Huntsville gazette., 1890-02-22
" WASHINGTON.
The HCu e Committee and Postal
Telegraphy.
Postmaster General Wanna
maker Explains Himself.

Dir. 4. 3. Chandler, President of the
Postal Telegraph Company, Appears In
Opposition-An Agreement in Regard
to the Behrin. Sea Seal Fisheries
Ha ton VIII Not Resign.
Z. WAsHtNGToN, Feb. 20. - The house
committee on postofiices and postroads
Tuesday contin led its consideration of
the subject of limited postal telegraph
service. The meeting was public, and
Postmaster General Wanamaker. a1r. A.
B. Chandler, the president of the Postal
Telegraph company, and MIR. d. II.
Bates. formerly identified with tele-
graphic interests, Were present. The ses-
sion Of the committee was occupied in
questioning Mr.. Wanamaker and Mr..
Chandler concerning the bill prepared
by the postmaster general.
MIR. Wanamaker's Ideas.
Mr.. Wanamaker introduced the sub
ject by saving that he never had any
difficulty with the Western Union tele-
graph CONF ny. His first hope, he said
had been 10 persuade the Western Union
company 10 look at the matter of tele-
graph rates as he saw them. But he
had failed in that. He said that he
wanted it distinctly understood that
there was no personal feeling in his com
ing before the committee, and he had
OF cred the present bill simply as study
+or the coIr mittee. lie said that it would
5e agreeable to him to have section seven
Of his bill that fixing rates amend
80 as to vest the postmaster general with
le power a fixing the rates and allow
1u; him tochange them from time to time.
i e also ill he thJught the civil service
commission sloul,l control the proposed
1 ew service. and he would also recon-
END that the bill be amended SO a5 to
prevent the use of the wires for political
purposes by employees aud others.
1ir. a,ard .er's Views.
Mr.. Chandler was the next witness.
He said that lns company could not do
the WORK propo ed. at the maximum
rlteS provided in the bill, without loss.
No otner company could do it without
10 IS. Of course, If the government fur
nished The facilities, the employees, etc.
it would greatly relieve the company
doing the work of a large expense. He,
however. had noo gone into a detailed
examination of the bill. The proposed
new rates would cause great deal
more business. Mr. Chandler said he
was verS much in sympathy with the
DO 5tm;ister general in his desire to serve
the public interests, but not TO the same
exteng that lie was, because the post
master general was public officer, and
lie, Mr. Chandler, was not. I'VE want, "
he said, ito favor the interest of the
government in every proper way, but
we do not want to see a government
telegraph establi he'd, or the beginning
OF a governnenJ Telegraph, that will de-
troy 81 cot, 100 or IS, 900, 600 which we
lave invested in this property and make
Ii valuelesS. We do not think the gov
ernment has right to do that; and If it
has that right. we think it would be un-
1tlst and very unreasonable to exercise
it,
The Even;n<. Session.
At an evening session of the house
sui-col,nn It &c on lostotfices and post
roads. NJ. Chandler vas further ques-
toned Dy ie members OF the committee
and the pos, aster general. In answer
to q sussestl, IL thai lie give the commit
tee his views OF wha5 would be proper
an l,;st scheme OF telegraph ra.es as
be, ,wecn the government or the people
and tie telegraph Interests on the basis
of the bill now under consideration. Mr..
Chandler said he nvoald be glad to fur
nj. i tie committee his views in writing
if he could be allowed day or two in
which to formulate them. The consent
of the committee was given, and after
number of questions by the postmaster
general bearing upon the cost OF con-
stricting and maintaining telegraph
lines ana the cost Of the service gener-