New-York tribune., 1884-02-26
WESTERN UNION AFFAIRS.
DIR. GREEN BEFORE A SENATE COMMITTEE.
he TEsTIFIEs RESPECTING POLE LINES, PAIENIs
IN

he TEsTIFIEs RESPECTING POLE LINLS, PAIENIs
AND CONSULTATIONS.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25.-Dr. V0ryin Green,
President Of the Western Union Telegraph Company APP
peared This afternoon before subcommittee OF the
Senate Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads He was
accompanied by exAttorneyUene Gwinn OF Mary
land. After discussion respecting what KIND OF m
formation he at liberty TO furnish and what he must
refuse give DrGecn said the western Union pole lines
amounted to III 600 miles, and those "eased and con
troled" to 10000 miles. There no part OF the ll9
600 miles OF which the Western Union owned less than
% per cent With the explanation there stood on the
books 3sS17 miles OF wire owned, and $1,000 miles or
wire '1cased and controlled"
Q-What amount Of rental do you pay for lineS' A.
The annual amount paid last year S525,293 for
rental of lines 100000 for cables $4,000 interest
on stock of Gold and Stock Company and soO00 for e
Cuba cable The only other consideration for service OF
the kind was the sending OF free messages Ihe NUMBER
OF free sent last year was 16s93O6 seven
eichths of the number railroad messages The only
absolutely free franks those given 10 prominent
officers OF the railroads and those franks covered only
family and personal messages. The railroad business
was not free service valuable consideration was re-
| ceved,
Dr Green gave the committee large amount of infor-
nation in detail respecting the number OF the Once5 anu
/ Instruments Of the company, its expense etc.
Gardner G.. Hubbard expressed desire to ask lue'-
ton Dr. Green however protested against being cross
questioned by persons only aim was to destroy the
value Of the Western Union Telegraph property Ihere
was person prescu he said, whohad Dsligated al sOfs
OF proceedings against the Western Union and had made
t his that he had done II questions were TO be
he preferred that they should be handed c
man and asked by him. Senator lil said Mr. Hubbard
had made the subject study and expressed the opinion
that his questions proper ones there should DO no
objection to answering them Mr.. Hubbard asked II ne
had ever done any thing to destroy the value OF western
Union property Dr. Green replied that ne DclcFed MI,
Hubbard had made misrepresentation in his paper ana
! in his speech.
Mr. Hubbard said ne had explained that he was not
sure OF the supposed facts he bad stated and had only
asked the committee to ascertain the truth lie had never
attempted destroy value Western Union property
and Dr. Green very well knew it.
Senator Hill asked how many patents the company
| Owned Dr. Green replied that he could not tell.
II was surprising how many patents had to he acquired
to secure control OF one instrument Inc t"d anu oI9h
instruments probably included 300 or 400 patents ne
had always regarded the Page patent as te most yai %
hle one the company owned. The supreme court lal
pronounced that patent valid but the courts IN Wncl
were tried were so slow IN ther pOceeiss 10 one
had been intcrfered with Before cases were con
Western Union. Dr. stated in detail the amounts
paid for each piece Of elegraphic property purchased ny
During the latter year the stock of the Atlantic and
Pacific Company had been purchased Tor ~ ana ana
The stock ana bonds of foS15O OJOOUO
stock OF the Western Union was issued 10 pay these
amounts $23I0O0OO IN all. Previous To- tae purchase
The Western Union Company had been building
lines year 10y year. from its earnings, but without
capitazng the increase
These new companies secured by an exchange OF
Western UuiOn stock for their by an exchange OF
stock at stipulated proportion. Before consmmating
the bargain the Western Union Company sad To the
others: You cannot OF course expect 10 become ares
i'm our surplus OF 4l7OOOOOO" II was decided then TO
capitaizr and divide the surplus which was done DI.
Green said he could not tell how much would nave COL
the Western Union Company to build tle sahe amount ~
line which was secured 10y these purchases lie Woul
saw however that the Western Union Company could n0t
IN alone Tie company had suspended stock dividends
for f0ur years and pu oh its earnings INTO plant Inc
stockholders how cvcr would not longer submit to thi4
Ir Greene examination will pe continued tomorrow.