Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-09-30
IL

an Unlimited held TOT ulscussioh OF AIN
PROPOSED legislation for government
ownArship of telegraph lines.
Probably # is not generally recalled
that the subject was canvassed i'll the
infan&y of the electromagnetic teie-
graph and long before the Western
Unioh or any other telegraph company
was formed 1t was in 1874 that
Morses experimental telegraph lire
between Washington and Baltimore
was completed and the practicability
and utility of the invention demon
strated. AS Congress had apprQ-
priated $4,000 for the construction g
this line it had a claim on ii. Fog
more than a year that line of forty
miles constituted the telegraph system;
of the United States. In February,s
1915. a resolution was introduced in the
House of Representatives instructing
the ways and means committee to in
auire into the expediency of reporting
a bill to continue the telegraph limo
from Baltimore to New York, by way
of Philadelphia. The report of the
committee, submitted March g. 1S45.
was a clear and strong presentation
OIL the COItSlllutlOiiesl iiSht VI ehS o.
eminent to take over the telegraph and
extend the system, and of the benefits
and advantages that would accure from
such a policy. The report enlarged
upon the wisdom of the policy which
led the trainers of the constitution de
voted as they are known to have been
to the power and importance of the
states, and jealousy apprehensive OF
the undue preponderance of the Fed
eral branch, to ingraft on that branch
a power SO great, so growing, so pene-
trating and pervading as that of the
postoffice system"
1t pointed out the expansion of the
postal system and argued that "the
same principle which justified and de-
manded the transference of the mail
on many chief routes. from the horse
drawn coach on common highways to
steam-impelled vehicles on land and
water, is equally potent to warrant
the. calling of the electromagnetic tele-
graph-that last and most wondrous
birth of this mountaineering aSe-ln aid
OF the postoifice, in discharge of it's
great function of transmitting
correspondence and intelligence" 1t
emphasized 1.-The importance of the
government being able to transmit both
correspondence and intelligence quicker
and faster than any private company
could :" "For little more than $4,000 :"
said the report, Baltimore can be con-
nected with New York, and for like
sum New York with Boston. There
would then be an unbroken telc graphic
line from Boston to Washington. pass
ing through New York, Philadelphia,
Baltimore and the other considerable
towns on the route The inporta nee
of a government telegraph system in
time of war was pointed out and Its
value in uniting and holding together
distant parts of the Union.
The report closed by recommending
|;the passage of a bill authorizing the eX-
tension oE the telegraph from Baltimore
TO New York and urging prompt action,
tlest the patentee might be compelled
by pectlniary necessity to negotiate
with private company or individuals.
This is exactly what happened. Con-
gross took no action in the matter and
"a few mouths later the patentee closed
EYith cotspany which assumed con-
ltrok of the Business and became the
fforeEunneE OF the sWesternUnisn Com
pane which was formed. in 1856. The
fcoinlnfttee report from which we have
qnoted said: s'"s4isi,ld fthe arrange
| meets into whish patentee my
Find it necessary sehtar with private
or, ASSOC tiohs stipulate ex-
elusNe rights in i, THEIR favor, it is
manifest how sgreaEy gov ,rnment and
people would lieat their mercy"
This forecast made in ISIS. has beer
singularly verified. The people my
an average of % cents for a 1Owort
"hort-dstancc Telegram. while they
may send letter thousands of miles
ana even into neirhboring countries
recurring unlimited facilities in ca
and men for . cents. The > ceffI
| pays all the costs of transmission and
delivery Of the letter. while the .
cents must pay actual cost and prof
for the telegraph service and intcres
| on no one knows how much Wateret
stock OF course tn" comparison Il
not entirely parallel as the one ques
ton OF time is an important elenlen
| in favor of the telegraph. but ever!
one btli ives that the cost of Telegram
| service is far in excess of n measure
Of "r"asonable@ profit. "-Indianap poll
| News.