New-York tribune., 1886-03-17
DIR. GREEN DEFENDS WESTERY UNION

RELATING TO THE COMMITTEE THE HISTORY OF
TELEGRAPH LINES IN THE WEST
WAsHNGTON, March 1G-Thc House Post
Once Committee to-day heard President Norvin Green
OF the Western Unou upon tho alleged monopoly OF the
tecgaphc facilities Of the Pacific railroads. DR.. Green
began his statement with short resume OF the
struction OF the Pacific Rairo id and telegraph lines.
lie said that WHOM the roads bdt the charters
tanned provisions allowing the Overland Pacific the
California state and the Uui'cd states Tele-
gr-ph Companies 10 reconstruct or remove
their lines and " also stipulated that the roads
might contract with the telegraph companies aud
thorze them to establish telegraph lines for public
cOmmOiaon and the OF the roads in lieu OF their
own lines The Western Union now included the over.
land Pacific the California State and the United States
Telegraph companies. The United states Company
absorbed by the Western Union had included the United
States Telegraph Company the Independent Telegraph
Company, the United states Extension Telegraph Com
pauy, the Inland Telegraph Company and the Inland
Extension Telegraph Company Therefore the Western
Union wires over the Pacific roaIs not by the com
paucs consent hut by its right undcr act Of Congress
There was no doubt that tha Pdcinc railroads
bound 10 take messages frOl all companies, nor was
tnore any doubt that they we're prepared
to do so. Their superintendent. Mr.. Dckey
was in the room. aud had told the witness
that not a single message had been offered
by a competing line that the railroad companies were
aiw ays ready TO take any message offered The COM
pany that large in this Investigation had not
within 100 miles o. the Pacific roads The whole
object OF tns attack the Western Union-a company
thar had raised the money AMI built the overland wires
In time OF uOJJIy else wOull un icrtdke IT. q
Mr. Douyhcrry SAID that 1t had been com planned that
the Western Union Disseminated aGanst other COM
palies-that it monopoly.
DR.. Green replied that that aquost.on OF law and
the Western Union had nothing to do with it.
In ,wer to questions by menb'r5 Of the committee
Dr Green SAID the Pacific roIl5 dill not have wires
su iccnt to handle pdbhc business without ayang o.
the Western Union wires All Of tho opposition co IL
panics losing money The Baltimore ana ONO
could stand It ~ the telegraph company was but de-
partmcut ot the railroad company and they could foot
loss OF $4,000 or $4,000 monthly. In the matter
OF rates the Western Union did propose allow
telegraph business control the price OF the other nine
tenths. He would say frankly that the Western Union
ha put up the Nutua Union To compete With the Oppo-
son companies in cheap rates The western Union now
regretted tnat II had not allowed the Postal Telegraph
bill to pass few ago. because It would have Oeeh
ike the rest-it would have done no business. In
mediate service required, and the New-fOik
brokers raised fuss II thcy did not get an an.
to a telegram sent to Chicago IN half An AOuf
The Government used the Western Union lines when II
Obj grd to- aud I'm several Instances tn western
Union had excluded from Government buildings IN
this city and New-IOrk Or. Green supposed that II
was a matter Of favor; the Government did not get
lower rates from the opposition companies.
hearing postponed until tomorrow.