Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1884-02-13
HUD1ARD'S VIEWS.
Telegraphic Matters Discussed by
Gardiner L. Hubbard.
The Telegraph Business Bound TO
BE a Monopoly HOw OppOsition;' ]
to Western Union Is
Killed.

WASHINGTON CITY, Feb. 9.-Gardiner q.
Hubbard made an argument before the COM
mittee on post offices and post roads upon the
general subject of postal telegraphy, and
particularly in answer to the recent argu-
ment of DR.. Norvin Green. He said under
| the pressure of discussion the Western Union
company, according to the admission OF It's
president, has been forced to begin the work
Of reducing rates and improving methods.
Between the years 1868 and 1878 average
rates had been reduced from $1.04 to 80
cents per message. Under this reduction the
number of kilograms had increased from
! 5000, 900 to $4,000, 900 per annum, and the
profits from $4,000, 600 to IS, 500, 900. Then a
change had taken place in the policy of the
Western Union company, by which other
lines had been absorbed, and the reduction of
rates ceased. From 1873 to the present time
the reductions were only mills per message.
Was this the way to treat the
public3 Did not the Western Union
company know that new compe-
titicn would be brought out? The whole
history of the company, with the exception
of the period from 1868 to 1878, would teach
this. 1t was this course of the Western
Union that had led the public to ask if the
stock holders had not Jared we'll enough,
and if the. public had some rights in the
premises. The telegraph business was
bound to be a monopoly, whether carried on
by the Western Union or not. 1t was true
that we now had new companies.
Mr.. Hubbard, proceeding. said rates were
too high for the general public. The busi-
ness community were we'll served, but the
people at large reaped no benefits from the
telegraph. Mr.. Evarts had said that the
Western Union forwarded messages in the
order in which they were received. This was
only theoretically true, but there was some
thing of more vital Importance than any
thing yet presented. What were the rela-
tions of the Western Union to the people of
the country i'll their social and politi-
cal interests? The Western Union was
controlled by three or four gentlemen
in New York. 1t controlled the market
prices all the political and general news sent
over its wires, and every single important
personal communication sent in the country.
No state can pass law which should have
any effect on this corporation. 1t would
handle 160, 100000 messages ten years hence.
Through its agency it collected market news
in London and Paris. A fraction of penny
pound on cotton was a fortune to any
man.
Some time ago two papers In San francisco
discussed postal telegraphy. The rates of
these papers were increased. One paper died
in consequence, and the other ceased to dis
cuss the MATTER. A paper which once criti-
cised Orton's course found it's rates doubled
next day. This was the power this corpora
tion held. DR.. Green had said the Western
Union would be glad to como in and bid for
service. He (Mr. HubbaTdD would favor the in
PRODUCTION of a provision to permit this. Mr..
Evarts had referred to private contract be-
tween the sender of MESA sc and the West
ern Union company What was that private
contracta Why, simply, L. -.
made in transmission the company "
fund the sum paid for the trans .sssrGt
nothing else. u