Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-31
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE prsrAroH.,


WASHINGTON, August 3o.-Dr. Norvin
Green, President of the Western Union
Telegraph Company, arrived in Washington
at 915 last night, and drove Immediately to
Wilckers. In the afternoon he drove to the
Postofice Department and spent almost two
hours in the company of Mr.. Wanamaker.
The matter of telegraph rates for Govern
ment business was only one of the topics
discussed in the conference, and it was only
q minor one. The real business which Jay
Gould and John Wanamaker canvassed so
long at Saratoga, and which drew DR..
Green to the capital for its further con-
sideration, is nothing less than a postal
telegraph scheme, which the Postmaster
General has had in his head for long time.
The main features of it are the transmission
of telegraphic messages at reduced rates
by the Western Union Company, and the
collection and delivery of the messages in
consideration of that privilege by the Post
Office Department.
Mr.. Wanamaker has had in mind for two
or three months some plan of this sort. His
friends say that it is simply one of those bold
strokes by which he has built himself up in
his private business, and by which, if the
pending negotiations do not fail, more will
be done to popularize the Postofice Depart
ment aud do credit to this administration
than anything since the days of Blair.
USED AS CLUB.
Some 90 so far as to say that the Post
master Generals offer of mill q word for
Government business. in place of the old
rate of a cent a word has been SIMPLY q
club by which he has been able to bring
the Western Union TO negotiating terms in
the larger business. 1t is certa in that the
postal telegraph scheme was uppermost in
the Saratoga conference, and that the ar
rangement of details is the principal task
which Mr.. Wanamaker and the President of
the telegraph company have now in hand
Nothing can be learned tonight about the
details OF to-day's conference from either
the President of the Western Union or the
Postmaster General. Mr.. Wanamaker said
late this afternoon at the depot that there
was no information to be had about the sub
ject. He seemed surprised that anybody
should nave learned of the presence
of DR.. Green in Washington. The Doctor
said late this evening at the Metropolitan
Club that he would not discuss in the news
papers what he was discussing privately.
There was as much secrecy about the nego-
tiations as it the annexation of Canada and
Mexico were involved. Only the two men
most concerned do the business. Those who
advise them, if any do, are pledged to say
not word.
OUTLINE OF THE PLAN.
The plan which the Postmaster General
hopes t2 see 60 into effect soon, therefore,
sad VIII fh she Western Union people seem
about rlady to accede to, can be outlined
only roughly. But it can be outlined about
as accurately, excepting details, as it
was outlined at the conference. The free
delivery system is TO be utilized for the
collection and distribution of telegraphic
messages, and the telegraph company, in re-
turn Tor the extra business which it is be-
lieved this innovation would result in, is to
send the messages at a reduced rate. The
point appears to be that the cost
Of the delivery of messages, which is
one of the heaviest which a tele-
graph company has to bear, will be
borne by the Government without much
extra expense to ITSELF and th at the business
men, or the people generally who use the
special delivery stamp, or are not quite
satisfied with that method aud don't quite
feel able to pay telegraph tolls, or who
would send short letters, especially by tele-
graph, If the tolls were lighter, will be
greatly accommodated and pleased with the
administration of the Postofice Department.