The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-08-24

TELEGRApurc REPORTS OF ELEcrIoNs.-The
loose manner in which returns of the recent cleo.
tons In the Southern ana Western States, have
been transmitted by the reporters by the magnetic
telegraph, suggested the importance, and, in.
deed, absolute necessity, of radical reform in
these matters, on the part of the managers of the
telegraph, and reporters, and others employed in
collecting and transmitting election returns.
Unless some Improvement takes place previous
TO the ensuing Presidential election, we shall be
thrown into the utmost confusion, by absurd, in
correct, or conflicting reports, which may be ex-
pected by telegraph in the early part of November
The following suggestions submitted to the
consideration Of the managers of the telegraph,
reporters, and others engaged IN transmitting IN
telligence, with the hope that they may lead to
measures being taken IN time to fix upon some
definite plan of action, by which accurate infor-
nation may be transmitted, relative TO the mpor-
tant elections which are so close at hand
That the various telegraph companies be requested
in order to facilitate the rapid ansmssion nge
and interchange of the election returns of the Presi
dental canvass throughout the United States to
adopt and authorize their various officers at the tee
grape stations to observe the following mode of re-
ceivng and sending such dispatches -
That every despatch containing the elections re.
turns of entire county oirn, sard States signed
by the proper officer whose duty it certify to the
correctness Of such returns or by some person or
newspaper editor known to the generator "A resnonsi
bic person shall be MT and received by every
the line Of the first station transmitting t. and
copy free Of charge be handed the next station
or stations Of the next continuous line and BY them
also transmitted and received by every station on its
line, and so of the other continuous lines
That every such despatch shall be sent and received
by every station whether called for or not and re-
tanned by the operators to await the call of any per
who may request or order copy.
That the charge for copy of such despatch be
at rate agreed upon by the telegraph companies.
That no operator be requested to act reporter
That any such despatch containing election returns
and headed exclusively" be considered as an excep-
tion to the above, and be transmitted at the estab
lished and ordinary rates.
That the returns Of the same counties towns wards
or States, be not transmitted the same line a
second time, unless to correct errors.
Some arrangement of this kind, made by the
telegraph lines throughout the Union. would in
sure rapidity Of TRANSMISSION and accuracy of de-
tail, and enable us to tell with certainty. in perhaps
day after the election, who has been chosen Pre-
sdent of the United States for the next four years
The election takes place on the 7th of November,
throughout the country; and any one at all ac-
quainted with the awful confusion of election
returns can easily imagine the Inextrcable condl-
lion the returns would be thrown into, by having
the votes from a thousand or less towns. hun
bred or more countless in ten or twelve States,
coming over the wires almost at the same flash.
When we take into consideration that there is a
constant repetition in the names of counties and
towns in all parts of the Union, the whole matter
looks, in anticipation, like "confusion worse con-
founded"
We believe, however, that some plan can be
agreed upon by the Geographic companies, by
which the returns can be despatched, and received
IN correct order, and give the result of the contest
to the public on the sth of November. Ought II
not TO be considered a great undertaking. to com.
press country stretching from the Northern lakes
10 the Gulf OF Mexico, and from the Atlantic to
the Pacific, into space of twenty-four hours!
Yet, it is TO be done in few weeks, and
"O'er come us like summers cloud
without our special wonder