The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-18
SENATE TOLOOK INTO
MERITS OF TELEPOST
Resolution Carries Letter Of II.
Lee Sellers Urging Accept
ance Of Service.
CAUSES MUCH COMMENT
Chamberlain ReintrOduced the
Measure After Owen Had
Withdrawn II.

WASHINGTON. July 17.-The Senate to-
day passed a remarkable resolution Great
ing q special committee o. five Senators
ito investigate and report upon the
merits OF the telcpost. nov In operation
between St Louis and Chicago. as TO
word carrying capacity, accuracy.
economy. secrecy and general efficiency;
as to It's use in connection with the
Post ONCE Department and as to any
obstacles In the way OF its extension
either in connection with the Government
or otherwise
The resolution was amended by the
Senate Committee on Post Offices and
Post Roads by adding TO the above lam
guage the following:
And that the said committee Ia au-
tnorized to investigate and report upon
the merits OF the system of any other
person or company that may offer or
propose to perform the said service In
connection with the Post Office Depart
ment"
The committee of five is to be ap-
pointed by the Nice-Presdcnt from the
membership of the Senate and Is to In
clude the chairman OF the Post Office
and Post Roads Committee. Senator Bank
head Of Alabama.
Senator Robert l.. owen introduced the
resolution originally last November In
June. shortly before his departure for
Europe. Senator owen withdrew his reso-
luton, declaring that he was about to
become Interested In II and was unwilling
to be responsible. in any degree for any
action the Senate would or would not
take. He declared his friendship for IT,
Lee Sellers and r. II. Sellers the found
ers.
Eleven days later Senator Chamberlain
OF oregon reintroduccd the resolution and
II was referred to the Committee on Post
Offices and Post Roads. 1t was reported
I into the Senate to-day and called up by
Senator Chamberlain and passed without
debate
remarkable thing about the resolu-
ton Is that on the official print by the
Senate of the resolution there liz carried
letter written TO Senator Chamberlain
signed by H. Lee Sellers In which he
| outlines he plans OF he telepost people.
II was an unusual thing TO do and when
Senators sent for the resolution there was
much comment upon this innovation. The
! letter reads in part:
my DEAR SENATOR: In connection with
| the resolution we have asked YOU to in
| troduce | wish to say that while thor
ough investigation OF the telepost is sug-
gested and will be welcomed this is the
| least important work for tho committee,
| as these points have been settled By long
continued successful commercial opera
| ton.
The chief duty Of the proposed COM
| mittee will be to pave the way for the in
| PRODUCTION OF a new post Office service that
| has met with unqualified approval wher-
| ever and whenever presented.
| "he chief work OF the committee
| therefore will be to find out whether there
| are any obstacles In the way OF opening
up of the wired letter and card service
and IL any are found to remove them by
framing and securing the enactment of an
enabling act or such other legislation as
may be necessary
The Telepost Company had an Office
| for several years at 1873 East Sixteenth
street, where 1t shared a building with
the Sterling Debenture Corporation,
| which was selling Telepost stock. The
post office inspectors raided the Sterlr &
| Debenture Corporation office for using
| the mails to defraud in the sale OF on
ford Linen Mills stock and the officers
were convicted, but the Telepost went on
doing business, changing its name to the
Metropolitan Telephone and Telegraph
| Company.
This was the name Of the original
telephone company In New York. which
was taken over by the New York Tele-
phone Company. The latter got an in
| junction restraining the use OF the name
| and the Telepost Company moved to
New Jersey. The New York Telephone
Company subsequently got an injunction
| in that State also.
The Teepost Company 10 the promo
ton OF II. Lee Sellers, who in years past
has succeeded in getting the company be-
fore the Senate on several occasions. In
1910 Mr. Sellers induced Senator Smith
OF Michigan to Introduce a bill granting
| n franchise TO the company to operate
In the District OF Columbia. The bill
was reported out OF committee but died
later.
The stockholders. who have paid $40
and upward for their shares and who
have had no return yet. have been given
TO understand that Mr. Sellers expects
the Government to take over the COM
pany and buy up all the stock
The Telepost Company now has its Of
Ace at IO6 Lafayette street.