National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-08-27
TELEGRAPHIC RATES.
The Baltimore and Ohio Consolidated Lin
Make A Liberal Proposition 20 the Cover

The Baltimore and Ohio Consolidated Lines
Make Liberal Proposition TO the Govern.
ment.
Mr.. D. II. Bates, executive manager and
Charles Scldcn, superintendent of the united
telegraph lines, and Capt Whitney, OF the
Western Union company, had long confer
cnce yesterday with Postmaster General
Gresham relative to fixing the rates for govern
ment telegraph service. During the discussion
of the question the fActwas developed that the
rates charged by the Western Union company
were nearly 100 per cent. greater than those
offered by the united telegraph lines. The
postmaster general displayed great interest in
the subject, and closely questioned the repre-
sentatiycs of the two rival Interests.
In n long letter filed some days since with
the postmaster, Mr. Bates, after describing the
extent of country now covered by the cOmbi-
nation, submits proposition to transmit mes.
sagcs to all that section north and east of and
including Virginia, Kentucky, and Missouri,
day messages, 20 cents for ten body words ana
/ cent additional for each additional word.
All that section south of Virginia, Kentucky,
and Missouri to and including Texas day
messages, 20 cents for ten body words ana i
cent for each additional word. lntcrChangea-
bic between upper and lower zones the rate on
day messages to be 80 per cent. additional Tor
the first ten words and | cent for each 0ddi-
tiOnal word, II being understood that the ~
cent rate snail AlnlN III ull tilSbN Oll NUS
sages from one state to points within an ad-
joining state.
For night messages within either OF the
sections above named, 10 cents for fifteen
words, and cent for each additional word,
and from one section to points within the
other section, % cents for the first fifteen
words and cent for each additional word ;
1t being understood that the lh.ccnt rate shall
apply In all cases on night messages from one
state to points within an adjoining state.
In consideration of this rate Mr. Bates
thinks the combination should be entitled to
all the government business, exclusive of1he
other company
Capt. Whitney also presented in writing the
views of the Western Union company. He
protested against his company being forced to
accept government business at the low rates
offered by the united telegraph lines. In
reply TO question Capt. Whitney stated that
the government received the benefit of the
lowest rates given by his company to the
public. This assertion was coinbatted by iig.
ures presented by both the postmaster general
and Mr. Bates also by the fnct that the Mutual
Union lines. which Is q part of the Western
Union system, were being used to cut rates
again the united telegraph lines, while the
other Nes of the Western Union company
manta i the high tariff. For instance, 1t
was asserted that the Western Union company
were offering to take public business between
Chicago and Milwaukee and Chicago and st:
Louis at the rate of cents per message and
had established rate of 20 cents between
New York and Chicago for the public, but that
the government had not been officially notified
of either of these low rates.