The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-10-17
THEY WANT A RE-HEARlNG
THEY KNOW THAT INVESTIGA-
ITON PUTS AN END TO THEIR
ENORMOUS PROFITS.
THE MATTER WILL BE ARGUED TUESDAY
Mr.. Fab Busbee Made the Motion Yesterday
But Was PERM ted to Put it in His
Pocket Didn't Want the People
10 Know About II.
10 Know About II

Pocket Didn't Want the People
to Know About 1t.
THE an.wer of the Railroad Commits
.son in the Western Union Telegraph
case. published exclusively in the News
and Observed yesterday, created con-
sternation among the attorneys or the
telegraph company.
Some very grave charges IN regard 10
mismana cement OF the company, stock
watering, making Of false returns ana
exorbitant profits were set forth In TINS
snswer. And more, it was minated tnat
ne these things were denied by the COM
Dlainants a full investigation or the
company's business would he oemanoeu.
4 This settled it. Of all things in the
world the Western Union fears an III
yestigation. Its policy has ever been
secrecy and more than once its presi-
dent has declared that he would not a.
low an investigation of the company
business, as it would result In an III
crease in taxation and a decrease III
rates all over the United States.
This being the case, it may well be
Imagined that the attorneys fo1 TINS
telegraph company were scared Wen
nigh ont OF their boots yesterday morn
ing when they read in the News ana
Observer that the answer filed by the
attorneys on the other side made 1t I'M
POSSIBLE to further fight the case In the
courts without forcing an investigation.
An investigation once started, all
woufd be lost-not only in North Caro-
lima. but all over the Union. Indeed, the
North Carolina business is but a drop
In the bucket, and an increase or de-
crease of rates here would amount 10
INT little in itself. The effect elsewhere IS
what they fear Then there is Congress.
Several bills have already, from time
to time. been introduced looking either
IN government ownership or govern
ment control of the telegraph lines, ana
once an official investigation is starteu
nv the courts there is no telling Where
1t might end.
This is the way in which the Western
Union people reasoned when they read
that answer in the News and Observer
yesterday morning, and this is why, III
the person of Mr.. +. III. Busbee, they
got down on their marrow bones yestef-
day afternoon and asked the Commits
sion to have mercy on their greedy souls.
In short, the Western Union Com
many now asks that it be allowed 10
withdraw the case from the court, TO
which it has appealed, and that the
Commission wipe out its past orders,
grant a rehearing of the case, and, on
the basis of the facts brought out III
this hearing, establish rate.
This is the motion or suggestion as
read before the Commission by MIR.
Busbee yesterday afternoon at
o'clock. The Commission will pass upon
it at it's regular meeting Tuesday. Be
fore it is determined, however. the at
torneys on the other side will ask TO be
heard. None Of them, except the Attor-
ney General, who has really been able
to give the case but little attention,
knew anything of the above proposition
until informed OF it by the News and
Observer man late yesterday afternoon.
!. They were surprised that they had
been ignored and not apprised OF the
.either by the Commission or
by Mr. Busbee. They admitted that un-
der certain conditions they would agree
to O re-hearing. but denied that they
would accept just any sort of conditions
the Western Union might care to die
tate. u g a
s4The case Is now in the courts, said !
Col. Hinsdale, land the telegraph COM
pany sees that it has no case. They have
lost their opportunity for re-hearing. |
The Commission offered to give them
one, but they refused, until now they
are beaten. If they get a re-hearing it
will only be by our consent"
Mr.. w. G. Douglass, another one OF
the attorneys, thought the trouble was
that the telegraph company was scared |
to death about that threatened investi- |
CATION.
1t is a fact worthy of note that when !
Mr.. Bushee went up to take that COB OF
humble pie, in his manner of doing it he
acted in accordance with the Western
Unions policy Of secrecy. AS already |
pointed out he did not tell the attorneys
on the other side, except the Attorney
General, about it. Then he cautioned
everybody who knew anything of it to
keep the matter dark until the meeting
next Tuesday. And more than that, he
pocketed the copy of his motion as soon
as he had read it, saying that he wished
to take it to his office to have copies
made for himself and the Commission,
and refused to let newspaper men even
80 much as get glance at 1t.
Strange to say, though this was pro-
record at that, the Railroad Commission
lent him all the assistance possible in
keeping the matter secret.
At this po1nt the Commission took
recess until 3 o'clock, at which time Mr..
Busbee appeared to make his PROPOSE
ton touching the telegraph-rate case.
In explanation of this. however, Maj.
Wilson said last night that the paper
ra,d nv Mr. Rusbee was merely n propO-
sition that he intends to lay before the
Commission for its consideration. and
that he notified Mr.. Busbee before he
presented it that the matter would not
be entertained until DR.. Abbott, the alb
sent Commissioner. arrived.
The morning session OF the Commits
sion was spent in re-h"arln2 on
the new cotton rate. as IL applies to the
Carolina Central Railroad. Mr.. w. II.