Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-25

Green, President OF the Western Union, ad-
I overDment telegraph bills. He devoted
himself first, though briefly, to the consti-
tutional questions to which the measure
gives rise. He quoted a decision OF the Su-
preme Court in effect that the telegraph is
necessary to commerce, and that the tele-
graph business is in itself m He
touched upon this constitutional point, he
said, merely because he did not wish the
committee to understand he waived it. He
claimed that 40 people on earth enjoyed as
perfect a system of telegraph as the Ameri-
cans. DR.. Green then compared the tele-
graph systems OF England and the United
States, and asserted that the long distance
rates OF the Western Union were cheaper
than any other long distance in the world.
He said that the Western Union enjoyed no
exclusive franchises or legislative grants,
and that the field was open to anybody
who might choose to enter it. He said the
rates would be reduced during the present
year. He said the Western Union had to
pay from one to two hundred thousand
dollars a year for mistakes. If the Gov
eminent did run the telegraph system it
must taxi the existing lines. No private
enterprise could run against the National
Treasury setting out to
DO BUSINESS FOR
Would the Government be responsible for
delays and errors?" he asked. NO. There
was a popular belief that the company's
system was owned by one man. The com
pany's directorate was composed OF thirty
men. The ~millionaires of the country have
less than three-eighths OF the stock. Over
10000 people in all were interested in this
property Il am told" the Doctor con-
tinued, that a petition bearing five hum
dred thousand signatures is to be
sent to this committee in favor
OF a Government system. They will
by command originating in spite
against one man with WHOM Mr.. Powderly
had a quarrel. Not one in a hundred OF
the signers ever used the telegraph, yet
they were asking to be taxed for the benefit
ricn brokers, bankers, merchants, com
operators and SPECTATORS" DR..
Green said he had prepared a petition and
remOnstrance toCongress which he intended
by courtesy OF some OF the members to get |
before the Senate and House and he would
longer detain the committee. |
THE OTHER SIDE.
Gardner J. Hubbard addressed the com
in favor Ci the postal telegraph sys-
tem proposed in the bill introduced by !
Dawes. He gave it as his opinion !
that OF eighty-six millions Of dollars CAPT
tai stock Of the Western Union Company
bout eight or ten millions had been paid
n by stockholders and probably as much
more by Stockholders OF the other tele-
companies which had become bank
rnpt and been bought up by the Western
Union, and that the rest of it
been taken from the public III the
OF telegraph tolls. 1t was true
he present value Of the property is very
arge. He did not believe it possible to
duplicate it's 10000 miles OF wire at less
$50, OOO, OUO. Over and above this
value Of the property were other large
He had always regarded it's RICH:
If way over the railroads OF thecountry as
being really as valuable ;ts the other fran
OF the company. There was then
his great monopoly with a capital OF
$50, OOO, 900. nearly three-eighths OF which
held by the directors Of the company.
They therefore had virtually a monopoly
since it would be utterly impossible at any
stockholders, meeting to obtain a
CONTROLLING VOTE OF STOCK
,eld by the directors themselves. DR.. Green
this statement and said at the
stockholders meeting three-fcurths of the
apital stock was frequently represented.
hubbard said in this country there was
practically no competition in the telegraph
business, and there could be none for it
Vas a business which could be managed
more easily and cheap!y by one company
han by any number. But the quest Oh
rose whether the Government could not
manage it more cheaply ttlan the Western
)nion, and whether the Western Union it.
elf could not manage it much more cheaply
han it does. This question should be an
wered in the affirmative. Hubbard then
his well known views on the subject OF
.OStal telegranh at great lenutil.