New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-14

| To THE TonAcco TRADE OF THE UNITED STATES: The
after sSrsfnsnv Of the subject affirm as their
belief that the tax on tobacco snu and cigars De re-
cumstances change In the rate take effect before
They also believe that the prospect for rebate Is
ceedngy favorable, and VIII certainly ne accompsheo
Congress its vital Importance TO them.
THE JOYCE TELEGRAPH BILL OPPOSED.
DIR. NoRvIN GREEN POINTS OUT ITS OBJECTIONABLE
FEATURES AND SPEAKS ~ THE INTERESTS OF
THE WESTERN UNION.
| WASHINGTON, Jan. 13.-Dr Norvin Green
President of the Western Union Telegraph Company,
appeared this morning before the subcommittee OF the
House Judiciary Committee by invitation and discussed
In conversational way the provisions Of the bill
Gently introduced by Mr. Joyce, of Vermont, for the
regulation of telegraph and cable companies Dr. Green
said that 1t had become fashionable and by many peO
pie thought to be popular TO attack the Western Union
Company in every conceivable way because it was
large corporation 1t was indeed, large corporation,
but 1t could scarcely be termed monopoly since had
no privileges granted by Congress by any Of the
States that any other company persons could not
avail Of II they desired TO do so.
IL had no ess than four competitors OF greater less
dimensions actively IN the eld Of competition. was
large corporation, he admitted, having nearly 100000
miles of wire-enough 70 grde the earth fifteen times
and IL 600 offices scattered in every State and Territory
OF the Union and In the provinces Of Canada from the
borders OF Newfoundland at the Gulf St. Lawrence to
Puget Sound in British America II had also cables to
London so that itnow required than nine hours
for the TO rise its lines and the feat had been
performed Of publishing in the san Francisco morning
papers the quotations and transactions Of the closing
of the London Exchange at O'Clock of the day.
He referred to this because the resolution had been
recently offered in the House for inquiry
steps TO be taken TO improve and reduce the Of tee
graphic service. He asserted and when It became
necessary would be prepared prOye that the Western
Union Company was performing O better tolegraphc
service than was being done anywhere in the civilized
world and taken all in ALL at lower OF tolls There
was, perhaps in England and In some of the Govern
ments Of the continent larger OF the % rate
but the Western Union had considerable area OF the
and 10 cent rates which those countries had not and
the so cent rate covered much larger territory than
any of the compound OF gland and the continents
nowhere in the world could a message nc sent q dis
tance of from Boston 10 Portland Ore, for
81 90, the rate Of the Western Union
between those points New-York banker had told him
that when he in London he could get essag from
New-1ork or Chicago great deal quicker than he could
from Paris and the experience OF the distinguished adj
yocate OF postal teegraphy In the United states Gard
others that he could obtain no such service In the old
World as he could over the Western Union lines. aud
that Except for the large area OF the shilling rae 1t
REFORMING more specifically TO the bill under cons,dcro
tOn Dr. Green said that the first section contemplated
precisely what the telegraph and cable companies were
State ieglslaTioD Mcssages transmitted I'm oaIy
by any telegraph company and handed over. 10 the
Western Union or TO any OF the cable companies were
taken and forwarded without discrimination But the |
second section assumed 10 compel the Western Union to
take free OF charge certain words necessary perfect
the message which it did not take free of charge from
anybody. Rule of the company limited the free words
OF measase 10 lie dhte the address within certain
scnbod bounds, aud the signature also with limitation
as TO the TILE The free signature was limited to
more tlan two words IN addition to the name |
and tue date was limited to the place at which
1t came from telegraph company or ind |
yldss a. I ne inst nsta nee a case OF message |
that date additional matter which had to be paid
for. II Congress had the right 20 make these two or
three additional words free Of toll had the right 10
make the whole message free OF toll and give to
the adversares OF the Western Union what really |
attempted Ia this Dil-the right 10 use its lines ~
Tie oil also sought to compel his company 10 receive
from opposition companies messages which they could
service 1t was right that This Should not be- Submitted TO-
from company 10 another and fraud upon the
customer, VINO did not know that the company with
which he entrusted his message could not send
it TO it, Destination In addition to being
fraud on the customer IL was forgery make n Gus
toner sign contract with company which he never
intended 10 contract With. the committee probably
printed heading which the Western Union messages
were feSsseI wac nelu 10 pe contract Limiting the re-
spOnbolty OF the company Tor errors delays or INSIDE
verances 1t had not, however been the Uniform
ing OF the courts that the company should identify the
senders OF messages, but had been held that It must
exercise due aud reasonable caution 10 mat they
were genuine. When messages came through all agency
which the company knew TO be unirendy II felt that Il
could not vouch for their genuneness. Ii
in advocacy of this bin that his compa3T
had been compelled to send OF their messages back
TO the customers, who very angry He (r. Green)
fanCed that their anger with company that re-
ceyed their messages without informing them that they
could not be sent
lie cid not intend TO the question the gem
eral power OF Congress 10 prescribe what should or
should not be charged for transmitting messages lie
confessed he could difference between railroad
and telegraph lines, far that power concerued
but reference TO Title CO. Revised Statutes would sat-
siy the committee that when TINT was passed ia
1866 assumed that Congress had power over
that subject. On tho contrary, the theory
General acquired the night TO TX the
rates for Government Geographic service, as |
condition the company accepting the act. |
The inference that the Government had not that
right without the consent OF the company.
The third section OF the bill fixed penalty for refus
ing,to allow competing companies use the Western |
Union lines TO run in competition 10. The fourth
section, though not the disastcfu was really no
most humating, intiuatug, IL did. that the officers
OF his company had The privilege Of inspecting az Il
examining messages. Ia his long experience he hal |
heard such charge made and sustained. There
WAC nothing particularly 0blec iOnabe In enact
ment, but there necessity for II, all tie states
nad pona statutes for this offence.
Al the eOoe Of Dr. Green's argument the committee
adjourned.
AN ELECTION BILL IN THE SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. l3.-In the Senate this
morning Mr. Hoar by request, ntroduceda b concern