The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-02-07

inOXiouS.
II WASHINGTe,,. ian. 31-Dr. Norvi
Green, preSidcii q: t:.a Western UniO
l. Telegraph CON- =. addressed I'll
e Senate committee on pOstofficeS an
; and post roads in opposition to the Or,
: posed government control of the telt
|. graph. He said unless there was some
!. thing defective in the service rendere
u there seemed no reason why the GOV
4 eminent should take hold of the tele
}, graph. He maintained that we har
+, telegraph facilities in larger proper
ton to the population and better an,
!, cheaper service than any country il
Europe. He explained the apparentl,
cheaper rates of Europe by saving
: that their message was counted once
in every country throughout which il
passed, while in this country wa,
counted but once. Press matter
! moreover was dropped at many points
in the United States and delivered as
many messages, while only the one
copy filed was counted. Thirty words
counted as a message.
a senator asked for further eXpla-
nation. He thought the statement an
extraordinary one and referred to the
rates of France as being only twenty
cents for twenty words within the
limits of that country, and averaged
half a cent TO the word in other Euro
pean counties. He cited the rates
from France to Algiers, 1000 miles.
which was only twenty cents for
twenty words.
DIR. Green replied that the Algiers
line was operated at loss. Their en-
ployeS were hired for a much cheaper
rate, and then even the service was
done at loss. No company could
send twenty words for twenty cents
without loss. A new tariff was in
preparation, to go into effect the first
OF March, giving maximum rate of
one dollar, for which sum message
could be sent $500 miles, from Halifax
to Washington territory. DIR. Green,
referring to press contracts, said he
would furnish the committee COPY
of the contract with the Associated
press. 1t contained, he said,
clause that no cheaper rates
should be made with any other
association without giving the Asso-
clated Press the advantages of the re-
ductlon. Some papers complained be-
cause the Western Union telegraph
company could not transmit them
news at the same rates their neighbors
were receiving it from the Associated
Press. 1t was manifest that the papers
could get work done cheaper by asso-
citation and that the Western Union
company could not transmit the press
dispatches to a single paper at as low
rate as they could carry dispatches
to the association. Dispatches from
Washington to New Orleans, for ex-
Mo IrnnnnI OF o. VITO i;
ent points along the line. \ careful
estimate of the cost of press work
performed by the Western Union
showed an average of So cents
per 100 words. Referring to the
talk about accumulated wealth in the
hands of individuals and corporations,
DR.. Green said he had become salts
fled that the great power of England
consisted in the wealth of her citizens.
Much of this capital was invested
abroad and about g16,0O0,OO0 derived
from it, much going from this coun-
try. In his early manhood there was
not a man in this country possessed of
a million dollars. In those days our
own men of wealth were investing
In American securities and property, |
and the revenues therefrom were eX-
pended at home. 1t would be better. |
to be sure, if this wealth was more /
evenly distributed. Everybody knew |
the Western railroads had been built |
ten years in advance of necessity, by |
this excess capital. With reference |
to the capitalization of the West
ern Union company, he said it
made no difference with the |
rate. In conclusion he asked that the |
Western Union be heard before the
committee through an attorney and |
that the committee fix day when
they would hear VIM. M. Eyarts.
Gardner E. Hubbard stated to the
committee that he desired to be heard
and would attempt to controvert some
points made by DR.. Green. DIR. Green
had said unless something defective in
the service no reason existed for the
government to interfere He would
undertake to show there was some
thing defective in the Western Union
services; that their rates were Excess
slve, in other words, if they had rate
not exceeding sixty cents for the whole
they would make more money
and give betttr service than at the
present rates, and that one company
could not serve country when allow
ed to capitalize as rapidly as it pleased
without reference to value of property.
The House committee on public
lands decided to report the bill declar-
ing the forfeiture of the entire land
grant of the Oregon Central railroad.
4 line proposed between Astoria and
Portland. The forfeiture will be de-
clared on the ground that the line of
The road, and for which the grant was
made was never constructed. There
Are 1,4S0,OOO acres in the grant The
estimated reduction of the public debt [
Turing January is 11,S0O,OOO.
AsHINGTON, Feb. 1.-All men,
oers OF the Senate committee on priv
leges and elections were present at
The meeting this morning. The Sher- {
man resolution was under considera- /
ion, and Senator Hoar, chairman, [
was directed to ask the Senate for {
authority to act by subcommittee.
The opinion was expressed and met
with favor that the Virginia investi- {
cation take place at Washington and {
| sub committee be sent to Missis-
'ippi.
The Senate committee on education
Ind labor ordered a favorable report I
IN Senator Blair's bill, to establish
bureau on statistics and labor in the {
Interior department. Also on Senator i
Georges bill, to protect employees, serv- {
lntS. etc. The latter bill provides g
hat any employe on railway, steam |
)oat or other vessel shall be entitled l
or his employers or masters damages T
or any injury he may sustain in such S
though caused by care
negligence or unskilful acts
" omissions on the part of his en- {
,loyers or his fellow employees; and :
10 rule or regulation of the employer :
md no agreement between him and !
lis employe shall exempt the employer !,
rom the liability imposed by this act. :
The president approved the bill for :
he removal of the remains of Gen. !,
Ord from Cuba to Washington. ;;
Railroad Accident.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass, Jan. 3O.-This
an accident on the New Ha- |
yen & Northampton railroad hap /
)ened just below Southwick. Three
sqrS WprQ thrown dnun on or,ohopI-