Question: Should the United States take immediate steps for the establishment of a complete system of government telegraph.

Brief for the Affirmative.R. T. Paine, Jr., and F. D. Peale.

I. Desirability of a change.

a. The present system is unsatisfactory.

b. A government establishment would better serve the business interests of the country.

II. The government has the constitutional right to establish a postal telegraph.

III. The government can successfully conduct such an establishment. W. S. Jevons, Methods of Social Re-

References are as follows: Nation, vol. 37, pp. 90 and 105, and vol. 38, p. 138; form, pp. 277-292; Gardiner G. Hubbard in No. Am. Rev., vol. 137, pp. 521 535; W. A. Phelp in No. Am. Rev., vol. 143, p. 35; Pop. Science Mo., vol 19 p. 402; British Quar. Rev., vol. 59, p. 454.

The best short reference is Report on Postal Telegraph, 48th Congress, 1st session, Senate Report, No. 577.

Brief for the Negative.H. S. Sanford and W. M. Willett.

The best brief argument is found in Dr. Green's statement, 48th Congress, 1st session Senate reports. No. 577.

I. Government competition with other companies impossible.- North American Review, Vol. 143, p. 38.

a. Competition without profit unfair to companies.

b. Competition illegal. Vide act of 1866.- Congressional Record for 1866.

c. Government lines would be expensive and ill managed.

II. Government monopoly of the Telegraph System undesirable.

a. Expense of the system.- Nation, Vol 15, p. 402, vol 16, p. 90.

b. Establishment of useless offices.

c. Government slower than the companies to meet the needs of the community.

d. Difficulty of management and open to danger of fraudulent manipulation.

III. a. Tendency to centralize power against all the traditions of the Republic.

b. Civil Service will be further impaired and demoralized.

IV. Danger to the country in having all political telegrams pass through government hands.