Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-10
TELEGRAPH M0N0POLIES.
MIR. ANDERSON's RESOLUTION
UP IN COMMITTEE.

The Gentleman Explains his Object ID
Presenting the ResOlution-Land.
Grant Roads Charged with Co-Opera.
ting with Western Union TO the Exclu-
siOn of Other Companies.
WASHINGTON, March 9.--There was a
full attendance at the meeting Of the
House Committee on Post Offices and
Post Roads this morning, called to begin
the investigation ordered by the House OF
certain matters embodied in the res0u.
tiOn OF Mr.. Anderson, Of Kansas, as fols
lows:
That the Committee on Post Onices and
Post Roads is hereby empowered TO ascertain
whether additional LEGISLATION is needed "a
prevent monopoly of telegraph facilities and
recure to the southern. Western aud Pacific
states the benefits OF competition between
telegraph companies and 10 protect the peO-
pie OF the United states against unreasonable
charges for telegraphic service.
MR.. ANDERSON EXPLAINS HIS OBJECT,
Mr.. Anderson was present aud ad-
dressed the committee briefly in eXplana@
tiOn Ot his purpose in Offering the resOlus
tion. He said:
My general reason was an organic opposi-
tion 10 monopoly Of any sort, bat specifically
IN this Instance. His motive was 20 be found
Ia the state OF affairs existing between tha
Missouri river and Pacific ocean region. cons
prising oue-haif or two-thirds the area OF the
United states. The state he had the honor In
part to represent (kansasl was part OF this
region, and together with the remaining
seven states ana organized Territories waa
interested N the matter OF cheap teiegraphy,
IL was also vitality Interested in preventing
such monopoly of telegraBhing as wou Il
deprive It's people and press of the advantage
and safeguard OF competitive facilities for
obtaining news.
DUTY or LAND GRANT RAILROADS.
"A h..a a. -
the charters of all OF the land grant railrOada
they are required TO operate their telegraph
lines precisely ~ they operate their railsf
next, that they have illegally, bat substanti-
ally transferred their telegraph franchises ia
the Western Union mpaby; consequently
when rival telegraph company reaches the
eastern terminus Of one Of these roads ipstesd
OF receiving from TINT company without dis
elimination its business they refuse 70 do, or
at ieast substantially refuse 70 comply with
this obligation in their charters.
WESTERN UNIONS MONOPOLY.
In other words the Western Union. 90 faa
rs that whole area is Concerned. now having
population Of 5000 600 people. has practi-
cally monopoly, and Il is carrying 10 to such
an extent as 20 show tendency 20 claim, in
addition 20 the recognized right OF common
carrier. the right also TO gather and sell the
news OF the day on its own account. II the
committee would inquire into this branch OF
the subject it would find that the collection
and sale OF election news and such important
matters a. the PreBidents message are sought
TO be monopOlized 1y the Western Union Com
| pany in some instances, and tnat bare-taced
| attempts had been made by the Western
| Union Company 10 cgerce newspapers into
/ n aking exclusive contracts TO transact alt
1 their business by its wires.
LIBERTY OF THE PRESS.
The committee would sec az once how
| such attempts and assumptions threatened
| the lib erty Of the press in the region which
was subjected TO this monopoly. It is be-
cause of that fact and because Of other mat
ters upon which he would ask 20 be heard at
u later date that he had introduced this reso-
OutiOn.
d. h. Bates, President Of the Baltimore
and Ohio Telegraph Company, was then
sworn and examined. He gave history
OF the efforts Of his company TO penetrate
with it's wires the territory described by
Mr.. Anderson, and its failure through
what he described 90 cooperation be-
tween the Pacific railroads and the West
ern Union company. Mr.. Bates also
offered some suggestions In the way of
remedial legis&aiOn.