New-York tribune., 1886-03-24
NEWSPAPERS AND THE WESTERN UNION.
THE GREAT CORPORATION ACCUSED OF UNJUST
DISCRIMINATION

DETERMINATIONS.
WASHINGTON, March 23.-The House Com
mitteo on Post Offices and Post Roads, conducting the
telegraph investigation today began its inquiry CON
cerning alleged attempts Western UniOn Telegraph
Company to oOeree newspapers in the western states
into making "exousve contracts" etc. T. NJ ANres
appeared in behalf OF The hdRSaS CITY Times and ne
Kansas Citg Journal and submitted statement by J A.
Mann secretary aud business manager OF the The Jo"
nal together with letter from Morrison Mnnford pro-
prieor of The TiDcS and several communications that
had passed between tho latter and the Western Union
managers relative to the news contracts OF The Times
Mr. Mann's statement read TO the committee
Its principal Parts as follows Through conrss
OF years the Of Kansas City have been at the
mercy Of the Western Union Telegraph Company with
the consolidation OF that company and the American
Union aud Mutual Union companies some five years
Since the extreme measures characteristic OF the west
ern Union have increased. Their form OF contract had
contained a clause caases binding the papers 10 the
use of the Western Union lines and no Others under
penalty provisions designed bind the party of tie
second part unaeraby to the will Of the Western Union
The press City either had to succumb for want
OF adequate facilities yield to the Western
Union The acceptance Of these contracts be said
to made under duress in every instance 1t Ia
believed with good by the writer that not single
rate agreement has been made by paper with this
company in i've years except under protest and that in
every one Of the publisher signed away his
right to fair competition.
E" In October 1885, we began negotiations for synd
cate matter giving fine line o; news requiring MS TO
telegraph IRON CAcago aver ge OF 5000 words per
oght. aud this had 10 be determined bY certain date
Dur taking IL was contingent Obtaining leased wire,
,ud applications early made to Superintendent
Baker. Western UniOu at =, Louis. At the end
If three weeks answer nad been returned Nothing
~ all in the line our application responded TO-
blt sOmsthing else aid not want No satisfactory
reply had been received to December l, 1882
the limit fixed in the offer from the opposition
iincs ON December and the Western Union
sdr proposton whicn II should have done earlier,
aud although exaced higher rates than we were pay
ing We would given the additional amount to Keep
WITHIN Our contracts and trouble On December
We received pre- miHary threat carried nto eNecu0"
on December 16. From that date they advanced lho
ratio for all oar specials Jus 50 per cent making bur
dei some tax though they performing Ike scrT!cc
for others AT old thus violating the prnclple
Of ike pay FOR service Tho carriage of our press
report lad been, suppOs d. removed from the
cuiaug cement that formerly surrounded H. but all AZ
once Tie Western Union resurreced claim based OH he
contract July Z, 1882 raising the price Tor that
service .,. ~
" d. Somerville Of New York. superintendent OF the
press division the Western Union Company replied
briefly 10 the statement read by Mr. Ayres lie sald the
western Union mad two special ratesOne open 10 every
nevspauer aud another 80 per cent lswer 10 papers
that signed agreements 70 send all their news over
Western Union wires Both OF the Kansas CITY papers
had sianed that agreement voluntarily ana DOte h@d
broken H.. The Western Union Company had simply
notified them that the contracts WOud De aD
rogated IL thcy peFssted in breaking the agleement
"a sending their other lines.