The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-03-24
FROM WASHINGTON.
old man Ledge to be More Effect-
lively Marked.
Postal Changes in Maine just
Announced.
The House Committee Investigating
the Alleged Telegraph Monopoly.
rspecial to the PRESS ]

Especial to the PREss.l
WASHINGTON, March 23.--In accordance
with the request of Congressman Dingley
made some weeks ago the Lighthouse
Board have ordered the ledge known as the
Old Man LEDGE off the island of Monhegan,
on which the steamer Cambridge was
wrecked some weeks ago, to be more effect
iyely marked A spindle buoy will be placed
upon it.
Augustus Public Building.
WASHINGTON, March 23.-Theo plans for
the approaches to the Augusta public build
ing are in course OF preparation, The pc
cn7iar nature of the site makes this matter
somewhat difficult and costly. The plans for
the approaches must be fully matured before
the plans for the building can be prepared,
because the cost of approaches must come
out Of the total appropriation OF Sl5o,oo0
The plans will probably be in shape to adj
yertise for bids in June, and the foundation
kcan be built this season.
Mr.. Reeds Work.
Representative Reed has recently pre-
sented petitions and memorials in favor OF
liberal appropriations for public works, es-
pecially for the Hennepin canal, from many
Maine assemblies Of Knights OF Labor; a pc
tition from 16 clergymen, 8 physicians, law
yers, 8 teachers, SO business men, ana 10 oHl-
GERS of temperance and other S.ocletles, OF
York and Cumberland counties, In favor OF
Temperance instruction in the public schools,
petitions of Portland, Bath, Bangor, Lubec,
Provincetown, Yarmouth and other places,
asking relief for the cooperage trade; peti-
tion from the York Manufacturing Company
and others of Saco, for the improvement OF
Saco river and petition from j.. ). Wins
low 65 Co., in favor of the free pilotage Dill.
Investigating the Western Union.
The House committee on post offices and
post roads in conducting the telegraph inyes-
tigation today. began its inquiry concerning an
alleged attempt of the Western Union Ieie-
graph Company to coerce newspapers IN the
Western States into making exclusive con-
tracts" ~.
G. NJ. Ayres appeared in behalf of the
Kansas City Times and Kansas City Jour-
mall and submitted statement by j. A.
Mann, secretary and business manager OF
the Journal together with letter from
Morrison Mumford, proprietor OF the Times,
and several communications that had passed
between the latter and the Western Union
managers relative to the news contracts OF
the Times. Mr.. Mann's statement was read
to the committee. Its principal parts are as
follows:
Through a course of years the newspapers OF
Kansas City have been at the mercy Of the west
err Union telegraph Company. With the con-
soldaton of that company and the American
Union and Mutual Union five years ago. the ex-
treme measures characteristic OF tne western
Union have increased Inelr FORM ~ u cvnIaavs .a
to the use of the Western Union lines ana no
other. under penalties and provisions designed to
the viii of the Western Union. The press of Kan
sas City either had to succumb for want OF ade-
guate news facilities or eld TO dne MesgeaY nav
be said to have been made under duress IN every
instance. 1t is believed, with good reason, by
the writer that not a single rate agreement naa
hapn made With TINS cOHltdDy Ill
FIVE years except under protest. and that IN every
oneof the contracts the publisher signed away
his right to fair competition. The delivery OF
even our regular report was threatened TO De
withheld by the Western Union If we failed 70
give the Western Union all our special business
This jeopardized the foundation OF our tele-
graphic service. 1t is proper to say tnat we had
violated repugnant contracts only after long ana
weary efforts to first obtain fair measure OF re-
lief. At the hands of the Western Union COM
pany the papers reveal only portion OF the Oc-
currences of late years, but serve suficlently 70
show the net work of iron by which we We're
bound. We were threatened that unless we
signed these contracts we should be put upon a
higher scale of special rates practically rulnous,
Notwithstanding there existed prohibition III
the contract of July 7, 1882, which prevented our
use Of competing lines In In rl rs os EASE ii
this is not duress, it is kin to it. year later
modification of this contract was SUBMITTED, sus-
pending and abrogating that of 1883, and beng
Somewhat lower in its tariff it was accepted as
some measure of relief. The reason THIS was ten
dered was because of the existence of the Pacific
Muf11ai lines in this CITY and their connection
with united lines east to ST. Louis
The statement concluded as follows;
1t is manifest that some remedy is required to
restrain the rapacity of the consolidated corpora
tions, and that the protecting power OF the gov
ernment must step in and perform the teleerapnc
service of the country just as 1t does the mail ser
vice.
w. B. Somerville of New York, superin-
tendent of the press division of the Western
Union Company replied briefly to the state
ment read by Mr.. Ayers.
Postal Changes in Maine.
The following information concerning
postal changes in Maine is furnished by the
Postmaster General:
PosTMAsTERs COMMISSIONED.
C. H. Walker Crystal.
H. P. A. Spofford. Deer Isle.
u. G. Varney, Robie
r. c. Dolloff, Rumford Centre.
w. A. Farrar, Milltown.
E. L. Fisher, Charlotte.
M. II. st. John, Clark'S Island
C. Chadbourne, Harmony.
c. E. Smith, North Bucksport.
j. G. Cove, Perry.
Ella e. Temple, Hampden.
W. Carver, Livermore Centre.
NJ, Sirois, Upper Madawaska.
POST OFFICE ESTABLISHED
At ST. David, Aroostook county, on route 400,
three miles southeast of Upper MadawaSka, and
ten northeast of Grand Isle; A. Daige, post
master.
STAR SERVICE CHANGES
Route 433; Damariscotta Mills to South Jeffer-
son from March 30 decrease distance OF OF RODS
owing to change of site of the post office at DANA
riscotta Mills.
Minor Matters.