The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-11-26

~ From the Baltimore Republican
THE TELEGRAPH AND THE PRESS.

We have noticed frequently, Of late, tEs Interest
which the public mind aud the press Of the country
have taken in the extension OF the electromagnetic
telegraph. The public have looked on, and seen,
with amusement the successful operating o. l,'s an,
nihilation of spaoe and not few have been led 10
think sefiously Ut IFS probable effects upon the bus
ness of commercial men, and; ii fact every class OF
our citizens The press, too, which Is most vitality
interested in what may be its probable effects upon
their interests, has not looked on idle spectators OF
its rapid extension and progress. II would neither
suit our time purpose, in this article, to state
what are our opinions in reference to what Influence
or effects il may have; but il is subject Of such
importance, not only 10 the public, but to the press,
that we shall resume the subject at an early period
At present. ne design speaking Of the facilities that
are afforded the press, and througf the press the
public, by those lines now in operation. During
the session Of the last Congress- the line Of the tele
graph from here TO Washington was operated free
to the newspapers Of this city as also OF Washing
ton; by which means, we were enabled TO lay the
proceedings Of Congress before the citizens OF Ba-
more on the same day Of their transactlon--a con-
tenlense of much importance TO all persons Interest,"
ed. Since then, the line Has been placed under the
exclusive control of the Post Office Department aud
its agents, and regular tariff Of rates established,
chargeable all news intelligence communicated
through its medium. This was oil well and proper.
As an instrument Of public convenience, II should
be made to pay all its expense. n not burdensome
w uo PuoSJ o'e yN'N I" sefN'~S W si'S oo'e'A
ment.
The rate chargeable upon all communications
has been fixed al quarter Of one cent per teller,
which would amount to about eighty cenis or dol.
lar per square of ten lines Of our columns! Now
suppose we reported through it, ten squares per day,
Of congressional proceedings, it would amo,tnt to
the snug little Of eight dollars per ddy; or forty
eight dollars per week We boldly venture the as.
serton that no paper in the country could would
| stand 30 exorbitant charge, under any circum-
stances; and the continuance of these rates must bar
the press from avang itself Of the benefits which il
has II in its power to bestow, and cause them to
scek and obtain news ihfousb other channels.
| That our present efficient Postmaster General is
disposed 10 afford the press every convenience and
facility in the obtaining Of intelligence, we have not
| the slightest doubt; end when we shall have duly
| taken into consideration this matter, of which, not
only ourselves, but others complain we have con.
| fdence enough in his good judgment and sound
views to believe that he will apply the proper rem
edy-a reduction of the present rates Of charges for
intelligence, at least intsnded for the public press.
So far as the editor Of paper Is individually con-
cerned, it would not probably be matter Of mitch
| moment; but to the public, who are benefited by,
and who expect the earliest intelligence Of all that is
TRANSPORTING it certainly subject which much inter-
ests them; and we therefore plainly put It to the
Poslmast,r General, if it would not be more polite
to allow the press the facilities by the tec-
graph, as are given by the mai--thc transmission
of general Intelligence rREE OF cosT' What bene-
Ats the public, benefits the government and interests
every person. and every class of business and il is
certainly just and proper TO afford every facility by
which this end may be attained.
We have said more than we had even intended in
this article; but the subject is one which calls fol
some notice and some immediate action on the par
| of those who have control of It's operations As We
have said we have no doubt of this Subject meet
| ing with the immediate and serious consideration 81
| the Postmaster General, and that If it be by any
means WihH the limits OF praccabilty, the proper
notice will be taken, and remedy applied. TO con
| clude at present, the whole subject resolves se
uron this point--the intelligence intended for the
public press must be transmitted free, or at very
moderate COST or the press must disappoint the pub
| lie expectations, by refusing to report any news
| through it as medium.
Since the above was prepared for insertion in oul
| paper, the following letter from the Hon. Amos
! Kendall has fallen under our notice, from which i
appears that similar complaint has beer mede by
the New York press against the proposed rate O
charge for the telegraph between that city ant
1 Philadelphia and we are gratifed to observe, tina
the propretors of that work do not design TO MAKE
their charges apply to the newspaper press
/ TELEGRAfH fKiccs--Mr. Kendall in a letter Il
the Journal Of Commerce, says
j 81 notice your remarks in yesterdays paper
relative to the charges proposed on the line o
/ telegraph between New York and Philadelphia
which seem to be based on the assumption that thu
4 rates published are designed to operate on column
oTmaiier transmitted for the newspaper press.
Certainly no such thing was thought OF in fxins
those rates; and the Telegraph Company herr
have been unfortunate in not precluding such al
assumption by the language of their published
proceedings 1t was hot anticipated thut the pres
Of your city would desire 10 employ the telegraph
in obtaining the proceedings Of Congress, until
shall be extended to Baltimore. If, however. Their
be desire to employ it, the company will con
slider, with pleasure, any proposition for its us
which may be made by the New York presses, sew
orally or in conjunction; and, doubt not, viii
serve them on terms which they shall themsclve
Il pronounce fair and liberal.
| at is not easy at present to fix on genera
system Of charges for the newspaper press; but it i
not difficult to make special arrangements, out Of TN
practical operations Of which general system will
grow up at no distant day.
"We hope in this matter to have the advice ant
assistance ofthe press before we encounter lis con,
plants"
i III 10 final