The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-12-16
ANOTHER RETURNING BOARD
Western Union Telegraph
Company
Propose to Count Hayes In,
And Refuse to Respond to
the Subpoena Of the
House Investigating
Committe 9.

NEw ORLEANS. December l6.--Ths
following was telegrspheI tonight
Hon. Sdmuei J. Randall, hpsakS1, Wash
iHgt0n.
Every obstacle has been aud will BE-
iuterposed 10 hinder this committee IN
the discharge of It's duty. Republican
witnesses have been threatened aud dara
not testify without mourning the loss OF
position and personal danger. The pro
duction of papers and kilograms is re-
fused, il is believed, upon assurances
of protection from Washington, aud
without the power Of the House Ia en-
force ohdience to its process, the commit
mittee cannot discharge its duty. Let tbs
House. remain in session. have just
received the following message:
ENErUrIvE OFFICE.
WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH Co,
Ngw YORK, Dec, 10 1876. J
10 Hon. Wm. Il. Morrison, Chairman.
ETC., Nec Orleans, LoaiSidId.
SIR: Subrsnss have been served upon
several employees OF tins Company d.
recting them 10 produce hr.
fore the Congressional commit
toe, OF which you are ChaIrm,r,
sli messages IN possession ut the con-
pany sent and received 10y the persons
named in the subpoenss during several
months OF the present year have Do
laYed reply 10 these demands IN tho
expectation that similar applications
would be made by y committee OF thr
- l.. ha IN
tion of matters connected with the Pres
idential election and canvass ia III"
several States. 50 that the action
OF the company being the same
IN repect to the messages OF
both political parties could not be- atirlb-
uted 10 desire 10 prejudice or promote
the interests OF either. No subpenS
have vet been served on US by order ~
the SENATE commlltee. aud M further de
lay might appear 10 be dlsc"uri"'N 10
yourself and your committee, II does not
seem proper TO further postpone this an
swer. The subpenss were served before
the investigation which the commute"
had been directed to make was begun aud
before evidence had been presented 10 tho
committee either that the persons nsmed
in the subpenss hadfe any m"sssc'
whStever or that any messages sent bN
them related to the subject matter Vt the
investigation. II appears, il ihs. be"a
assumed, that persons holding high OIL
cisI positions under the Federal snd
State government and others prominent
in public affair, were IN the habit Ul
,cnding messages by telegraph, and
withou, attempting 10 ascertain u any
oi these messages were material TO tue IN
vestigatlOn, the officers and
agents of this company hav"
been commanded TO lay aSlts
the business in which they are engaged
to become spies and detectives upon and
informers against customers who have
reposed in Us the grayo,t confidence con
cerLiu their official and their private
AFFAIR.". / have never believed that tho
Congress of the United States with thus
subject fairly ce'ore them would permit
these committee 10 violate the secrecy ui
the telegraph in this way, and II seems 10
me that this is an opportunity which Il
would be unwise 10 iorego Tor obtainrg
a decision directly from the represents
tlves of the people. il the messages OF
persons connected with one political
party are spread before the public, like
course will be taken In rapoc. 10 those
of the other party. Both parties, thef".
tore have the same interest IN publishing
% the word the Tecrets of the telegraph
Offices, OF Of preventing such Pubhclty.
II has, therefore been decided 70 declius
very respectfully 10 permit the emploJe,
OF this company 10 produce before any
committee Of either house Of COngrss-,
the messages sent or received by the rep
resentstiyes Of either the Democratic or
Republican party, 1t least until after
Congress shall have approved the sub.
penas Of the committees, and direciri
that their demands bo enforced Am
with resperl, etc. VIZ. OETos,
PTesldsHL
The following reply has been sent
NEW 0ELELSs, December 10
W.. Orton, PccsihHL, &c, Ns0 Fork:
have nothing 10 so with your mo
tives Tor refusing 20 obey th" proces. 0i
House Of Representations Ny duty will -
performed by invoking iu aid ~ enforce
such process RegrcLting your r"'u'al
Of the information necesssry - ac-rtaIn
the whole trsth ~ 20 tbs LOnbisna s'sc-
ton, AIN y0urs respectfully,
WM. r. AOKEnOs