The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1890-12-03
A Collision Between the Gov
ernment and West
ern Union.
An Attack Supposed 70 Be Inspired
by Postmaster-Gensral
Wanamaker.
The Conditions Under Which the
Company Acquired its Over
land Wires.

NEW YoRK, Dec. 2.--There II another col-
lIsion between the administration and the
Western Union Telegraph company. Suits
have been instituted Ia the name OF the
government 60 remove the Western Union
from the subsidized transcontlnental rail-
roads. The attack Is supposed 10 have
been Inspired by rostmaster-General Wanna
maker. between whom and the telegraph
company relations have long been strained.
Dr. Norvin Green, the president OF the
Western Union, to-day explained the con-
ditions under which the company acquired
and operated ita overland wires. There Il
a popular misunderstanding OF what Il In-
yolved, he said, land a general miscon-
ecption of the facts In the case. We are ON
the Pacific railroads with our own lines Of
telegraph entIrely separate aud distinct
from those OF the railroad company, except
a. Co the Northern Pacinc. where the rail-
road company owns a one-third interest In
our lines aud pays oue-third the cost of
maintenance
''In The act OF Is62, Incorporating and
CIV ng government aid for the construction
OF tho Union and the Central Pacific rail-
roads. the nIneteenth section provided for
the construction OF lines by three tele-
graph companies and the subsequent trans
for. upon completion OF tho road, OF the
line 90 the railway company provided the
telegraph companies agreed TO this plan.
Now, no arrangement was made until
after the said railroad companies had con-
strucfed their own lines uf telegraph, and
the telegraph companies, which have all
since been absorbed by the Western Union
company, avalling nf their rights under the
act, had removed, reconstructed and recess
established their lines On aud along said
railroads, aNcept as To the Kansas Pacific,
where the arrangement was made prevt-
ousIy, and the line constructed by the telea
graph company as fast as the railroad was
built
arrangements with the Union PneiAc
and the Central Pacific were subsequently
made substantially as authorized. The
demands of the train service over the wires
have grown 20 bc 80 eBormous that the wire
facilities OF the railroad companies are
scarcely more than equal 70 their own neces-
wires were connected wlth telegraph COM
panies in opposition 10 tho Western Union
company. IL was impossible for them TO aft
ford rs prompt service as the Western Unlvn
afforded 10 the public. Hut what The oppo-
sltion telegraph companies really want, and
what certain politicians have been trying 90
secure for them, Is a right to- run a compe-
titlon with this company over our own wires,
20 the enforcement of which we seriously
object.
III our contracts with these railroad
companies should be held ~ be Illegal. the
only damage it would do to shis company
would be TO compel us 10 maintain lot OF
way stations with our own operators and a'
| an exper9e somewhat greater than the per-
centage OF tolls We now pay the railroad
companies for operating them for us. Nc
successful competition In transcontinental
messages could be established over the wire
facilities unless they should be greatly en-
| Iargcd. But | believe our contracts will bs
maintained"