El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-02-05
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has enacted a law prohibiting the send
ing OF international messag es between
any two land stations. one Of which
IS on the sol Of the United Kingdom
II Is also asserted that the government
has taken steps to prevent the injury
OF It's telegraph business by prohibit
ing wireless communication between
certain English cities
One Of those who has studied the
subject Of government ownership care
fully in England is Prof. H R Meyer.
former assistant professor of political
economy Of the university Of Chicago.
his conclusion is that all things con-
sidered, America. with its privately
owned telegraphs, is better off than
Europe with its government owned sys-
TENS.
The Wireless Problem.
Another important argument made
against the government acquisition OF
the telegraph systems Of the United
states is the fact that the great ex-
pendlture Of money which would be
needed 10 acquire existing telegraph
lines might be made next to useless
by improvements in wireless transmits
sion There are those who believe Il
VIII Be very dangerous investment on
the part Of the government to spend
nearly half g billion dollars for sys-
tens Of communication which might in
q decade be as obsolete as the stage
coach There are many people who be-
ieve that the government should &C
qulre control OF all of the wireless sys-
TENS OF the United States, and hold a
government monopoly OF them. They
believe that If the matter is not taken
IN hand, millions Of dollars may be in
vested In wireless companies and that
the government ever wishes to &C
quire them, IL will have to pay almost
a Drohibitive price.
The &C. n. d. Message.
The most interesting Investigation
yet made into the telegraph business
OF the United States, was made BY the
bureau OF labor IN 1908, under the au-
thOrity Of q resolution of the United
States senate. The investigation COW
cred companies handling interstate
business and dealt with the methods
of operation, salaries and wages paid
working conditions, and the receipts
and expenditures OF the various COM
psnies. 1t was found that the princi-
pal telegraph companies handle four
kinds OF business Service and wire
messages; &C. n D." messages; govern
ment messages and general business.
To these might be added the press ser
vice, and the transfer Of money BY
telegraph. Service and wire MESA ges
go free, and relate to the proper hand
ling OF the business Of the company
and the keeping in condition Of the
wires and apparatus. The &C n D."
messages come from what is known as
the commercial news department. They
consist Of stock quotations and similar
business Many business men have
wondered whether the government
would continue this service II the tele-
graph lines passed into its hands. A
number OF states have enacted legisla-
ton forbidding the transmission OF
such business and several bills have
been introduced in congress, looking
to the same end.
1t Is said that prior to 1908 the teIe-
graph companies had practice Of ex-
pediung the business Of favored pa
irons. A large establishment which
wished to get its messages through
with great promptness, would go to
the telegraph company and extract
from II a promise to give its business
priority. The company which was able
to promise the greatest expedition Sc
cured the business A pink slip at
-ached to a message gave 1t precedence
over the common run. It was declared
that this practice was entirely stopped
previous to the bureau OF labor fnves-
LEGATION These preferences were fire.
quenuy made In the promotion OF the
leading industry IN the community
where the business originated For in
stance, in the lumber regions, messages
dealing with the lumber business had
priority, while In the localities where
fruit raising was the dominant Indus
Try, messages relating TO the sale and
handling Of fruit took precedence.
Profit Of $500. 600.
In the bureau Of labor Investigation
1f 1908 the Western Union Telegraph
company stated that it could not tell
how many franks" passes and dead
head messages had been issued and
,arried in its business. The fact was
brought out that the Western Union.