Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-02-22

Action Of the Board Of Trade Regarding
the Pending Bill to Declare Telegraph
Companies Common Carriers The Pro-
test Against the Telephone Company's
Advance of Rates and Iron-Clad Con-
tract.
At the meeting of the board of trade
yesterday two reports were presented
from the special committee on the propo.
sition pending in the legislature to de.
clare telegraph companies common car
riers.
Mr.. Austrian, for himself and Mr.. Con-
STAINS Of the committee, recommended that
the board memorialize the legislature in
favor of substitute BILL, which differs
from the other in limiting the liability fol-
want of ordinary care to actual damages
sustained, and allows preference to gov
ernment, railroad and certain other ur-
gent messages.
Mr.. L. A. Gilbert, the third member
of the special committe, presented the
following report:
Your committee appointed to examine the
bill now before the legislature in relation to
telegraph companies, beg leave to report that,
after careful examination, they are Of the
opinion that the bill ought not to pass in its
present form. 1t has some excellent features
and some that are Objectionable. It makes
telegraph compaies common carriers, requires
them to send all messages in the order in which
they are received excepting government and
criminal business), thus giving them no dis
cretion with important dispatches, makes the
charges uniform for all kinds of business, re-
quires them to pay the sender or receiver of
any message all damages sustained by reason
Of neglect in forwarding or delivering, togeth-
er with fine of 800 for every such neglect
and double the costs of collection.
Recognizing as we do the great benefit Of
the telegraph to the business interests of the
country, we think the largest liberty should be
accorded its management consistent with
the rights of its patrons. We are of the opin-
ion that a law compelling telegraph compa-
MES to pay all damages sustained by any one
by reason of the neglect or carelessness of the
company or any of its agents In the sending
or delivery of messages, would be just and
proper, and would be all that is needed in the
way of legislation at the present time.
Mr.. NJ. Doran spoke at considerable
length in favor of the bill pending in the
legislature, urging that business men
needed the protection proposed to be Of
fered by the bill, and instanced cases
wherein losses had resulted, without re-
dress, from the errors or neglect of the
telegraph company.
Mr.. Constans spoke in favor Of the
bill, and Mr.. Gilbert III opposition to it.
Finally, On motion of Mr.. Grant, both
reports were laid on the table, and then
by vote the board adopted the following
memorial:
To the Honorable the Senate and House of
Representatives of the State of Minnesota.
The undersigned members of the St. Paul
Board of Trade, st. Paul Chamber of Com
merce and business men of st. Paul, notice
with pleasure the Introduction of bill in the
Senate, making telegraph companies common
carriers and liable for want of ordinary care.
Such bill Is of the utmost importance to the
business public and we earnestly urge its
prompt passage by your honorable bodies.
"To the Northwestern Telephone Company:
THE TELEPHONE PROTEST.
The following, which had been signed
by number of business men, was before
the board for further signatures, and will
remain for few days in charge Of the
secretary of the board of trade, Mr..
Gilbert.
"The undersigned, members of the st. Paul
board of trade and others, desire to enter their
protest against your proposed advance of rates
on the day of March. We believe that the
compensation already asked is ample for the
snrrino readored, and that in proportion, to e,as
population this city is literally supporting
your institution.
"We also protest against being called upon
to execute the iron-clad contract presented to
us: Your company has the same protection
as atafforded gas and water companies, and
we see no reason why your organization
should be more exacting than any other bust
ness organization in the country.
"We are also confident that the service at
the telephone exchange in making connections
for customers can be rendered much more eff
cient and satisfactory"