In reply to this flattering picture of the Belgian system of telegraphy
we quote the following from a recent English publication:[15]—
Footnote 15:
Government and the Telegraphs. London, 1868.
“The government of Belgium not only have a monopoly of the
telegraphs and post-office, but also of most of the railways of the
country. They work the system as a whole. In the case of ordinary
half-franc telegrams, the messages are not uniformly despatched by
messenger from the office at which they arrive, _but are sent to the
residence of the receiver by post_!
“The administration of the Belgian telegraph in no respect holds
itself responsible for the delivery of a message, unless it is
specially insured and additionally paid for. They decline all
responsibility on account of delay in the transmission or
non-arrival of a half-franc telegram. _They will not even inquire
into the cause of delay of a half-franc telegram!_ No matter how
long a message has taken in delivery, or whatever may be the errors
in it, the government will make no compensation to the sender or
receiver, except under very exceptional circumstances. Moreover, the
twenty words forwarded for half a franc includes addresses both of
sender and receiver, ‘all of which is free in this country.’”
For further particulars relative to the Belgian telegraph service
reference is made to pages 5, 7, 8, 13, 16–24.