The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-03-02
81 a. more than double the British aver

Sol As. more than double the British aver
age. The government could not do bust
ness as cheaply as the Western Union. AL
of the small and new companies were under
much larger proportionate expense than
the Western Union. DR.. Green presented
figures TO show that the actual cost to the
Western Union of handling bushes was
pa cents message.
Taking up the details of the postmaster
generals plan, DR.. Green said that at many
of the postotfices there would not be suf-
ficient telegraph business to pay the eX-
penses. 1t had been suggested that the
postmasters at their offices might learn to
work the wires, but they would not do so
as they were usually business men and
fully employed in caring for their shops.
Altogether the present postofice buildings
could not be made to accommodate the
present telegraph system. DR.. Green
made comparison between our domestic
telegraph rates with those of Europe, show
ing that for all distanc es aver 500 miles our
rates were much lower; yet, said he, the
postmaster-generalw would establish uni
form rate for 1,500mile distances, a dis
lance over which no single wire had ever
been successfully worked. AS to
low rates, the Western Union had
never fought opposition companies with
low rates. Opposition companies usually
butted against Inc Western Union. The
last formidable competitor it had was the
Baltimore Il Ohio Telegraph company.
They started in to smash things and had
done it, That company ruined three com
peting companies, ruined itself and So
nearly ruined the Baltimore 81 Ohio rail
road that 1t had been obliged to sell its
sleeping cars and construction shops TO tide
over the financial stress. The postmaster
general in fixing the rates for government
| business made an order which the board OF
directors of the Western Union decided
was practically an order for the conlisca-
ton of their business. The doctor became
somewhat excited at this point and looking
hard at Postmaster General Wanamaker
who steadfastly returned his gaze, ex-
claimed, And yet he says he Is on first
rate terms with the telegraph companies
We propose to controvertuhat order. fixing
rates for government messages In the
courts and demonstrate that 1t Is not hal
of the cost of the service This PROPOSED
legislation has failed to receive the Presi
dents recommendation although submitted
il the postmaster generals report before
his annual message was sent to Congress
| have never heard before that a cabine
minister may come before committee t.
reach it and help his pet schemes through
5 when they have not been recommends
? by the President"
Grain, of Texas, said the postmaster gen
r eral had not coached him, IN fact had neve
spoken to him about it.
t Dr. Green-The postmaster general ha
between eighty thousand and one hundre
thousand civil appointments to make an
}, every member has two or three in his dis
: trict.
MIR. Crain-I am Democrat and ge
: none from him.
Grain asked if Dr. Green's objection wa
j not based on the assumption it provided 70
: the erection and maintenance OF govern
= ment lines.
t DR.. Green replied that was what
: amounted to.
a Mr.. Grain asked why the Western Unto
: opposed the the Pill if it proposed an in
n practicable plan.
D DIR. Green-I3ecause the fools are not a
/ dead yet. A good many people would jun
G into building telegraph liue without a
surance that they could make anything.