New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-27
Thu rcport which ch,r,cteri,e, the western Unk'n
"a an a,inirabIe oosItop proceeds to say

The report which charactcrizes the western UNI
figures ~ an admirable exposition, proceeus W say
r.grstt placed BY the r6s o. ~
for tbs qualification Of csreus pabe eq1a lucid
,ss 'moSnt Of c p. paid 10 y the % IL b.sn
The Western Union report was written for the informa
ton OF the stockholders of that Company, and Dot o
the qualification OF curious public" III III hdn VoCui
10 It's author that n Government official would have TIE
leisure and disposition TO occupy himself with criticism
OF It's details TO be embodied IN pubic document, ~
haps pains would have been taken to supply maze
rial for the qualification or such eminent curiosity LUIS
biz OF dgnied pleasantly is succeeded by tho ioo"ns
"g.tea a. he mus, have been b. contemplation in
9, u, Gs P sp nd rs ss T ss IN & nss Sa rom
rrp9I that the time pot distant rne1 s "esn VGSp
which, hsandns the enormous growth Of the last seven ye"
This is followed by what purports to be an extract
from the Western Union report which its President did
not write which was not read at tue annual meeting OF
Official copy Of tho report in The Journal Of The Tee.
When a Cabinet Minister attacks private citizen VINO
sstains relation business or to his Depart
and swaps the dignity OF Official report TOT an
opportunity to excite ,gidicule comment would Oe
The Postmaster General concludes follows;
SELL CRUSHED OUT ~,
The telegraph ,eo be mad. par, ns pe' I., Nv %
ton given In the third seon OF July "a 1855 to appoint.
.S a "a g. . sss sa' cS@s.
Tsf max. % l a a p5%sas o tho
Telegraph and for the construction Of al 'ch Ines as nay Dc &
Army"
lnauguras the postal telegraph by acquiring 1.-THE lines
OF alp Of the present companies, tne siuio
official recommends: First, that instead OF aaopling
SHOULD DO put entirely into the hands OF the Govern
ment But second, II II is decided that the pubic IN
Government should not favor one private company 10
the exclusion OF another nor should 1T In snyWise enter
into competition with private enterprise" ,
shall not attempt TO reconcile or explain inc direct
conflict be.geen these two recommendations Inc
lect Of ID
upon tho recOmnen daton made year ago Is an lndca
ton that in their opinion the pnblc interest does not
require The postal telegraph Therefore there was no
occasion to exercise the discretion gwen IN the ACT OF
1ny IT. g and 10 ee Of a telegraph
There. is no authority for the statement tn ho
unwilling make voluntary sale at fair price.
That Company has accepted the terms OF the act OF
property to the Government whenever Congress gives
notice OF the desire to buy and requests tne appont
ment OF competent. dnterested persons 70 ass,su IN
the valuation. TIE valuation, as liked IN the manner
prescribed by that act will be accepted by te company
as - a fair price," No officer OF the Government has
been authorized ask the company to name the price
which they willing to accept. nor has any slch ON
Ger authority to purchase the conpanys properly,
however satisfactory the price might be at which they
should offer to sell. 1t may DO safely assumed tnat;
under existing laws, the managers o inc cOppany WIZ
not be willing 20 make private oargan WIN to t S
General for the sale OF their lines nor 90 tney
believe that the country Will ever be SATISFIED 10 ihauSu
rate the postal telegraph In that way
TAXING CITIZENS TO PAY THE COST OF DESTROYING
THEIR PROPERTY.
There only remains TO be considered the recommenua
ton OF the Postmaster General that Congress authorize
tho construction Of lines required for the immediate
establishment OF the postal telegraph Can 1t be that
the PostmasterGeneral expected a proposition to be
seriously nsdered which cOntemplates employing pub
lc MONEYS collected from the people by taxation. TO set
up Government In business az the competitor or p
yste citizensl Coming executive officer OF a
Republican Government whose powers are defined ana
limited by constitution and laws, the proposal Is
simply monsrous Ii there no such prohibition In
the Constitution the common sense OF an intelligent
people would revolt at the suggestion that private prop
erty should be taken for public without just com
pensation' But to public moneys To destroy prl
yate property By Governmental competition would he
moro uajus than to take 1t without compensation la
the latter case its would lose only It's value
while the former they would make the same loss, ana
In addition thereto be obliged to contribute IN taxes
their pro rata share OF theost OF its destruction The
Of tee graph property startled as they may well
be at this extraordinary proposal, need have no
apprehension OF its being carried into effect The people
OF the United States intelligent and just, and the
Congress they have chosen, faithfully representing
them, will require the Government 10 show the same
respect private property and private rights that the
common law requires each citizen to SHOW To every
other have the honor to be- Sir very respectfully,
your obedient servant, WILLIAM OKIoN'