, 1881-01-25
TELEGRAPH CONSOLIDATION.

WHICH NC UuXHFfH nTl&p lr3H npDn N1bEt
grateful l,cnst,,
-
TELEGRAPH c0Ns0L1DATl0N.
It IL. reported from Columbus, o., TINT
joint resolution will probably ba introduced
Into tito OHIO Legislature toathy calling nlon
the AttorNcy-ficneral for Information ind
ndvtco relative to Tho power of TINT botlg tn
pass law prohibiting tho consolidation OF
the telegraph companies which eniUy priv
itcges within the State. There can 10 little
doubt that the rcQnfslt authority to this end
Is Invested In State Legislatures 10 tho tx
tcnt Of their territorial Jurisdiction. Tc1e-
graph companies arc undoubtedly 9Nnsi-
public corporations witltkl tho meaning OF
TIC decision of tho Uniled statca Supreme
Court iii tic Illinois Ilailroatt nint Warehouse
suits, Known MS the "tirafger cases." Tho
Supreme Court then hell TINT nj! snch cor.
norntlons are subordinate to Legislative
supervision and regulation. even to tho cx-
tent Of actually fixing rates. L}y Il parity OF
reasoning, certainly n State Legislature mny
solldat[on which Is III tic nature ut coll
splracy n9ainst tho public interests. Tho
same authority Which enabled tho Ohlo
LEGISLATURE, some :yct1rs ago, to piss n Inv
which prevented tho consolidation of two
parallel lines Of raflroad running III TINT
State warrants Legislative Interference III
this case.
II the Ohio Legislature shall follow o,tt
t'Ils suggestion promptly 1t will encourage
the Legislatures Of other Western Statcs to
takc similar action. and the nnlalgamatton Of
the telegraph Interests tlAy bc retarded n1ltl
embarrassed until Congress shall agrco ipon
aome plnn that will ntforst National mud OIL
during protection agnlnst m individual mo-
,,opoly Of tic telegraph, service. It Is said
that tho new Constitution of Pennsylvania
prohibits just such consultations of public
corporations ngatnst tic public; II to tlfs the
States OF Ohio, Michigan, 11id1ann, Illinois,
Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota. ntd Nebraska
shall add laws Of tho snlue plrport Jay
Gould nntl his associates anay nat lind their
scheme so feasible ms they expected. Fort
llnntely, tho vnrfous State Legislatures arc
now III session, ulll there need bc 10 delay
In concerted action except 1t be defeated by
tho agents md money INFLUENCES. Of the
STOCKHOLDERS. 10 bc effective, Legislative
nctlon must bo prompt and the laws Of
lilo various States should practically
ngrco upon the 1aIn point. There can
bcno doubt III the mimi OF any Legislator that
public sentiment Is overwhelmingly opposed
to Tho rcestabllsimcnt nf tho telegraph
monopoly, and 1t is certain TINT tho present
Legislatures could 10 nothing which would
commend them 10 public approval SO 1nrcll
Ms tho blocking Of the hugo confidence ga,ne
Which 1t Is proposed to. practice upon the
publtc. :,
Tho telegraph amalgan,atton is ind1snntably
nntngonistic to public policy, and to al! tho
commercial interests Of tho country. 1t Is n
conspiracy agatnst tho public, because 1t is
tho ayowej Intention of tic now combination
to conduct tin telegraph business In such
lnnlner rs to yield 4 dividend On $50, ,O0o, ,0O0
whfc1, fs double the stock OF tho urcscnt
Western Union Company alltt l,udruple the
value Of tho capital ildtualty iuvcstcdlil tho
business. 1t is NIL outrage upon tic, bona Jtle
Owners OF telegraph stock, because tl.o cui,-
solidatlon WIS brous ushtabout by first running
down the Western Union stock 20 per cent
below par md then securing at this figure u
control Of tue Company to form combination
which Will ultimately threaten tho utter
destruction alnl ruin OF the fictitious capitnl-
ization Of tho now concern. It'is only Il
question Of ttnlo wien tho people, by somo
means or otllcr, will secure relief from the
telegraph monopoly Which now threatens
them; and when this sl,all have beenbrouglt
about, the inflated Western Union balloon
will collapse. and the delu,tctl stockholders
will be the sufferers. II legislative authority
in this country does mot extend to the pro-
lection OF tho pobple from consplractes
against commerce a,Mi public murals, then q