New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-07

TIE UNDERGROUND TELEGRAPH BILL.
The warmth with which Mr.. Cornell the act
ing President of the Western Union Telegraph
Company, in his letter to the Editor of HE
TRIBUNE, published yesterday, resented any
intimation that the Company had improperly
approached members Of tho Legislature
in connection with the proposed Under
ground Telegraph bill, conveys the impress
sion that the Company has taken new posi-
ton in regard to such matters Indeed, Mr.
Cornell stated in so many words that III Is
"an in1exiblc rule Of the Company, which has
"never yet been departed from, to refuse ana
crescent all such Oyertures when made, and
"never to make or allow them to be
matchmaking by this improper and corrupt
Ovcrtures for influence or votes In their
behalf In the strict sense of his words, DIR.
Cornell's statements are doubtless entirely true.
But there il broader construction OF the
term improper Overtures in which we fear ne
is not absolutely correct, or at least is dlsln-
genuous. When the Western Union Company
substantially, or through subordinates or agents
or interested associates employs Senator Conk-
ling in matter tho decision of which rests
with an authority whose official exist
enco depends largely upon his good will,
it is doing by indirectiOn precisely what Mr.
Cornell SO warmly condemns, to wit; approach
ing improperly the sources of power An in
Glance of this circuitOus approach, this method
of influencing decisions by indirection, Is quito
fresh in the public mind, and unfortunately
the reason for the employment OF Mr. COnk-
ling was so apparent that the Company
would find it impossible to convince the pub
lie that he owed his retainer to anything ex-
ccpt his political position and influence. We
shall DO glad to see Mr.. COrnelrs sensi-
tivencss on behalf of tho Company ex-
tended so rs to cover cases of this
sort. The methods of indirectiOn by
which great corporations influence legis-
Iation and affect the settlement OF con-
trOversios are quite as dangerous to good
morals Us open bribery. And they have become
so fashionable of late years that we shall be
GLAD to see so powerful corporation as
the Western Union taking stand against them.
AS to the assertion of Mr. Cornell, regarding
tho proposed underground telegraph bill, that
sit would destroy the telegraph In New ork
"City,r we are 10th to believe that the gentle
men in the direction of that Company have
definitely determined that no improve
ment upon the present unsafe system or con-
veying the wires upon unsi1htly and incon-
vcnient poles is possible especially when In
other countries underground telegrGphing has
been an absolute success. We can well I'M
dcrstand how the conservative disposition
of capital should make a show OF
opposition to proposal involving
an expenditure which might diminish by a
very small fraction the next regular dividend.
But tho benefit to be derived is so great, the
interests of tho community upon whose good
will the Company depends for its profits
and its existence are so vitality connected
with it that o wise regard for tho future
ought to outweigh the considerations Of pres
ent and temporary profit We firmly believe
the telegraph companies are making serious
mistake in opposing this great public benefit,
and We hope they will discover it themselves
in time to yield gracefully instead of waiting to
be forced into it, as they surely will be.
It is their misfortune to be delaying reform
now by the aid of some of the worst agencies
in the Legislature Mr.. Cornell protests that
his Company has not fixed Tim" Campbell,
"Jakey" Worth, BILLY Kirk, and the rest.
But he can't help peoples wondering who in
the world then did,