Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-31
THE TELEGRAPH PROBLEM.
The Postmaster General Fixes the
Rates for Oflcial Messages.

Postmaster General wanamaker has brought
the controversy which has been going on bet
ween the Post Office department and the West
ern Union relative to rates for government
messages to sclose by issuing the following
order:
For day messages containing not more than
ten words exclusive Of place from, date, ad-
dress and signature, ten Q0) cents for all dis
tances not exceeding four hundred (4O0) miles,
and one-half 90 cent for each word in excess
Of ten words; all distances being arbitrarily de-
termined by the method hereinafter stated.
For distances so determined exceeding four
hundred (4OO miles and not exceeding one
thousand miles fifteen Q5) cents for the first
ten words counted as above provided, and
three-fourths 90 of one cent for each word in
excess of ten words.
For all distances exceeding 1000 miles
there shall be added to the price of the message
fixed for distances over 400 and under 1000
miles the sum Of one-half cent for each word
counted as above provided.
I'm cases where the price Of message de-
termined as herein provided shall include
fraction Of cent such fraction if less than one
half is to be disregarded; if more than one-half
it is to be counted as one cent.
-"For night messages of not exceeding twenty
(20) words, exclusive Of place from. date ad-
dress and signature. fifteen (15) cents for all
distances and one-half % cent for each ad-
ditionai word
Instead of computing the actual distances
of transmission the distance for payment shall
in all cases be taken absolutely to be the num-
Der of miles between the capital of the state or
territory, or from the city Of Washington. il
from within the District Of Columbia, from
within which (whatever the place. the message
is sent and the capital Of the state territory,
or the city of Washington if within the District
of Columbia. within which (whatever the place.
the message is received"
The order further provides that if any time
during the year any such company shall charge
the public for a message OF ten body words a
such company the rates shall be reduced to
those charged to the public.
The rate for all cipher messages Of the sig
nal service is fixed at 211S cents for each word
sent over each circuit.
The attention is called to the fact that all
kilograms marked "oficial business" have pri-
orlty.
CHANGES IN THE RATES.
On the 29th of June, 1888. Postmaster General
Dickinson issued an order which fixed the rates
prevailing up to the present A comparison
with the above order will show the changes
made in the rates; For day messages Of not
exceeding twenty (20) words. exclusive Of date,
twenty (2O) cents for all distances not exceed
ing 1000 miles, and for each word in addition
Js
distances not exceeding 900 miles: all distances
being determined by arbitrary average. as here
matter stated
For distances(so determined )exceeding one
thousand miles, one-tenth of the price Of tho
message for one thousand miles. as above pro-
vided. is to be added for each one hundred
miles or fraction thereof Of additional distance:
fractions Of a cent less than one-half to be dis
regarded and half cent or more to be counted
as one cent.
lY1rAR R1. IT. ol,on xln
fifty (50) cents for each twenty words, exclud-
ing date, nor the rate Of two and one-half cents
per word for words additional to twenty (20).
"For night messages Of not exceeding twenty
(20) words. exclusive Of date, fifteen OO cents
for all distances below two thousand miles and
for greater distances twenty (25) cents, and
in each case one cent for each additional word"
To accompany the order the Postmaster
General gave out the following letter:
TO DIR. SoRvIN GREEN.
October 80, 1889.
Or. Norvin Green, President Western Union
Telegraph Co.,
DEAR Sin: Referring to the question Of
for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1880, de-
sire to call to your attention that by letter Of
July you requested official declaration" Of
the new rate to be withheld until opportunity
could be had for conference, which request
was promptly complied with. After con-
siderable correspondence and the sew
eral interviews with you at Saratoga
you proposed to come to Washington for
further discussion of the subjects at issue.
I had the honor of visit from you early last
month. and when parted with you I under
stood you to.say that you would call the next
day at which time expected that we would
reach a conclusion at least to the extent of
agreement upon the basis Of rates for the gov
ernment telegraphing for the present fiscal
year. regret that you did not find it conve-
nient then or since to pursue the subject fur
ther, and beg now to say that inasmuch as a
more than reasonable time" has been granted
for conference it is necessary for me to fix
definitely the new rates for the year. desire
to state that have availed myself Of all ac-
cessible sources of information to ascertain the
rates aud rebates in force with the various
classes Of customers Of telegraphic busi-
ness and have weighed carefully
all your able arguments in relation to
rates. and while cannot admit your claim that
the privileges accorded to telegraph companies
by the act of Congress of 1866 are not and never
have been of any value to your corporations /
am impressed with what you say in opposition
to the application Of Associated Press rates to
government business, and consequently have
for the current fiscal year revised the order
fixing rates and issued the same this day to all
the departments of the government. copy Of
the order il herewith inclosed.
As the reduced rates hereby determined for
day messages are practically the same those
upon which one OF the divisions or departments
of your company, as well as one of its princl-
pal competitors. transacted business for the
public generally for a considerable time, until
absorbed by your company, presume no ques-
ton can arise as to the fairness OF these con-
clusions
Permit me, also. to add that while there is
no necessity or intention to place any burden
upon your company. vet l am convinced that
the government is entitled to very special con-
sideration in rates and privileges of Geographic
service: therefore. for the purpose OF deter
mining government rates in the future, now
formally propose what I have already sug-
gested and understood you to be willing to APP
prove. viz. the appointment Of a commission
of five suitable persons (two by your company,
two by this department and the fifth by the
four SO chosen) to inquire and report to this de-
partment and to your company upon the actual
cost and proper value of telegraphic service
their conclusions to embrace recommenda-
ton of equitable rates for government tele-
graph service for the next succeeding fiscal
year. Very respectfully yours,
JOHN " WiNAMAKER,
Postmaster General
WHAT IT AMOUNTS TO.
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