New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-28
THE GOVERNMENT RATES
THE WESTERN UNION SPEAKS OUT.

PRESIDENT. GREEN WRITES TO POSTMASTER
GENERAL wANAMAKER coRPo-
RArIoNs AND THE PRESS.
The following letter has been sent to Postmaster
General Wanamaher by Norvin Green, president
Of the Western Union Telegraph Company:
Executive Office Western Union Telegnph Co.
New.York, July "a 1882
Hon. John wauamaker. Postmaster General
Dear sir Pending our correspondence In respect
meht telegraph service. have not given any infor
nation Of the question raised nor answered any m
icstion. But your circular to the telegraph com.
panies Of July ID 10 which you say tha, the , fsIe
Your Department that Your Courl company has been
making rates TO various large corporations thai are IN
Tor the Government service" was printed verbatim in
a number Of newspapers even before had received
repeaiediy declined be interviewed even upon
THIS most remarkable statement. But It's extensive
IN justi6os alton OF the rate named for Government
service for The ensuing On year; ana alleged
S SnWssrantsbie dlscriminston in ratios 70
customers, has proved so embarrassing In our pus
ness relations with the various classes OF patrons Vi
the telegraph that, in justice TO the interests repre-
sent cannot longer allow the impression IL mas
j wrote you on July 16 that the information FUR
nished your Department that this company mas Dsen
in some instances low the figures now proposeeu
for the Government service. is without foundaton III
large or small. has rate for telegraph service that
averages low as that which has been nxe loI no
Government service annually since July Oh Ioo4 e..
did not infer that in the language various Iarse
corporations" you could have referred to the press
are incorporated, and the larger of them l know y
are only private associations Never'heicss, a ~, n
limited extent for railroad companies was paid Tor ID
kind BY the free transportation OF men ana HSI'aS'
Gf the S srshns Of and other
in maintaining the lines, r.ta won should
naturally be those for the transmission Of news
for pu6ncsrion. 1t is not an exactng se 1Ostly
done al night and tho great bulk of the reports are
sent TO large number of places stmuaneonsy py one
Interest toward which we have contributed largely
frequently without profit and not inireGU s years we
have distributed the Presidents message over me me
wires and given It 10 every daily ne~spaer III
ness Of President Garfed and LATER of General Gram,
we sent OUT daily bulletins of their cond non a
psrs of the country free Of charge, as we nave aiso
frequently distributed the doDgs OF large potlca S Sp
benevolent assemtiascs cannot CONCEIVE %ns as Hs
me,sure for fxsng the rates for Government mes
sages.n 49,, ,,. q, ev.rr scourre of
reilew lever and cholera, and IN every devastation Oy
hood FIRE. we have done fcr pubic c@ Without
charge In the late great disaster at Johnso"n ane
seattle our entire available iae Sse az days But
had never occurred 10 us that the OoNeIinens we
in such straits as on Tvs o p"thps or Without pay
,rg a inst CONDENSATION therefor as believe tie
constitution and the laws intended, and VIII conipei
IL TO do. -, nooa .rd trans
portaton companies referred to. and rates ior press
snd commercial news service, We make no reduced
rates 10 any corporations, other patrons, large OF
small For messages Transmitted ana oeilVeieu ~ q
single address, the Government Is our ohiy ous"nor
that enjoys reduced rates n $780,, =,
As 10 the great privileges and dement's deliVeu 1y
this company from The act OF 1900 they are pu ny
Imaginary | am not that we have ever taken
a stone or stick of timber or Appropriated Ipot VI
land belonging to the Government under tha' az
and where we have needed 10 build line across lands
belonging TO the Government, as in late instance
across the lands along the canal around me fas OF
Ohio. we have had trouble and delay In pro
curing the right poles than II the lands
had belonged 10 private parties.
have the honor 10 remain most respectfully yours
NORVIN GREEN, President