Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-11-01
TELEGRAPH RATES.
Wanamaker Makes Them tor
the Western Union.
DR. GREEN WAS TOO DELIBERATE,

And the Postmaster General Tires Of De-
lay-A Rate Commission Proposed
Highly CoIored Report an American
Garden of Eden-A Land of Peace and
of Great Promise-New Scheme for the
Education OF Indian Youth.
WASHINGTON CITY, Nov. 1.-Postmaster
General Wanamaker has issued notice to the
different telegraph companies fixing the
following telegraph rates for government
bu siness during the current fiscal year: For
day messages containing not more than ten
words, exclusive OF place from, date, ad-
dress and signature, 10 cents for all dis
tances not exceeding 400 miles, and 4 cent
for each word in excess OF ten words. For
distances exceeding 400 miles, and not ex-
ceeding 1000 miles, Is cents for the first
ten words, and "a cent for each word in ex-
cess OF ten words. For all distances exceed
ing 900 miles there shall he added to the
price Of the message fixed for distance over
400 and under l 900 miles the sum of Il cent
for each word.
For night messages of not exceeding twen-
ty words, exclusive OF place from, date, ad.
dress aud signature, Is cents for all dis
tances and II cent for each additional word
Instead OF computing the actual distances
of transmission, the distance for payment
shall in all cases he taken absolutely to be
the number OF miles between the capital of
the state or territory from within which the
message is sent aud the capital of the state
or territory within which the massage is re-
eeived, such distances to be computed upon
the shortest practicable route between such
capitals. IL a message be sent and received
within the same state or territory, the dis
lance for pay mont shall be taken to be the
minimum distance OF 400 miles
signal Service Messages.
The rate for signal service cipher messages
| is fixed a. 2lS cents for each word over each
circuit The postmaster general also directs
that if at any time during the year any COM
pany shall charge the public less rate than
| these prescribed government rates, the gov
| eminent rate is also to be reduced TO the
same figure
| Called Time on DIR. Green.
After determining upon these rates, the
postmaster general sent letter to the presi-
! dent Of the Western Union company, DR.
Norvin Green, in which he calls that gentle
mans attention to the fact that this matter
had been left open at his (Green's) request to
| enable the latter TO consult with the postmas
| ter general Some consultations had been
| held and another had been looked for by
| Mr. Wanamaker, but Dr. Green bad not
! after the expiration of more than the
reasonable time" asked for by the latter
found 1t convenient to appear. Therefore
| the rates had been fixed without further delay
! above.
Rates Fixed on a War Basis.
81 desire to state that l have awaited my
self of all accessible sources of informa
ton to ascertain the rates and rebates in
force with the various classes of customer,
of telegraphic business, and have weighed
carefully all your able arguments in relation
to rates, and while l cannot admit your
claim that the privileges accorded to tele
graph companies by tbs act of congress Of
1866 are not and never have been OF any
value TO your corporations, l am impressed
with what you say in opposition to the ap
! plication Of Associated Press rates TO gov
eminent business As the rednced rate
hereby determined for day messages ar
practically the same as those upon which on
Of the divisions or departments of your com
pany, well one Of its principal com
petitors, transacted business for the publ
generally for a considerable time until alb
sorbsd by your company, Ipresume no ques
ton can arise as to the fairness of thes
conclusions
Rate Comm ission Proposed.
"Permit me also to add that while there
no necessity or intention to place any bur
den upon your company, yet am convince
that the government is entitled to very spe
cial consideration in rates and privileges o
tele graphic service; therefore, for the pur
pose of determining government rates i
the future, l now formally propose what
have already suggested and un ierstood yo
to be willing TO approve, viz: The appoint
ment Of a commission Of five suitable per
sons, two by your company, two by this de
partment and the fifth by the four so chosen
to inquire and report to this department an
to your company uponthe actual cost an
proper value If telegraphic service, thei
} conclusions to embrace recommendatio
of equitable rates for government TELEGRAPH
service for the next succeeding fiscal year