New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-09
DIR. NORvIN GREEN REPLIES
NO PosT-RoAD PRIVILEGE, HE SAYS
CoNTENDING THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS
BEEN MORE THAN PAID FOR ANY
CONCESSIONS


The controversy between the western Union Tele-
graph Company and the Postmaster General about tho
rates for Government messages may be continued In
definitely. On the part OF the Government u Is
claimed that its business should be done at cheap
rate because the company has received incsculaele
benefits by It's occupation OF post roads In reply tho
president of the Western Union Company says 10 tho
Pos tmasterGeneral:
Either you are very badly Informed By our
respective legal advisers 10 what has been claimed by
the telegraph company end held By in respect
TO the scope and authority grant. ] have had
occasion from time to time to through the records In
great many cases, but do instances ia
which such claim has made and sustained by tho
courts. What understand Government did give
In the act Of 1886, franchise and right % do tee-
graph business in all the States and this franchise was
given alike 70 all telegraph companies other parties
might accept subsequently by known
the Butler amendment 1t especially extended 10 all
railroad companies. But the never assumed 70 give
us, and could not give the right plant our poles
any but lands actually belonging the Government;
and that right have very rarely exercised except when
the Government wanted extend lines the
nience OF the Government Into its navy yards and military
posts and stations It's department quarters In the y
OF Washington.
The railroads post roads, as well Of the
highways and IL the Government gives the right %
way post roads why should have pay the railroad
companies for it We have for and obtain oar
rights Of way from the parties who them. whether
individual landowners and and highways
obtain license from the city, county state
authorities, condemn under authority OF state laws
The act 70 which refer gives the telegraph companies
accepting It the right and timber from the
public lands preep exceeding forty
for each station We have needed TO any
stone and since the passage OF that act the railroads
the continent have afforded ample facilities for trans
porting cedar for poles which durable and econom
the native timber thai might possibly be found
accessible unoccupiei Government lands As to pre-
empung forty OF land for station, have found
that wherever telegraph station needed there were
unoceuped Government lands: and II were 10 cs-
absh station any forty OF unoccuped Govern
lands, it would be I'm locality that would yield
II is true, therefore that We have never
taken stone or stick OF timber Appropriated foot OK
public land under that law
DR.. Green insists that the power Of the Postmaster'
General to regulate tolls is limited by the Constltu-
ton 10 just compensation for the service required,
and that Just compensation must cover the actual
cost Of the service. He adds:
still insist that the Government most favored
customer that the for Government service during
past years. considering the character Of the service
Is lower than that given 70 any other patron.
The Of all is that the Government has given US
nothing that the Government anything or that was
any value to the Government TO rtain nothing mat
ha not been worth more to the Government the public
that we should than it has been worth 70 u.s. whilst
in consideration therefor Government. by its reserved
power making saving for number Of years az
the rate Of nearly, not quite, hundred thousand
dollars year the cost OF its telegraph service below
what other customers pay whilst 10 enjoys, as It should.
A preferred service over all other business
Washington, Aug. 3.-The secretary Of the Treasury
having written TO the PosmasterG eneral that "a ss
mend the allow nce of certain telegraph blls Incurred
bv Internal Revenue officers, credit for which Is
claimed I'm their accounts pending the pfOmbgatlOD
of the order fixing rates for Government messages,
would work hardship 10 the officers I'm question: the
Po,tohice Department has suggested that all such
officials tran,mit their kilograms to the treasury De.
marked collect. fhat me VI
the accounts therefor will rest wholly with shat Do
Dartmrnt.