The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-11-17
MILLIONS ON A DECISION.
Opinion of Supreme Coars In Der-
liner Telephone Case May Cause
a War Of Capital.

Washing rom Nov. fs.-On the decision oS
the supreme court OF the United States IN
the Berliner lsxtsnt case hang the possible
itles OF tremendous corporation var be-
tween the Western Tnion telegraph Com
pany and the Bell Telephone Company. a
battle OF ssooDo.09e on the one side against
$so.opono IN the other. Nearly all the tele-
graph ard telephone managers in the coun-
try are familiar with tae situation. and are
watching events and studying how the re-
organization OF things would affect every
one OF them.
Away back in 1879 the Western Union
company owned the patent on the E6isan
carbon transmitscr. ard the Bell company
had TO have IL So the two companies
struck a bargain by which the Reii be-
came the owner OF the carbon traassnifter
paten. and paid the Western Union &5oa oee
The Western Union. al the same time,
agreed not 10 enter tho telephone business.
md II Is claimed by Bell men that 1t was
agreed that the Bel should not enter the
telegraph business
Now comes IN the relation or The Ber-
liner patent case. pending before the su-
prenae court. IL the supreme court decides
to sustain the patent. that decision will
give II further lease of life until 1910, AMI
the Bel Telephone Company VIII hold Its
monopoly OF the carbon transmster secure
against everything save the invention or
another transmister that will work Ruf
II the supreme court shall decide against
the Berfiner patent. this Will throw the In
veniion open TO the world and the agree
ment with the Bell company viii be USE
less 70 the Western Union. as tt would
leave the Western rngon free to go into
composition with the Bell In telephone
work.
There are other powers In this possible
l-.s-s
capital Of 90. 100 aoc. the Bel company wItf,
sssoaaoao capital and a right 10 increase
II to s5n. n.eoaano. are two Next comes tna
Postal telegraph Company. with IT. newer
plant, later and better wiring eassfv
adapted 10 telephone work. and TO thfs
end the company has long been xepking
a workable telephone with which 10 com
b'ne. Besides these three giants In fhe
Held that may be thrcwn open to battle.
there - the new Standard Telephone cons-
pauy.
II new deal 10 prerspttated. Of eonrae.
the rule or MI deals wifi work. that. A.
that the combination OF the ssronges. vesl,
5e made. II the carbon tran@niffer 4.
made free 20 tfss world BY the xnorefn,.
court. the Standard Company. In wf,4et,
many Western Enion offIc.ais are sire~-
tors, has its rsmsfeafIons throughout the
country ard has secured many franchises
sneA those In Ssew York. Ph,laaslr5,l..
and else where. wbish franchises are i'm
rcrtanf considerations IN any new Terar,t.
HE hat nuet be made. The Long T,sx-
tance Company is 81 serarafs corpoyattof,
from the Bell. but there II a Eight nesweer,
the Western Union and IRE Long Isss.ancA
Company which may have ita t,earinr or,
The matter. The Western ffnson has had
a suit against the Long Distance Conn
psny for ts.1safy1 or 9snssansa p~us3inr Il,
New York for mAny years. arising from a
dsap1lie about tne royalty that the West
efn Union was 20 Fesesse from them
Under the present regime the western
Union telegraph operate AMI the tele-
plcne operator Eaay he found AZ uaost
Places sn the country dwelling In the same
offs@es- dtTidin@ shs PERT ard making
Themselves n<efsl III relrevlax each other
~ every possible tire In emergencies
now the Rel loans tire Western Union sns
fsseFrore wire for sesegrasns.
The Beii people claim that while they
can really us@ their wires for feiegra pin
purposes. the Western umfon cannot nsA
lis wires for tsssphoaIag On the other
hand. the Western raion has - se0 Offices
In the country and covers an area
which the Bell could not possibly reacn
tsesps by combination wish the Peefsi.
The Postal people are working In the d.
recrfon OF an independent patent trans
srstfer They have an c2tion. il !. saEd.
On the Bassett patent. issusi last January.
which. IL In claimed. will work "a weIi As
che Edison carbon sransmftter- w onder-
fal possibilities aang upon this decissnfl
oS the Esrilrsr psfxr. ~ So now before the
supreme court of tae United States.