New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-13
rwo eoYERxuEsTs IND THE TELEPHONE

| TITO GOVERNMENTS IND THE TELEPHONE
There are two ways of dealing with lawful
| claim of the Government. and the difference be-
tween them is as wide as that between lawful
and an unlawful claim. Different methods, II
| not the different nature Of claims are Illus
| trated by the attitudes of the British ana inc
| limited States Government in regard TO the
telephone system. In this country, it is wen
| known, the late Administration allowed stock
| ioabing Attorney General, who had received
stock in a company given to him to secure his
influence and favor to enlist all the power OF
the Government in fight to break down q
franchise granted by the Government to EN-
ploy an army Of costly attorneys at public ex-
pense, and to do all this for the private gain
Of the speculative Attorney-General ana MS
| associates This is one way. Even II tne
claim be assumed absolutely Just and mas
pu,ably legal, it is nevertheless most scan
dalous thing for the Nation to resort 10 the
| courts in order to break it's own patents III the
interest of individuals, and to declare them
worthless. The new Administration, finding
this litigation in progress, is said to have de-
cided to intrust it exclusively to Mr. jerks
whose qualifications no one doubts, and who
was so connected with the matter from the be-
ginning that his disposition to do whatever can
properly be done will be admitted. having
| thus decided TO obtain a decision on the ques-
| ton. now that it has been raised by the pre-
| cedinR Administration, the Government gets
rid of a great army Of counsel who were emf
ployed, to all appearances, for no better purpose
| than to improperly impress the courts
But the beginning of litigation by Gov
eminent which. it must be presumed, this Ad-
ministration would not have consented TO under
take, at all events for the benefit OF private in
diyiduals however high their station or ex-
tensive their political influence, contrasts with
the behavior of the British Government toward
telephone companies. It appears that shares
in such companies in Great Britain have been
| largely advanced by reports that the Govern
ment was about to purchase their franchises
and property, but in the course Of litigation the
right of the companies to any franchise What-
| ever has been denied. The British postmaster
| General explained in the House as follows:
As to the telephone system, the courts had declared
u TO be a part OF the Government monopoly In 'efc
r-srhs Uls predecessor (Afr Psucctd unfortunately
stated in publc that steps would not be taken by The
| Covernment 10 enforce me rights which that thdg
| mept gave them aud state Of things had thereby
| been created which required very careful handlihg
| en- far as the Department was concerhoo' Inc
pateus however wero likely TO lapse very soon' ana
| when they had run out that would be the ume !"
| - ar,snc.,nepta II was not desirable,
he Thought that tho Government should commit i'Set
| TO any arrangement which might seem IN any way 10
recognize or establish vested interest, which ne LOT
| one could not admit existed Tho grievance 0i Inc
public IN ibis matter ought no DOUBT 10 DO roiho'eu
| possible, and II should DO uon0 'n VI"
| satisfactory 10 all parties
| Thus tho companies are now held TO have no
! franchises from the Government, but accord
ing 10 the courts are in fact trespassing upon
| It's legal monopoly Of communication by tele-
graph. and though IL is not admitted that the
companies have any vested right but exist only
by the neglect thus far Of the Government to
enforce its legal claims. We; the Government
does not propose now TO disturb them Their
patents will soon expire. and the Government
proposes then 10 make new arrangements " upon
terms satisfactory TO all parties" The pHn-
ciple appears 70 be that, money having been
invested and labor spent in serving the public
and developing new interest upon the iaith
OF supposed rights the Government will not
abridge a profitable return to the companies
for the service thus rendered.
Yet il is often said that ours is piutocrauc
Government; that rich corporations are special
IL favored and can do what they please. II Is
at least clear that the British Government Is
not inclined to hire an army OF attorneys TO
break down its own patents for the benefit OF
speculative politicians
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