New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-22
rcoN17NuRp FROM P1Rsr pAGR.l

property and business of the company
which it creates from State and municipal
taxation. 1t also makes the company the
agent OF the United States, Ed that the pub
lie would be as completely without redress
in case of neglect to forward and deliver
messages, as they now are for the loss OF
registered letters and other valuables in
trusted to the mails. AT the same time all
the risks of defalcations by postmasters
and clerks of theft or cOunterteiting of
stamps ale thrown upon the PostOtfice De
paitment. The Western Union Telegraph
Company does not desire that the govern
ment shall purchase their property 1t has
confidence in the future growth Of the coun-
try in population, commerce and wealth
In the benefits of that growth the
telegraph must largely participate
1t relies upon the future for just return
for the great expenditure it has already
made and is still making to enlarge and
improve its service. If, however, this com
pany fails to meet the just expectations OF
the public, it is suggested that the true
remedy is to require the surrender of its
property under the conditions of the law of
1866. But until state of things exists
which makes interference by the govern
ment necessary for the protection of public
interests, this company asks to bc per-
mitted to control and conduct its own bust
ness without congressional intervention.
We demonstrate against the passage of
this bill because it would depreciate the
company's property for the benefit of pri-
vate parties. 1t can not be that Congress
would enact a law the necessary and direct
effect Of which would be to depreciate the
value of private property which they have
the right to purchase, with view to dimin-
ish the compensation to be paid therefor.
When this company accepted the provisions
of the act OF 1866 it was upon the assumption
that a compact was thereby entered into by
the government and the company.
First-That we were not to be interfered
with by Congress until the expiration OF
five years.
Second-Thereafter we were only to be
liable to be dispossessed of our property, at
q valuation to be fixed by arbitratOrs, in
whose appointment we should have an equal
voice.
This company submits to the Senate,
whether the enactment Of such a law as
that reported by the committee would not
be violation of the compact into which we
entered, relying upon the good faith OF Con.
gress under that compact OF five years; and
second, that thereafter We are to-day trars-
hitting messages for every department of
the government, giving them priority over
all other business, at rates fixed by the
Postmaster, which do not pay us for the cost
of the service. Is it unreasonable in us to
ask as we now do, either that the compact be
performed on the part Of the government,
or that this company be released from its
obligations.
Common justice requires that if Congress
is to establish competing enterprise, in
which the government is to be the active
and responsible partner, it shall leave this
company untrammeled by the restraints
of a compact whose reciprocal conditions it
wholly disregards The owners of telegraph
property would be justified in petitioning
Congress for relief from many Of the bur-
dens it is obliged to bear. But this COM
pany ask nothing, except thorough in
vestigatiOn Of the subject, in which they
shall be permitted to answer any charges
affecting their administration, and that they
be allowed equal partici patiOn in whatever
privileges are offered by Congress with
view to making cheaper biography possible
The Western Union Telegraph Company
relies upon Congress to protect the property
from scheme which, while ii pretends to
promise desirable reforms, and provides
princely bonus Ostensiblv to secure them,
makes no provision either for compensation
to owners of private property destroyed, or
for securing the public any of the benefits
promised 1t. We are unable to regard it
otherwise than q scheme to enrich its pro-
nry, and at the expense Of the private in
terests which it seeks to supplant.
WILLIAM ORION.
HORACE +. CLARK,
E. D. MORGAN,
MOSES TAYLOR,
ALONZO b. CORNELL,
AUGUSTUS SCHELL,
Committee of the Board of Directors of the
Western Union Telegraph Company.