The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-05-23
THE QUESTION OF EXCLUSIVE TEfE.
GRAPHIC PRIVILEGES IN THE BRITISH

| THE QUESTION OF EXCLUSIVE TELE-
GRAPHIC PRIVILEGES IN THE BRITISH
PARLIAMENT.
In the House of Lords, on 23d OF April. Earl CsxY
said he had recently learnt that acts had been passed
by the Colonial Legislatures Of North America,
giving complete monopoly for long series Of years
to one particular company OF The electric teegraphc
communication between this country and British
North America He mad also heard, with no lsss
surprise than regret, that the late government had
advised the crown 10 confirm these acts. Nothing
could be more unwise than TO create monopoly Of
the right Of establishing telegraphic communication,
and he was ct a loss 10 divine on what grounds 81
policy such determination could have been arrived
at. Without further remark he begged leave 70
move for the production Of the papers relating 20
this important subject of which he had given notice.
namely -
Copies OF any c,rrcspon6cpec between The Secretary
State and the government Of SewfouudAnd and the chsy
for giving an exclusive rsSi 70 The esiaSshmoni q tes
graphic communication bNween this country and Norn
70 ons xnc ana pro
posing 10 establish electric telcsraphs with respect 70 the
grant to them Of exclusive privileges
The Earl Of CLARENDON said that there was no
objection TO the production Of the papers moved Tor
by the noble Earl as far the first paragraph Of his
motion was concerned; but he would suggest TO him
that II would be advisable TO add the words .or ex-
trsctssAftcr the word copies" II was perfectly rue
that monopoly had been granted TO certain electric
telegraph company in relation TO some OF the Noth
American colonies. That grant, however, was one
for which the present government were IN no way
responsible. The company In question applied m
1854 10 the Legislature Of Newfoundland which
passed an act granting them the monopoly. The
company undertook 20 lay down line OF telegraph
from the coast of Ireland to the shores OF that colony
in return for which they were 70 enjoy privileges OF
tho most exclusive character. That act was trans.
mitted home and agreed TO by an oversight, rather
than by the deliberate judgment Of the then Colonial
Secretary, Sir q. Grey. Some time after he had
sanctioned IT, doubts crossed his mind rs to the po
icy OF establishing monopoly, and while acting in
Mace of Lord j. Russell who was then at Vienna Sir
g. Grey sent letter 70 the Governors of the North
American colonies, enforcing on them the necessity
Of not concedng such exclusive privileges in future
In 1857 n second act was passed by the same Legs
lature, with bill correcting some blots in the ORR
gipal act, yet securing the monopoly previously con.
erred. That act was also transmitted home, and "
was agreed to, not without hesitation--as me
dispatches would show--by Mr.. Iabouchere. IN
1854 the same company applied TO the legislature OF
New Brunswick (aswe understoodl Tor similar sc',
which they obtained and in 1857 they also procured
subsidy of $500 year. To this Mr.. Lanoucnere re-
Piled that q money grant was matte, wnicn
properly concerned the Colonial Legislature out That
he was not prepared 10 sanction the exclusive priv-
leges Az 10 Nova Scotia, an act was passed there
granting pretty nesriv the same privileges 70 the
company but limiting them 70 twenty years, instead