The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-07-28
GOVERNMENT TRLEaRAMs.
DR.. Green Resents Some OF the Post
master Generals Statements.

master Generals 3 Statements.
NEW YORK, July 2I.--Presideat Norvin
Green Of the Western Union Telegraph
Company gave out the following for pub
lication this afternoons
Executive OFFICE VEST UNION TIT Co.
NEW YUHK, Jrly 2i, I5S2 I
Hon. John yUnGmakey, Postmaster Gestsrul:
DEAR SrR-Pendng our cOrrespDndence ia re-
spect % your notice OF tbs rate 70 be uz8d f0r
the government telegraph services, / have not
given any Information Of the questions raised.
nor answered any inquiries q news rspertarS
in respect thereto for p'lohcaaSa. Bot your
circular TO the telegraph companies or July
49, in which you say "tGat the rate proposed
was upon Information furnished TO this your
departments that your (our) company has been
making rates to various large corporations
that are, in some instances, as low as the dg-
uras now proposed for the government SER
vice. was printed verbatim in = number of
newspapers even before had recsived the
original by post. 1 repeatedly declined to be
interviewed, even upon this most remarkable
statement. But, its extensive publication
throughout the country by many papers, IN
justification of the rate named for the govern
ment service for the ensuing year, and by others
with comments on the alleged unwarrentabie
discrimination in rates to our customers, has
proved soembarrassing in our business relations
with various classes OF patrons or the telegraph
that, in Justice to the interests | represent
l cannot longer allow the impression
il has made to remain uncorrected. l wrote
YOU on July 10. that the Information IuFuiSneu
your department that this company has been
making rat 20 various large corporations that
are in some instances as low as the figures now
proposed for the government service is with
OUT foundation, in fact. l know of no ipsta ce
in which any corporation, large or small, has a
rate for telegraph service that averages as low
as that which mas been fixed for the govern
ment service annually since July Of 1884,
| did not infer that in the language various
large corporations you could have referred to
press associations for very few, II any, of these
associations are Incorporated, and the larger Of
them | know are only private associations
Nevertheless, after expaning TO you that our
so-called free service TO limited extent for
railroad companies was paid Tor
men aud material. the services of their
railroad operators, and ia most Instances the
furnishing Of labor and other assistance in
maintaining lines, went on to say that 'Our
lowest rates should naturally be those for the
transmisSion.o of news for publication. 1t is not
an exacting service, but is in great measure
deferred service mostly done at midnight, and
the great bulk OF the reports are sent to large
number Of places simultaneously by one send
ing operator. There is q service of great pub
lie interest toward which we have co triOuted
largely, frequently without profit. and not in
frequently without any compensation therefor
For some years we have distributed the
Presidents message over the wires and
given it TO every daily newspaper in the country
without charge. During the pro5ra ted illness
or President Garfield and, later, Of Gen. Grant
we sent out daily bulletins OF 0heir condition TO
all parts of the country, free OF charge, as we
alS) have frequently distributed the dOinRs OF
large political or benevolent assemblages. I
cannot conceive why the government should
treat this class of service as a measure for
fixing the rates for the government service
might have added that in every scourge Of
yellow fever and cholera. and in every devasta-
ton by flood or fire, we have done for the public
| information and for private relief a large
amount OF services without.clargP. Ia tue lahs
| great disasters at Johnstown and seattle, our
/ entire available facilities at those places were
| given 10 the public use for several days. But
| it had never occurred to us that the gov
| ernment was in such straits as on
| TINS account to require its service to
be done practically TOR nothing, or without
paying Jast compensation therefor, as believe
the constitution and laws Intended and will
compel it to do. Except the arrangements with
railroad and transportation companies referred
TO, and the rates for press and commercial news
service, we make no reduced rates to any com
pany, corporations or other patrons, large or
small for messages transacted and delivered to
a single address. The government is our only
customer that enjoys reduced rates. AS to the
great privileges aud benefits derived
by this Company from the act
or 1866. they are purely imaginary.
l am not aware that we have ever taken stone
or stick OF timber or appropriated foot Of
land belonging 70 the government under that
act; and where we have needed to build a line
across lands belonging to the government as
canal around the falls of Ohio we have had
more trouble and delay In procuring the right
to set our poles than il the lands had belonged
to private parties. | have the honor to remain
most respectfully yours,
NoRvIS GREEN, President