The New York herald., 1879-02-14
GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.


GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.
WASHINGTON, Feb 13. 1870.
EXTENSION OF TELEGRAPH LINEs-DR GREEN
BEFORE THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON RAIL-
ADs-ARRANGEMENrs BETWEEN THE WEST
ERN UNION AND THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Senate Committee on Railroads met this
morning for the purpose Of hearing arguments with
respect to Senator Jones' bill authorizing railroad
companies construct and maintain telegraph lines
for commercial purposes. and to to the gov
ernment the of the for postal. military and
other purposes. The Senators present -
Messrs. Mitchell dn the chair) Teller Barnunl.
Stanley Matthews, Shields and Dorsey. The
Chairman announced that this meeting had been
called on an application made by DR.. Green on be-
half Of the Western Union Telegraph Company. who
wished to make statement in regard to the BILL A
letter had also been received from Mr.. Reif, the
President of the Automatic Telegraph Company. ap-
plying for permission to appear before the commit
tee.
The following is that portion Of DIR. Green's exam
ination referring to the Associated Press:-
The Chairman I'm inclined to the opinion that
what has done more to agtate this question and
csusc a great many people to call for legisla.
ton on the subject Is what is regarded as great
monopoly on the part Of the Associated Press.
would like 10 know for my own information II it is
proper whsg relate exist between what is known
ms the Associated Press and the Western Union Com
pany?
Mr. Dorsey-And the public press =?
The Charman-Of course.
DIR. Grecn--I am very much obliged for this ques-
tion and 1t gives pleasure to It, for there
those relations. Announcements have been made by
us again and again that would transmit the
dispatches of any other associations of like service
for like price without favor of any kind. The As.
socated Press of New York organized to collect
the of the world. They have their reporters
everywhere at home and aud abroad, and they pay a
a company formed expressly to gather news. and
the gathered is just much their
property as private telegram or private letter.
They do not monopolze the news. but they collect i.
also for the New York State Press the Missouri and
| the California State Press, the Western Press
and other associations They transmit all their
to these associations over wires. The
Western Associated Press transmits through about
thousand words a day and deliver il 10
about fifty different papers in twent ty-five thirty
different towns. We transmit il from New York to
every of these towns at one sending and we
get for 1t about three and dali cents per word.
Now an opposition paper comes 10 US and wishes
to transmit special report for the rate us
send one of these fifty. or else they must have
that report. Wen. say, we cannot give you
that report because it docs not belong to us. If you
special report, get up combination and then
we will send it a. the same rates We have always
made concessions to the outside papers where they
reasonable.
with the Associated Press that would prevent your
sending the of other combinations. IL you
wished2
Dr. Green-Nothing Whatever except that we
cannot afford to supply anybody ut a tenth or a
ftich part Of the price paid by our best customers
OK course, have propositions made to M tina.
should estsblish news bureau collect the and
sell IL to all the papers. Hitherto we lave had no
ownership or proprictorship in the news but have
transmitted il simply. We shrink from the PROPOSE
tion of news burcau because 1t IN a dangerous
power in the hands of any corporation. We could
not undertake to made reports OF political ncws
for ali the journals in the United States Why. If we
did we could elect anybody pleased. You place
that power in the hands of telegraph company. and
let them make two columns Of a day for every
paper In the land. what show would anybody have
against them?
The Chairmsn-Do you know what the arrange
ment is between the Associated Press and other
papers'
DR. Grcen-I can only say have some knowledge
of IL. hut IL is none OF MY business. For instance.
The Western Associated Press and tho Associa! ell
Press of New York make arrangements with us for
news by cable and by forming combination they
get 1t chcaply. IL the outside papers want to get
such news the combination charge big bonus, Of
course: but we have nothing to do with that
MIR. Dawes--3ut could not tie public or the other
papers send this news
Dr. Grcen-We have not tho slightest objection. IL
is not our funeral; they can send as much as they
like.
MIR. Dawcs-Iho complaint seems TO be that the
|, Western Union shields itself in the statement that IL
is none Of their business. while at the same time
they give the Associated Press special facilities.
think some legislation II needed to correct this
DIR. Grecn--Let the governments start news bu-
rca, then. and collect and send the itself.
Mr.. Dawcs-You have the right to make such
terms you please with the Associated Press have
you noti
DR.. Green-I assume that public carriers we
have 70 carry all public messages a common charge.
Mr.. Dawes--My impression Is that you have right
to charge any price you please.
DIR. Grecn-WolI, that might be, but wherever we
make concessions we have special conditions at
tachcd.
ESTIMATES AND EXPENDITURES or THIs GOVERN.
MEST-sEcRETARy SHERMAN TO TIE CHAIR.
MAN OF THE COMMITTEE on APPROPRIATIONS
The following s the full text of the letter from tn,
Secretary of the Treasury, which was read In thu
House to-day. In relation to the essimaes and ex
penditures of the governments
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, I
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Feb. IL, 1917.
Hon. ]. u. l.. ATKINS. Chairman W the Committee OF
Appropriations, House of Representatives: -
Sill am in receipt of the communication o
| your committee Of the 7th inst, asking whether !
IL my intention to submit estimate " arrears o
pensions under the act Of January 20, 1871.
understahd that the secretary of the Interior ma
transmitted to Congress estimate of tile Coflinis
sioncr OF Pensions of the amount necessary 70 pa
| the arrears of pensions under this act AZ foows-
prior to the passage of the act, sb,wvvOo; for th