The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-24

contract was submitted suspending and abrogat-
ing that of 1882, and being somewhat lower in
Its tariff, 1t was accepted as In some measure
relief. The reason this was rendered was be-
cause Of the existence of the Pacific Mutual lines
lin this city, and therconnection with the United
lines east to st. Louis.
mo open contracts are ever allowed to be
made, and we are always confronted with the
iron-clad fixtures bidding Us to boycott all other
lines. In October, 1885, we commenced negotia-
tions for syndicate matter-giving us a fine line
Of news-requiring the telegraphing from Chi
cage an average of 5000 words per night, and
this had to be determined by certain date.
Our taking it was contingent on obtaining
leased wire, and applications were early made to
Superintendent Baker, of the Western Union, at
st Louis. At the end of three weeks, no answer
had been returned. Nothing at all IN the iine
of our application was responded to, but some
thing else we did not want. No satisfactory re-
ply had been received up to Dec. 1, 1885, the
limit named in the offer from the opposition
lines. On Dec. and 8, the Western Union
made proposition, which it should have done
earlier, and, although it exacted higher rates
than we were paying, we would have given the
additional amount TO keep within our cobtracts
and save trouble. On Dec 8 we received pre-
liminary threat which was carried into execu-
Siou on Dec. 16 From that date they advanced
The rate for all our specials just fifty per cent,
making burdensome tax, though they were
performing like service for others at the old
rates. thus violating the principle of like pay
For like service The carriage of our press re-
port had been. as we supposed removed from
the entanglements that formerly surrounded it,
but all at once the Western Union resurrected
a claim based ON the contract of July 7, 1882,
raising the price for that service We cannot
legally claim that we have not violated these
contracts but when we have undertaken to
carry an additionally large amount OF matter
between certain points, as is the custom we ex-
pect to get better rates than for general service
We have no stipulated minimum limit In every
tk1 TYx,s0 har-4 Rod noxyfao
first offered to them at preferred rates, and al
ways they have stood 'on the letter of the bond
1t is manifest that some remedy is required to
restrain the rapacity OF these consolidated cor
porations, and that the protecting power of the
government must step in and perform the tele-
graphic service of the country just as it does
che mail service"
Mr.. Ayres said that the purpose of the Kansas
City newspapers simply to inform the COM
mittee of their existing relations with the tele
graph company and if it thought the matter of
sufficient Importance the proprietors would come
to Washington to verify their statements. He
requested that the newspapers be returned, as
Ghey would be used in a lawsuit to be Instituted
against the Western Union company.
w. B. Somerville, of New York, superintend
ant of the Press division of the Western Union
Sompany, replied briefly to the statement made
by Mr.. Ayres. He said the Western Union had
two special rates-one open to every newspaper,
and another SO per cent lower, for those who
signed an agreement to handle ali their news
ever the Western Union lines. The Western
Union company had simply notified them that
the contracts would be abrogated il they per-
sisted in breaking the agreement by sending
their news over other lines. The papers had
signed the agreement to get the advantage of re-
duced rates. The Western Union does not col
lect news, and is entirely distinct from and dis
connected with the Associated Press or the
Western Associated Press-it was simply trans
mitter of news. In cases of unusual occur
rences, such as the death of the President, the
company sent bulletins public service with
eut pay. IL general elections. the Western
Union managers were allowed to collect the re-
turns in places where there was no regular press
agent.