The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-02-23

telegraph property OF the corporation,
created by the States and now engaged
In tue business, we are not informed
They are authorized to issue 1000,
900 Of It's stock for the expenses OF tht
organization, and as there Is nothing d
the bill to prevent the distribution ofthil
stock among the Corporators, we assume
that 10 be their expectation. The bill
contains no provision requiring the con
tribution Of any money as the basis fol
the issue Of such stock, the stock being
entitled to receive dividends atthe rate d
ten per cent per annum, SO that Con.
gress Is In effect in imposing tax pI
ono hundred thousand dollars q year %
DC levied, either upon the postohice or
the senders Of messages, 10 give a bonus
to the benefciaries under this bill, as an
tndncemcnt to engage in business in
which they have now no investment, and
III tho conduct Of which they have no OK.
perlence. II It bethe policy Of the gov.
ernment to give so large bonus to en-.
courage investments Ia telegraphic enter.
prises, we submit that Justice requires that
companies now engaged in the business,
and whose property Is at hazard, shall
at best be permitted to compete for the
gilt. NJ. fTi Jl -' lI7 !
3, The bill provides that certain ex.
penses heretofore borne by the telegraph
companies, such as rent, lights, fuel, mes
sengers and clerical service, and also for
stamps, shall hereafter be borne by the
Postoflice Department, the inference being
that the necessary labor can be performed
without increasing either the number OF
officials or the expense of the department,
and that II Is on account OF the saving
thus effected that the telegraphic service
can be performed by the corporation
created by the bill at rates which all past
experiences In this country has found to
be Improbable. The fact that this illusive
feature has escaped the scrutiny
OF the Committee on POstoffices and
Fost Roads Is another evidence
OF the injustice of acting on the
bill, without subjecting It's provisions
to the critcisms OF interested and com.
petent experts. The bill provides for a
class OF messages, (section 10Y termed
registered kilograms, which shall have
priority OF transmission, and on which
double rates may be charged On exam.
lining the report of the committee, to as.
certain the reason for comforting privi.
lcge Of such immense value, we find no
reference made to the subject. This com.
pany demonstrate against scheme which
gives million dollars and creates new
monopoly under the pretence of checking
an existing one, and which under the
plea Of etfectiug greater reduction OF
rates than was obtained in Great Britain,
coyertly authorizes putting aside ordinary
messages of the public, whatever the
pressure of their necessities, and giving
up the wires to priority messages at dou-
BILE rates; the effect Of which would inevi-
tably be to establish the priority rates
for oil messages requiring immediate dis.
patch. The priority rates under this bill
are higher than the present average
rates. We demonstrate against the
passage OF bill which proposes to hire
out the government postoflice, furnished,
warmed and lighted, and the services of
the government employees to private
parties, unless to the highest and most
responsible bidder. Especially do we
protest against being excluded from such
competition, and being put on the defen.
sive by those whose Investments in the
business Willsbe made, ifmade at all, after
they have received from the gratuities
which the bill proposes to confer.
4. The bill in effect exempts the prop.
erty and business Of the company, which
It creates from State and municipal taxa.
tion. 1t alAo makes the company the
agent Of the United States, so that the
public would be as completely without
redress in case of neglect to forward and
deliver messages, as they are for the loss
Of registered letters and other valua-
bles intrusted to the mails. At the
same time all the risks OF defalca.
ton by postmasters, and clerks of
theft or counterfeiting of stamps are
thrown upon the Postofilce Department.
The Western Union Telegraph Com.
pany does not desire that the Govern.
ment shall purchase their property 1t
has confidence in the future growth of
the country in population, commerce and
wealth. In the benefits Of that growth
the telegraph must largely participate. 1t
relies upon the future Tor a just return for
the great expenditure it has already made
and is still making 10 enlarge and improve
its services. II, however, this company
fails to meet the just expectations OF the
public, it is suggested that the true rene.
dy is TO require the surrender Of its prop
erty under the conditions OF the law Of
1916. But until a state of things exists
which makes interference by tile Gov
eminent necessary for the protection OF
the public interests, this company asks to
be permitted to control and conduct It's
own business, without Congressional In.
tervention. We demonstrate against the
passage Of this bill, because it would dc.
preciate the value OF the Company's pro.
perty for the benefit Of private parties.
1t cannot be that Congress would enact II
law, the necessary and direct effect effect
OF which would be to depreciate the val.
ue OF private property, which they have
the right to purchase with view to tli.
mtnish the compensation to be paid there.
for. When this Company accepted the
provisions of the act OF 1916, it was upon
the assumption that q compact was there.
by entered into between the Government
and the Company: M
First-That we were not To be inter.
lered with by Congress until the cxpira.
tion Of five years, and
Second-That thereafter We were only
to be liable TO be dispOssessed Of our
property AZ valuation TO be fixed by
arbitrators, in whose appointment we
should have au equal voice. This Com.
pany submits to tho Senate whether the
enactment Of such a law as that reported
by the committee would not be a viola.
tion of the compact into which we
entered. Relying upon the good faith Of
Congress under that compact, we are to.
day transmitting messages for every de.
partment OF the government, giving them