The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-14
DEFENDING THE WESTERN UNION


DEFENDING THE WESTERN UNION
Green's Explanation. ne Made Re-
fore - Congress Committee.
WASHINGTON. Feb 19.-President Green Of
the Western Union Telegraph Company APP
pcared before the Railroad Committee to-day
in opposition to the bill permitting railroad
to operate telegraph lines for gem
eral business. In his judgment there was no
need for this legislation. Almost all the rail
roads used the Western Unions wires. They
could do 30 at less expense than operate wires
OF their own. The bill accomplished nothing.
for any telegraph company gets the benefits
which the bill gives. Regarding rates. he said
that the Western Union had faithfully kept its
compacts with the Government Although
bound only by those tariffs relating to business
OF the Post ONCE Department. 1t had main
tanned the same upon all classes OF Government
business. 1t was unfair. therefore. since lines
had been extended to remote places where
there was littlo or no business. for the Govern
ment to fix all tho company's rates. Tho West
orn Union was in no sense monopoly. The
country is open TO any persons who wish to
build and operate q telegraph line Experience
had proved that one company could do the busi-
noes at loss expense than two;
MIR. MITCHELL am inclined TO tho opinion
that what has done more TO agitaie this ques-
ton. and cause great many people to call for
some legislation on tho subject. Is what is re-
garded as a great monopoly on the part OF the
Associated Press, l would like to know. Tor
my own information. IL il lie proper. what rela-
tions exist between what 10 known as the Assoc
ciated Press and the Western Union Company
Dr. Groen-l am very much Obliged Tor this
question. and 1t gives ms pleasure to answer i.
Tor there Is absolutely nothing TO conceal in
those rciations. Announcements nave been
made byus again and again that we would
transmit the dispatches OF any other associa-
tons Of like service for like price. without
lavor,of any kind. The Assocated Press ot
the world They have their reporters every
where. at home and abroad and they pay
very large sum for cable kilograms. They are
a company formed expressly TO gather news.
aud the news so gathered Is Just rs much their
property a. n private telegram or a private let
ter, They 10 not monopolize the news. hut they
collect IL also Tor other associations. IN" New
mia State Press, the Western Press Association.
AMI other associations. They transmit all their
news to these associations over our wires. Tho
Western Associated Pr''ss transmits through
US about 1000 words n day. and we deliver IL 10
about nity different papers in twenty i've or
New York to every one OF these towns at one
sruding and We get for 1t about three and a
Now. an opporItion newspaper comes to US
and wishes Us 90 transmit speciM report Tor
| The same rnte ~ we send ono 81 these iltiy or
| SAY. W. cannot give you that REF ort. because L
| docs not belong to W.. II you want a specie
| report. get M n combination. and then W. Viii
send II at the snm' rates. We have always
| made concessions to the outside newspapers.
| Whrro they are rca- uaUle.
The ChAirman-ls there anything In your
contract with the Associated Press that would
| prevent your sending tue news OF other comoi-
| nations IL you wishcd2
Dr. Grcen-Nothing whatever. except that We
| cannot affcrd TO supply anybody at tenth or a
| hticth part Of the price paid by our best Gus
| toners or course we have propositions made
| 10 us that we should establish news bureau.
| collect the news and sellit to all the papers.
| Hitherto we have had no ownership or pro-
| prietorship in the news. but have transmitted
| i simply We shrink from thu. proposition o; a
| news bureau. because II is q dangerous power
| IN the hands Of any corporation. We could not
| underiake 10 make reports OF political nrws ior
| all the journals in the United States. Why. n
We did. we could elect anybody We pleased. You
| place that power in the hands OF Autograph
| company and let them make two coluinu- OF
| news Gay Tor every paper IN the lana what
| show would anybody nave against them
| The Chairman-Do you know what the mr..
| rang"mrnt Is between the Associated fress ana
Dr. Grren-I can only say l have some know
edge OF il. tut IL IL none Of my business. For
| instance the Western Associated Press and the
Associated Press Of Now YORK make arrange
ments with Ms for news by cable. and by form
ING "A combination thew got il chenply il IA,
outside Papers want to get such news the com
bination charge u big bonus. OF course. but w
| have nothing 20 DO with that.
Mr. Dawes-But could not the public or th'
| ether papers send this news
| DR. Green-Ne have not the slightest ohlec
ton. II IL not our funeral; they can send n
much ~ they ike.
the Western linton shields Itself in the stat.
mcnt that IL II none ~ their business, VIM" %
| the same time they give the Associated lres
special facilities / think some legislat on q
| needed TO correct this
DR.. Grren-lnt the Government start new
urruu. then. and collect and send The now
itself.
senator Matth ews- Have you not contractc
with any railroad Tor the exclusive right &
erect telegraph lines on their roaif
Dr, Grcen-Ne hnve very many contracts wit
railroads Tor the exclusive right ut way, ana
assume that this bill would not affect them. "a
there are plenty OF other avenues open.
Senator Mauh ews-N .. yes; but let me pu
my question under the act II 1856, as you your
self Interpret T. Any organization, organized
say in New lork--for Geographic purpose,
may 70 upon any . 81 road (which intiui '1
railroads. even In spite OF local loeisHion-int
Florida. for instance. whrr" the Stntc L"Rls
laiure has passed an enactment forhdding j
Il gives YOU national privilege over AZ nation
post roads. That bang So, il Il not "a Tact ina
| ts ia the CTS" 81 the Pensacola Telegraph Con
| uany you have made contracts Tor the cn'lr
b | track whore YOU can You hAv, male cor
. tracts with the railroad companies whereof
p | You bind them 10 pronibit any other telrErap
. | company 20 come on that post road, noiwt
p standing TINT the act gives them the right io :
b. on any post road.
y pr Groom Ia tho first place 1t does not xiv
| them the right o. 10 on any raj road Withol
~ | the railroad company'e issi0n. IL giy'
D | them the right 20 maintain and operate line
< having first acquired tho right o. pace ih"
there. That power j. given Dos m" States. lh'l
2 10 nothing Absolutely prnhlntory IN All thH
Z and | cannot seq how this hiil ~ going ohelp