The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-09

a contract with the Western Union Tele-
graph Company for the transmission Of
news reports over the wires at certain
rates less than the exorbitant price ex-
torted from private individuals, but still
greatly higher than telsgraphic charges ought
to be under properly conducted system. This
reduction was more directly q benefit to the
public than to the proprietors of the news
papers themselves, since 1t enabled the latter
to give their readers the advantage Of more
ample and extended news reports. If full tolls
had been demanded of the press the daily jour-
nails would have economical in the quantity Of
their Geographic reports and the people would
have been the losers. At the contract rates
the newspapers have been the most profitable
customers the telegraph has had; yet the
Western Union Company has thought fit to
abruptly terminate its agreement with the
press and has given the following notice Of its
intention to the proprietors Of the New York
Journals
EXECUTIVE OFFfcH,
WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY
NEW YORK, August Is, 1865.
70 MesSrs. JAMES BROOKS and ERASTUS BROOKS
proprietors OF the New York Express; PRIME
STONE, HALE 4 HALLOcK. pr0prietors OF the New
York Journal or Conanserce; JAMES g. BENNETT.
proprietor OF the NEW YORK HERALD; MANTON
MARBLE, proprietor Of the World; MOSES 8. BEACH,
proprietor OF the New York sun; HENRY J. RAY
M0sD Co., proprlet0rs OF the New York Times
and the TRIBUNE ASSOCIATION, prOprietOrs Of the
New York Tribune, constituting together the ass0-
CATION known as the New YORK Associated Press
GENTLEMEN-You Will please take notice that, in
pursuance OF the sixth section OF the agreement
made and entered into between you and the Ameri-
can Telegraph Company, bearing date December rs,
1855. the American Telegraph Company, party OF the
lrst part TO said agreement, and the western Union
Telegraph Company, successor and assignee of the
SAID party OF the first part elect and desire TO term
nate said contract at the expiration OF the present
current year OF the continuance OF said contract-to
wit. on the ed day OF December, 1868.
By order. The American Telegraph Company, by
+. $. SANFORD President
Attest-O. II. PALMER, Secretary.
The Western Union Telegraph Company, by
WILLIAM ORTON, President.
Attest-O. II. PALMER, Secretary.
The incentive Of this action of the monpoliz-
ing corporation that at present holds the cleo
trio telegraph in its graspis the determination,
if possible, to control the press of the United
States. 1t is to accomplish this object that the
threat is made to terminate the existing con-
tract and to increase the rates now charged for
news reports to the enormous tolls demanded
for private messages. The corporation, ac-
customed to carry its points with high hand,
and successful heretofore in its efforts to crush
out opposition, believes in its power thus to
coerce and fetter the American press.
A few months since there appeared to be some
foundation for this presumption. The HERALD
had then taken q firm stand against the at
nopoly upon the duties and business of the
newspaper press. We had no quarrel with
the managers Of the Western Union Company
and designed to make no reflections upon
their personal character or business integrity.
But when we found powerful monopoly seek
ing to control the collection of news as well
as its transmission, and to bind up the proprie-
tors of public journals in manner that de-
prived them of that free management Of their
business which is the right Of every indi-
vidual citizen, we assailed the system that was
responsible for these encroachments and
warned the press Of their dangerous tendency.
At that time some journals hesitated to pro-
claim their own independence, apparently in
dread Of the supposed power of the monopoly,
while others seemed ready to approve the
anxious to place themselves under its supreme
control and sup ervision.
We have now, however, very different
state Of affairs. The press is beginning to
understand its own interests aud to see that
the attempt Of q private corporation, hold
ing monopoly of so powerful an engine
as the electric telegraph, to coerce and
control the newspapers of the country is full
of mischief and danger. The journals all over
the Union are coming out in denunciation Of
the present telegraphc system and demanding
some such reform as has already been perfected
in several European governments. The New
York Times leads the van with protest
against the exorbitant rates extorted by the
Western Union monopoly, the inequality of the
tariffs. the large profits realized out of the
privileged few who can afford to use the wires,
and other notorious evils arising from the lack
of competition or the want Of system regu-
lated by the necessities and interests of the
people. The Cincinnati Commercial, lead
ing and enterprising Western journal, joins in
the dcnuncation of the present system and in
the demand for reform. The Philadelphia
Press declares the question of telegraphic re-
construction one Of the most important in the
country, and other influential newspapers place
on record their protests against the extortion-
ate rates. the undue profits tho arrogance and
cncroachments inseparable from a monster
monopoly. Only one faint voice is heard in de-
fence of the present telegraphic system, and
that comes from weak party organ at Harris
burg, which thinks that the telcgraphc mo-
nopoly is q public blessing and devoutly
wishes that the government Post Office system
could be abolished and the transmission Of
letters be left in like manner to private enter
prise. We have no doubt that this organ
would he glad to see the whole government!
abolished and its business consigned TO the
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