Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-02-09

erage cost of sending telegram wa
twenty-five cents; fourteen cents o
this was for the operators, instru
ments, etc, class of ex
penses which was proportioned t
: the distance, while the remainin
eleven cents was for The messenger ant
office expenses, in respect TO which
distance was not material. The average
distance for kilograms was 800 miles
A message sent Il shorter distance wa
handled mt less expense, while for {
distance more than 300 miles the eX-
| pense was above the sum named. A
| uniform rate would not increase the
volume of business for short distances,
because rates were already below the
proposed rate; the increase would be
| entirely on messages for long distance.
| The true policy under such bill
would be TO have two rates, one each
for short and long distances.
Senator Palmer referred to what
might be termed the moral aspect of
the question. The most difficult feat
ure, he said, of the whole question was
that innocent purchasers had invested
their money in this stock. He asked
how should that matter be dealt With.
Hubbard said in reply that when
the innocent lie down with the guilty
they must suffer the consequences.
These purchasers had associated them
selves with the guilty. The Western
Union fifteen years ago had said that
neither the capital stock or bonded
debt should be increased except by
consent of two-thirds Of the stockhOld-
ers. This was pledge to the country,
They kept that pledge for time, and
rates were reduced. They changed
their policy in 1881. No one would
object to pay for this stock
before these consultations. Was
it supposed these innocent
Stockholders did not get theirshare of
this watered stock? There were no
innocent stockholders.
Senator Hill remarked that no one
would venture to assert that congress,
in the interest of the public. could
not disregard these stockholders and
establish telegraph system for tie
convenience Of the whole people.
There are only about $500 stockhold-
ers OF the Western Union, ana one
man owns more than half tire stock.
Hubbard, proceeding, said rates were
too high for the general public. The
business community were well served,
but the people at large reaped no bene,
fits from the telegraph. Evarts had
said the Western Union forwarded
messages inthe order in which they
are received. This was true only the
CRITICALLY, but there was something OF
more vital importance than anything
vet presented. What were the rela-
lions of the Western Union to the
people of the country In their
social and political interests? The
Western Union was controlled by three
or four gentlemen In New York. IL
controlled the market prices; all polili-
cal and general news was sent over Its
wires, and every single important per-
sonal communication sent In the
country. This company was con-
trolled by no law except the interest OF
It's customers; no state could pass law
which could have any effect
on this corporation Was there
another like power in the world? 1t
would handle 100000 messages ten
years hence. Through its agencies II
collected market news in London and
Paris. A fraction OF penny, apound
on cotton was fortune TO any man.
They admitted no partnership In THIS
business. He made no charges, but
he believed that was too large
powersto entrust to any man or any
company, How was II with the press?
The Western Union Telegraph com
pany and Associated Press made
close corporation. He did not mean
to say there was any fault TO be FOUND