National Republican., 1873-11-22

been accomplished by met pronts,"it is TO be
regretted that there had not been placed by the
side OF u, for tho gratinoatlon OF curious pub.
lic, an equally lucid statement Of the amount OF
cash capital paid ip by the stockholders OF the
Western Union Company and OF the companies
out OF which II has been compounded. Eiated
a. he must have beon by contemplation OF the
manner In which The "not pronts" had swept
away all opposition, present or prospective, Pfes-
ialent Urton might well say, IN the LANGUAGE
tant when the Western Union Company will be
without q substantial competitor In the conduct
OF business which, notwithstandlng the enor-
nous y. growth Of the last sevon years. still Is In
What pleasing prospect for the peoplel Here
y Is In brief powerful monopoly, unchecked
sdroiiy securea posssssion Of he WI whole country,
and now issues its proclamation that henceforth
there will DO no more competition, no more re-
duetions Of rates, bat always Irregular divi-
Hut the president Of tho Western Union Com
pany did not exhaust his candor In the quotation
issued TO Government ofliolais constitute nearly
third Of the total complimentary business. The
wires OF the Western Union Company extend
Within .ss $ Of he usea e, an nsc
four Of the British PROVINCES. In all OF them our
property 10 more or less subject to the actiono
a.s 81 "ns: s%ons
them has been tho means OF saving 70 the Com-
pany many times The money-value OF the free
Ia another part Of the sane report Il is stated
that the total complimentary business amounted
during the last year 10 tSs,0Jo. Then, assuming
the assertion last cited 10 be correct, the "judi-
clous use" OF complimentary franks to the
amount Of fip,1a5 secured such action or nom
| action, whichever the company desired, on the
part OF the oflalAls Of the United states and Of
ihlrty-seven states, nine Territories, and four
/ Provinces, as was equivalent 70 "many times the
money value Of the free service performed =
Truly most "judicious use" Of patronagei For
principal legislative, executive and judicial ON.
GERS OF the governments, States, Territories and
Provinces above mentioned, the average value
| Of tho complimentary frank" to each person
conld not have exceeded %, or SO At the utmost
IT'S presumed that hereafter very few ''oficlais'
will be willing to accept any courtesy, great OF
small, from the Western Union Company, now
| will place the recipients OF its favors upon ~
| roll OF retaners and advertise them as such.
| Tho telegraph should be made part of thu
postal system without further delay. As Con
gress docs OF seem inclined to exercise the dis
erection given In tho third section Of the act o.
July ~, 1896, to appoint appraisers 10 value the
''llnes, property and efects' Of the companie,
now IN operation, and az the Western Uniot
Company appears to be unwilling to make vol
provision be made by law for the Immediate es
| tablishment Of tue postal telegraph, and for tn,
i construction OF all such lines as may be needed
under the direction OF competent officers OF tn,
i engineer corps Of tho army. The experienc,
| they acquired during the war Of the rebellion
| would enable them TO do the work In the mos
economical and satisfactory manner.
| Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Jso. A. j. CREswsII, Postmaster General.
/ Ths Tff.fySaf