, should protect the privacy
of correspondence. l have given the
subject consideration, and I believe
that the inventive genius OF this coun-
try has reached a stage In discovery in
electric science when these problems
may be solved, The subject is of such
great Importance TO the people that I
believe an opportunity should be given
for the presentation and examination OF
Inventions which have been informally
presented to the committees of Con-
gress, the department and the public,
and that a stimulus should be given to
inventors - turn their attention 10
the improvement OF old methods. ] rec
ommend the appointment of commits
sion of competent and disinterested
men, learned In the science, who may
examine inventions and invite others,
who shall be authorized to erect short
experimental lines, and who shall re-
port to the President or the Congress
the result Of their Investigations"
VIII Use These Suggestions.
at shall incorporate Mr.. Diclinson's
suggestions In my speech In the House
next winter" said Mr., Smith, I'm con-
versation on the subject. and l in-
tend to call particular attention to threa
of his statements-the great cost Of
present methods, the desirabllity of
asking Inventors TO study the quss-
ton. and the extreme likelihood that
new inventions can be made to Solve
the question OF cheaper TRANSMISSION
OF kilograms. I am prepared tP DEM
onstrate to the House and TO th9 coun-
try that invention in this particular
field has now progressed far snaugh to