New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-01
TELEGRAPH TOLLS FIXED.
THE PosTMAsTERGENERAL ISSUES A
SCHEDULE FOR GOVERNMENT MESSAGES.

THE POSTMASTERGENERAL ISSUES A
SCHEDULE FOR GOVERNMENT MESSAGES.
,,-,,,r,,,. pprs1pENr GREEN, OF THE WESTERN
uSIoN. TO JOIN WITH HIM IN NAMING
. COMMISSION TO DETERMINE FAIR
RATES FOR NEXT YEAR.
Washington, Oct sl.-The following general order
-. rromucated at the Postofice Department today:
PosToFFICE DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON. d. c. Oct 80. 1889.
Pursuant 30 authority vested In the Postmaster
c.nsr by the OF Congress enntcd IAN act to aid In
uo~..rynsut the OF the for postal mhnry and
.r purposes" approved July "a 1896 and by the Re-
800 Statutes O. the United States, Title LXv, hereby
Az the rites at which such Communications the said
.Ss prescribe mot including those passing CIR
~ by the Chief Signal Ofcer Of the Army
s. be sep during the fiscal beginning July l. 1859.
nd terminating 80 1890. by the several companies
,,ain th. effect Of said statutes. as follows:
aay messages containing not more than ten words eS
,.va q, Mace from, date address, and signature, ten
. for all distances NOT exceeding 400 miles and one
-, cam for each word in excess Of ten words an dis
,sncs being arbitrarily determined by the method here
mater stated
~. exceeding Zoo miles fifteen for the first
IDS counted above provided. and threefour:hs Of
,e cent for each word in excess OF words.
ror al distances exceeding 600 miles shaft be
apd 10 the price Of the fixed for distances
zoo milos and under 1000 miles the Of onehah Of
sne cent for each word counted above provided
In cases where the price OF determined as
herein provided shah include fraction Of cent such
fraction less than on~haif is to be disregarded;
more than one half. It is % be counted cent.
For night messages Of not exceeding twenty words.
inclusive OF place from. date address and signature If
en cents for all distances and onehaf cent for each
additional word
Instead comparing the actual distances Of trans
mission the distance fos payment shall in all be
taken absolutely b be the number of miles between the
capital of the State Territory for from the city Of
washington IL from within the District OF Columbia from
within when (hatever place. the message
the capital of the state Territory the city Of Wash
lngtOn within the District OF Coumbia within which
fvbaever the place. the is received shown in
the accompanying table, wherein such distances
such capitals, and which Is to be taken Of this
order;
Provided That. the message be sent and received
within State, Territory said District Of Co
lumba the distance for payment shall be taken absolutely
10 be the mtramum distance Of 400 miles.
But 1t is provided that If any time during the year
ending June 80 $780, such company shall charge the
public Of ten body words less rate than is
herein fixed for like number OF body words the rates
herein prescribed shall such company henceforth dur
ing the be reduced 10 the rates charged "a the
public.
The rate for an messages in cipher Signal
Service weather repor is hereby fixed at not exceeding
half each word sent each circuit
hereafter established by the Chief Signal Officer
of the Army ala messages sent circuit being dropped
all designated Offices therein. without additional charge
The statutes provide that teegrams several
deparnene Government aud their officers and agents
their transmission the lines Of any company shall
have priority all other business All officers OF the
United sendnr such kilograms should indose there
on the words ION business" and should report 70 the
Posmaser-General failure transmit them in such
priority and charge made in excess Of the rates above
prescribed.
Each company will be allowed to charge for
ceved from another line rate II received
Government direct the point Of transfer for
transm ssicn its lines
JOHN wANAMAKER- Postmaster General.
The following letter from the Postmaster General
10 President Green of the Western Union Telegraph
Company, was also made public to-day
WASHINGTON. D. c.. Oct. 80. 1899
DR.. Norvtn Green. President Western Union Telegraph
Company, New-York.
Dear Sir: Referring the question Of establishment Of
rates for Government for the fiscal year ending
June 3d. 1890 desire call to attention that, by
letter Of July 2, requested "ocis declaration OF
the rate TO be withheld until opportunity could be
had for conference which request promptly complied
with considerable correspondence, and the several
interviews with you Saratoga you proposed 10 come to
Washington further discussion Of the subject at issue
had honor Of visit from you early last month ana
when pared with YOU understood you to say that you
would call next day. at which time expeceed that we
would reach conclusion az least TO the extent OF an
agreement upon the basis Of rates for the Government
teographng the present fiscal year. regret that you
did not find IL convenient since, pursue the
subject further and TO say that inasInuch as
more than time has been granted for confer
ence for 70 fix definitely the new rates
for the year.
dcs,re TO safe that 1 have awaited myself Of sll
accessible information TO ascertain the rates
and rebates with various classes Of customers
Of egraphic business and have weighed carefully all your
able arguments In relation 10 rates and While cannot
admit your claim privileges accorded telegraph
companies by the Of Congress Of 1866 are not ana
never been. Of value 10 your corporations am
Impressed with what you say in opposition to the appnca
Associated Press rates 10 Government business
and have current hsca year, revised
the fixing rates and issued the xme this day to all
Departments Of the Government COPY OF the order
ls herewith ncl0sed
A. the reduced rates hereby aeerned for day
are practically those upon which OF the
divisions apartments OF your company as w' as one
Of its principal competitors transacted business for the
public generally tome. until absorbed by
your company presume question arise as to the
fairness Of these conclusions.
Permit also to add that while there is no necessity
or Intention 70 place burden upon your company yet
am convinced that the Government is entitled TO very
special consideration In and privileges Of Geographic
service therefore, for the purpose OF determining Govern
ment in future. formally propose what
have al dy suggested and understood you TO be willing
to viz. The appointment Of commission OF 1--WE
suitable persons by company two by this De-
patment the nth by chosen inquire
and report this Department and to your company upon
the proper value Of Geographic service
their conclusions TO embrace recommendation OF equitable
rates or Government e graph service for the next sue
steding fiscal year. Very respectfully yours,
JOHN WANAMAKER Ppetnaster-General
With reference to the schedule Of rates for
Government Geographic service promulgated by Post
masterGeneral Wanama lSer to-day, DR.. Norvn Green,
President Of the Western Union Telegraph Company,
says Tho rate fixed by the Postmaster General Is
undoubtedly below COST but am not prepared TO
say what the attitude OF the company will be- until
after the matter has had tho consideration OF the
Executive Committee next Wednesday. The reduction
averages about 80 per cent from the old rate which
vas not a remunerattve one"
Ew-MEXICo's PROGRESS AND NEEDS.