Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-02-19
CAPITALIN PERIL.
Objections to Wanamaker's TEL
egraph Scheme.
UNCLE SAM TOO BIG A COMPETITOR

His Right to InpcriI Millions of Capital
Invested by Citizens Antagonized-Ths
English EStradition Treaty Ratified
/ Heavy Rim for Pensions-The Woman
sunragists In Couneii--Proeeedings In
Congre.s-Rough on a Couple Of West
Point Cadets.
WASHINGTON CITY, Feb. 19-Postmaster-
General Wana maker and President A B.
Chandler, OF the Postal Telegraph company,
were interrogated by the members Of the
house committee on postoffices and post
roads yesterday on the subject Of establish
ing limited post and telegraph service.
Wanamaker continued the statement begun
BY him before the committee last week He
said that the civil service would control the
new establishment and Recommended that
some penalty lie provided 70 prevot the use
Of the wires for political purposes By officers
and employees of the governmss. and others
In answer to questions by members of the
committee he said he thought the scheme
would work 70 the benefit of the teles raph
companies by giving them additional work,
but the companies differed with him.
No Combine I'm Telegraph.
Mr. Chandler outlined the purpose OF the
Postal telegraph system The relations be-
tween the Western Union and his company,
be stated, we're mutually protective, but
there were no contract relations between
the two organizations that need have any
effect on the considera ton of the question at
Issue. The only agreement between the two
companies provided that regular scheiule
OF rates between given points should be
maintained. His company would be in a
position TO make a contract were the bill
passed, T. gardleSs of any contract with the
Western Union company.
wanamaker's Tariff Too Low.
Chandler admitted that If the postal tele-
graph scheme became a slow photographic
s'rvIce, as intended by Mr. wanamaker, it
might develop a new character OF business
HIS company could not do the work contem-
plated within the maximum rates fixed by
the postmaster generals bill The furnish
ing by the government of operators, instru-
ments, and offices would reduce the expense
10 the company, but he was not certain that
this would allow the business to be done on a
profitable basis.
Question OF Government Right.
His company thinks that the government
has no right to establish q service that
might ruin company with ZOO, 900 or
5000 600 invested. Wanamaker at this
point said he thought there was no greater
harm in the governments, for the benefit of
the people. establishing a business than to
have dozen other people do the same
Doesn't Want Government Competition.
Chandler said that he and his company
were very much in sympathy with the post
master general in bis desire TO serve the pub
lie interests, but not to the same extent, be-
cause the postmaster general was a public
officer, and he was not His company
wanted to favor the interests Of the govern
ment IN every proper way, but il did not
want TO 80. government telegraph estab-
lished that would destroy a., OoO, OOor $500
coo which the postal company had. invested
IN their property, and make il valuelessl he
did not think the government had right to
do that. and II IT bad that right, he thought
II would be unjust and very unreasonable