The New York herald., 1879-02-10
PRESIDENT GREEN EXPLAINS.

LETTER TO THE CHAIRMAN or THE POTTER
coMMITTSE-wHY THE WESTERN UNION CON-
PAST GAVE UP THE rELEGRAMs.
WASHINGTON Feb. 0. 1879.
The following letter received By Mr.. Clarkson
y. Potter to-day. 1t explains the circumsances under
which the seiegrams relating to the Presidential
election given up the Senate and House CON-
mittees. and the course pursued by the Western
Union Telegraph Company In their endeavors 70 pre-
vent those kilograms obtaining publicity
New YonK. Feb. g. 1879.
Hon. cLAnKsos n POTTER. Chairman:-
srn--The testimony recently eiicited by your
mittee concerning this companys action IN respect
to the political kilograms taken from In 1861
by the Senate and House committees subpsnas. ep-
pears to havc been uniformely misunderstood by
the press TO make It now seem proper TO ampiify
the Same by way of guarding against like misdp-
prehensioa the part Of tho mittee itself and
Of tho members of tho House; accordingly respect
fully submit tho following brief of facts
all of which already appear upon the records Of Con-
gross. asking that IL be laid before your committee
and spread upon ts records to the end not only that
correct history Of these transactions may appear,
but that at the same time simple act Of justice may
be done thereby 70 the company which have tho
late and present administration any charge Of
political bias in the conduct OF its business.
The plain truth y shat the company. realtxing
threatened exposure all kilograms committed its
confidence and keeping both before and after tho
service Of the subprnas rcsorted to every Legitimate
and proper device consistent with duo respect for
the authority Of Congress 10 prevent such exposure
by timely transfer OF messages from the custody
OF managers and officers likely to DO called upon to
produce them to the executive officers in New York.
and thence. BY resolution OF the Executive Com
mittee of the Board Of Directors from tho custody Of
the executive officers to that Of the Executive Com
mittce ITSELF When. therefore. Manager Barnes, Of
rison committee almost all OF the kilograms he was
called upon to produce had been taken from his
tody ana he had no power to produce them So. also,
when the President was brought to the bar Of tho
House for contempt he enabled TO plead that no
had not the custody of the messages caled for in hts
sentatiyes as published in the Co~cre,s;"noi Recprd
show that Mr.. Orton himself this OCCASION through
the OF hts answer to the attitude taken
by the Executive Committee, disclosed to the House
full information to where the messages could bo
reached but Notwithstanding this fact member of
time to vet upon tho infvrmation thus given.
The Senate committee, however took the initiative,
snd sending Immediately to New York. on tho next
day served every member of the company's Execu-
tive Committee with . sweeping subpoena, which de-
manded the production Of all messages to from
the principal Offices Of the company where any i'm
portant political telegrams were supposed to have
been sent received. Under this subpoena the Ex-
ecutive COMMITTEES composed about equally Of nom.
befs Of the two political parties) proceeded with the
messages to Warrington. where soon after arrival.
they verc served with like sweeping subpoena from
Ino mousse cOinluiVteo. n Heetiu8 Ol Sne EXecutfvo
Committee was thereupon lread. and by resolutions
then passed 1t decided 70 respect the service on
the company's president aud committee alike and to
surrender to the House committee all the messages
covered by it's subpoena to President Orton, this
being prior In time OF service 70 che subpoena from
the committee Of the Senate and to surrender to tho
Senate committee all the messages covered by its
subpoena this list being prior In time Of service TO
the like subpoena from the committee of the House.
Il further resolved, In order 10 comply far
possible with tho conflicting subpUnas. that which
committee failed to receive the original mes-
snges should have copies Of AL such originals ss
were delivered 10 the other committee; or. II it
should be concluded. that the immense labor OF
copying might be saved then, that the committee Of
either House receiving original messages should
agree thot the members of the committee Of the
free access TO examine such originals and to mako
copies therefron IL desired. copy OF these resolu-
tions Of which the foregoing is the Substance.
served upon each committee on January 10, and on
tho oath Of January Senator Sergent wrote TO the
company stating thet the committee OF tho Senate
had conferred with the committee Of the House, and
that the alternative. latter feature Of the
entirely satisfactory to both committees.
The surrender Of the messages then made, but
not until tho company had urgently cndesvored to
impress upon the respective committees tho neces-
sity of guarding the kilograms from theft and from
disclosure to others than those wno from their posi-
sion upon the committees. entitled to their In
spection.
1t will be seen that our course In these matters
strictly fair and impartial We were powcrless
take further precautions in the premises aud we arc
in no manner responsible for the subsequent loss
of the kilograms intrusted to the Senate committee.
have the honor to remain very respectfully yours,
NORvIN GREEN. President.