The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-29

States territory. these lines had made I. con-
nection via the Canadian Pacific with the Pa
sihc coast, and had built from British Coumo a
down TO San Francisco. He cited authorities to
prove that the Pacific roads had right to
make a contract by which the Western Union
b ad monopoly of the telegraph facilities, and
no right to refuse TO transmit the messages
handed them by competing lines. He said that
there would always be two great telegraph
companies in this country. the people would
not submit 10 have the entire telegraph owned
by one company, and that company by one man.
DR.. Green asked if. after the statement he lDr.
Green1 had made, Mr.. Ingersoll could still say
the Western Union was owned by one man.
II know Mr. Ingsrsol replied, that you
have stated that one man only owns so much,
but know something about that one man.
know that he 10 not in corporation. and never
will be in corporation i've minutes. that he
does not control it, whether be does this by his
money or by his intelligence-I think him very
intelligent man-no matter how he does II. but
he does it..
The railroad company had lines that should
be open to the public and competing companies.
he did not want the Western Union to stand in
the bars at Omaha like . contrary steer. and
say, we have all these rights all this right of
way belongs to Us. to use. and these railroads
built for the people, shall treat US in certain
way. Il shall haul poles and wires, and do
our other services. and if any company tries to
build a line it shall by exorbitant charges pre-
vent it.D Ii was like making bargain with 6
soldier that he should not load his gun The
Western Union had . peculiar philanthropy of
its own. 1t did not wish anybody to live if it
i
pany could make contract with the Canadian
Pacific, or that it could raise the necessary
funds to build line from British Columbia to
San Francisco While the Western Union was
in doubt az to the absolute health OF 3 competi-
tor, it sat down to wait until it died, and if it
did not die in a reasonable time il proceeded to
do what it could 20 hasten it's demise. Monopo-
lies all declared that they were public benefac-
tors-that they chespen products. The Stand
ard Oil Company Eaid: eve are blessing; we
give you oil cheaper than you get it in any
other way" The Postal and United lines is
promising company. il has health. and could not
be swallowed. The Western Union has followed
for years the practice of swallowing up
companies, but il could not swallow them quite
as fast as they were Matched. Ii the Postal
could secure equal facilities with the Western
Union 10 transportation OF poles and supplies.
and In right of way over the Pacific railways. 1t
would be satisfactory to it. II the people and the
government were satisfied.
Gen. Swayne said that he desired TO call to
the attention of the committee that what had
been said this afternoon related to three differ
emit scbjects-frst, to the amount which Col.
1ngersoli had paid for sending his message from
Omaha to San Francisco; second, to the de
gree of facility Col. Ingarsoll ought TO have for
building rival line if he wanted to; third, as to
the legality of the contracts. If Col. Ingersol
paid too much for his messages, the Western
Union Company had consented to the enact
rnent of statute which gave to three impartial
persons selected by the United States the power
make the rates reasonable and just. If Col.
Iugersoll wanted to build line the Pacific
roads. he did not need the help OF Congress to do
for any individual to compel she Pacific railroad
they required to do under statute COM
mon law