Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-05-10
The WESTERN UNION.

DR.. Norvin Green Gives the House Corn
inittee His Ideas ~ to the Difference Be-
| tween the Powers and the Rights OF the
| Government.
WAsHIN 6ToS. May 3.-Dr Norvin Green
president OF the Western Union Telegraph
Company, appeared before the House Com
mittee on Post-ofices to present some facts
upon the subject Of the telegraph system.
/ OF the country. He first addressed him.
self TO the Hopkins bill to es lablish pos
tai telegraph. Such an enactment. he
sand, would be Eoustrous wrong. The
rights Of property were entirely ignored.
The act OF 1876. TO aid in the con-
strucs on and maintenance of telegraphs,
provided that, if the Government should
establish a postal telegraph sys-
tenn, It would take the property OF the COM
panies accepting the provisions OF the act
at q valuation 10 be ascertained by FIVE
persons. UoGer the provisions OF that act
fourffths of the telegraph properties OF
the country had been created and estab-
lished believing and relying on the good
faith of the Government. Having accepted
the act the telegraph companies had per-
formed their part of the compact faith
fully, and that performance had saved
the Government more than million
dollars. The business of the Government
had been about 500, 900 a year, and the
rates established by the Postmaster-Gen-
eral had been about half the usual
rates OF commercial messages. The Gov
eminent business required Instant trans
mission at the busiest hour Of the day TO
the detriment OF the commercial business.
Therefore the most exacting service the
western Union was called upon 10 per-
form was done at e loss. II the Govern-
ment had a right 10 establish telegraph,
if it had right to maintain Il commercial
telegraph business among the States, 1t
certainly had the right, not by the power
Of eminent domain but by agree ment, 10
take the property. In all fairness if the
Government contemplated telegraph
business the only proper way to do so was
to take the existing property and pay
for it.
A vindictive impulse, DR.. Green declared,
was about the last thing which should
govern deliberative body, yet the bill un-
der consideration had the appearance of
being dictated by vindictve impulse.
The power of the Government and the
right OF the Government were not the
same. The Government might have the
power 10 build telegraphs and to declare
that any person doing telegraph business
would De VlOidt0r OF the law, but IL Hau q
right 10 do only what was right He asked
If 1t was right to confiscate all existing
properties which had been built up under
the provisions of the act of 1850. The Gov
erament did no; need a telegraph. 1t would
not benefit the Government. His remarks
were not made with view TO selling the
Western Union 10 the Government, as the
Western Union did not want to sell, but its
purchase was the only proper basis On
which the Government could 90 into the
telegraph business.
Dr. Green next turned his attention &C
the pending Interstate telegraph bills. and
re cate the S me criticisms upon them
which he had made bef,re the Senate com
mittee. He was partIcu arly bitter in his
reference To the dragnet subpPlas which
had compelled the production OF g eat files
of messages. He referred to The action of
the United States Senate Committee in
vestgatng the Haves-Tilden election, and
declared that he hoped never to see such
another outrage. He thought that Congress
should pass Il law on the subject