The Portland daily press., 1888-01-21
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
WesterH Union Presents Its opposI-
tIon to Government Telegraph.
Various Things Desired by the Ma
tionaI Board of Trade.

Various Things Desired by the Ma
tionai Board of Trade.
The Senate Likely to Deprive Embez-
zlers of Their Paradise.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20.-The Senate COM
mittee on post offices and post roads met this
morning, and listened to DR.. Norvin Green,
president of the Western Union Telegraph
Company, in opposition to the bills for the
establishment of postal Telegraph system.
The doctor began by questioning the consti-
tutionality of the proposed bills. No coun-
try, he said, was so favored in its telegraph
system as this. 1t was asserted that the
Western Union was a monopoly. 1t had no
exclusive franchises. The field was open to
everybody. 1t was no more of monopoly
than any great commercial business. He
showed how the success of the Western I'm
ion had permitted it to reduce the cost of
messages to the public from an average rate
of $1.05 in 1867 to S0a cents in 1887 He said
that the rates would be further reduced this
year. Touching the question of war of rates
he said the Baltimore & Ohio began it. That
company, he asserted, had been built to be
sold to the Western Union. This was ex-
pected to be accomplished on the basis OF the
damage 1t could do.
The history of government telegraph
showed tardy service, bad delivery and bulled
messages. Would the government be respon-
sible for delays and errors? ne e, ASKED. NO
government system ever was. The Western
Union had to pay from 100000 to $1,000 a
wear for its mistakes. He believed that the
deficit of government system as suggested
in the Cullom bill, would be from S5,OOO,0o0
to S10,000.000 year. If the government dld
run telegraph system, it must take existing
lines. No private enterprise could run
against the national treasury setting out TO
do business for nothing. He wished to say
concerning the Western. Union, thatits value
wire at the factory, and the company's other
equipments amounted to three or four times
the value of the wire. The property OF the
Western Union could not possibly be dupn-
Gated today for its capitalization.
There was popular belief that the compa-
nv was owned by one man. The company's
directorate, composed of thirty, men
the mllionaires of the country-had less
than three-eighths of the stock. lts STOCK
was held by 5000 people throughout the
country. Over 10000 people in all were in
terested in this property. :,
sI am told" the doctor continued, that
petition bearing 100000 signatures, is to be
sent to this committee in favor OF the gov
mand, originating in spite against one man,
with whom Mr.. Powderly had quarrel, and
nots1O0O men who will sign have ever seen
telegraph message
The National Board of Trade.
AT the meeting today, of the National
Board of Trade, the question of the revision
of the laws relating to banking, was discuss
ed. and a resolution adopted, favoring such
revision and codiication of the nationa
banking laws, and also, a resolution advocat-
ing the refunding of the per cent debt OF
the United States, at low rate of interest
The Board adopted resolutions this after
noon, suggesting the enactment Of uniform
pilotage laws; that the service be freed from
the conflict Of local laws and customs; de-
claring that the public health requires the
immediate enactment of proper quarantine
regulations by the national government, ana
the appropriation of suitable sums to carry
these into effect by the National Board OF
Health; declaring that 1T IS expedlent Tor the
national government to ask for a conference
of all maritime nations to consider the rules
governing lights and signals at sea; an inter
national code of flags, the means OF saving
life, and the destruction OF wrecks and dere-
licts, and other similar questions affecting
the commerce of the world.
The following preamble and resolutions In
regard to extraditlon treaties were adopted:
Whereas, The desire to accumulate sudden
wealth by doubtful methods Is growing evli;
Whereas, immunity from punishment of embez-
zlers and defauters by escape TO Canada, or else
where, exposes the business community 10 crimes
of greater gravity; therefore,
Resolved. That it is the duty of the national
government TO make such extraditlon treaties
with all foreign governments as Will enable It TO
secure the return to this country OF persons ac-
cused of such crimes for trial in our courts.
Resolved, That Congress be respectfully memo
rialized in accordance with this proposition
A resolution favoring the amendment to
the Constitution so as to allow the President
to veto separate items in the annual appro-
priaton bill was adopted, and the conyen-
ton adjourned sine die. The next conven-
ton will be held in Chicago on the second
Wednesday of November.
The Senate Considers Extradition.
The proposed extradition treaty with
Great Britain is again before the Senate.
Minister Phelps, it is known, had an extend
ed correspondence with the State Depart
ment as to the changes which the British
government thought it might be practicable
to make in the proposed draft. These changes
it is believed, were designed to render the So
called dynamite provisions less objectionable
on political grounds to those Senators who
are sensitive upon the subject OF the Irish
vote. LII is D6lleN6u dloO bldl oOui6 SuBSto-
tions of change have been made to enlarge
the scope of the proposed treaty with re-
spect to the eXtradition of defaulters who
escape to Canada from the United States.
The Dominion government has been more
ready to recommend to the British foreign
office that some sstringent provision IN this
respect be made for the Canadians are tired
of furnishing Botany Bay for the boodler
Gangs OF the cities of the United States.
These refugees do not make an attractive
in Capada's social life and not
considered a wholesome example to citizens.
The Canadian government is not willing to
permit that country to be made any longer
refuge for public and private thieves. The
administration is very hopeful that the Brit
ish extraditon treaty in some form will be
approved by the Senate at this session.
The Nations Gratitude.
Pensions have been granted to Maine
people as follows:
Elizabeth, widow of William McManus, Lewis
ton.
James p Hallowe Blaine.
ORIGINAL.
Arad E. Gilbert, East Turner.
INCREASE.
David P. Cornish, Bowdoinham.
James Walden, West Camden.
Franklin Wood, Winthrop.
Samuel W. Dobie, North Cornville.
Vim. I. Talman, Palermo.
REISSUE.
Joseph w. Grassy, Bath.
Thomas Violette, Oldtown.
Thomas A. Brown, Bath.
RESTORATION AND REISSUE.
John F. Reeves, Bradford.
Maine Postal Changes.
The following changes in star schedules
are announced:
Route 1873 = Fryeburg Center to Chatham.
Leave Fryeburg Center daily, except Sundays, at
6. 80 D. M or on arrival Of mail from Fryeburg.
Arrive at Chatham in pa h ours. Leave Chatham
daily except Sundays, at 5.15 q. m or in season
to connect with the mail from Fryeburg. Arrive
AT Fryeburg Center in 2l4 hours.
Route 256-Chelsea to Randolph. Leave Chel-
sea daly except Sundays, at l 40 p. m or in sea
son 10 connect with the train Arrive at Ran
dolph in As minutes, Leave Randolph daily, ex-
cept sundays, at 3.45 p. m or on arrival OF train.
Arrive at Chelsea in 40 minutes.