The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-30

ment OF the government? There was al TINS mowens
pending before the House OF Representatives OF Tue
Snl.ea states proposition 70 make Inc
TO him that there was misapprehension concern
ing the facts in thus case The pending propo,
the government, but whether the goyernmenSS
winch refused Of the outset to AID u, snou QUIZ,
NOW enter the ed Of private enterprise as co
IN the few moments which he would devote 70 the
confederation OF this subject, simply TO make Clear
the United States to-day was represented BY more
IMAM sixty thousand miles OF line and more
81 an wns sses9s s Thousand sss sy msa
Of any other government on the globe 1t equals
nearly the combined systems OF all the continental
ing the current year thirteen millions OF messages,
which would amount 30 far as presentretur show,
mitted In 1868 by all the governments Of Europe.
ne would Illustrate this proposition. Between New
York and Washington there were now three com
eminent should take the public money and build
systemic wn gear ana ana n
the British government had decided to open
negotiations with private parties controlling the
telegraphs IN England, with view to making 1t
department Of the postal service. It had now COM
peted its negotiations and 1t was intended that the
acquired by the payment Of twenty per cent on
Inc current profits q the year laos. Tn na
present year the pros for twenty years to come and
pay them over to the owners OF this property. He
submitted that the proposition before the American
congress- with the Treasury OF the United States at
Its back, was that the government shall embark as
competitor against its own citizens in race
the proposition ri' Of today. day. But to him it
was matter of great gratncaton that, with the ex-
ceptlon OF one or two papers, concerning which
the press OF the United States had either been
silent or had pronounced its verdict of OPP
position to this scheme. There was between the
telegraph and The intimate relation. and
where SO intimate as in the United States. There
could not be free press without free telegraph,
and nowhere was there now such free
press as under this government OF ours:
The arrangement under the press Of the United
unique and peculiar. There were local and general
combinations OF the press which, separately or both
combined, operated under o cooperative system.
News was gathered from all parts to common CEN
tres whence 1t was distributed to all sections Of the
country. Under this arrangement the company with
which he was officially connected during the present
year would deliver to the press OF the United States
more than three hundred and fifty million words
fso pess ~ n DIVIDED e
would make more messages than were transmitted
by all the lines Of Europe during the present year,
eight million dollars and ours for the press being
about eight hundred thousand dollars. He sub
United Ia whether, under the circumstances,
ence and whether 1t should be under the con-
troll OF department OF the government which is at
$4,000 000 and which promised to be ncreas
ed for the year to SO, 600, 000 The company with
which he was connected paid in more than $500 900
to the government in taxes He was told that
there was no doubt about the ability OF the
British government to administer the tele-
graph at lower rate Of tariff than has
hitherto prevailed. He was not here to controvert
that. The government which had been able to
introduce the penny postage system and make
profits from 1t, he had no doubt could make
the telegraph success but he did doubt
He could not forget that the British government
able to collect whiskey tax OF two dollars and fifty
cents per gallon, and he believed there was one
bold enough to assert that government succeeded
In collecting the moderate assessment OF fifty cents.
He concluded by stating that he would not further
trespass on time, as he had made private arrange
ment with Mr.. Henry j. Raymond to allow the latter
gentleman to occupy one-half OF his Mr. Ortons time
on this question.
Mr.. Raymond, after being repeatedly urged de-
clined to occupy any Of Mr.. OrrOns time, and IL was
noticed that One-third at least Of the company pre-
sent left the hall during and Immediately alter the
close OF Mr.. OrtOn's remarks. Ten minutes after
wards more than half had taken their departure.
The following additional toasts were then an
nounced:-
The the Telegraph the diffusion
OF intelligence the telegraph to bring from affair." the
to spread Il abroad Responded to by VIM O. Bryant
Field.
The Merchants OF New York-whose wealth and public
spirit have carried the OF American enterprise
the world Responded to by VIM Il. Dodge.
The Telegraph In the British Provinces Responded To by
Hugh Allan, OF Montreal
The Telegraph In the East Responded to by
Curtin, OF pennsyIvania
The Fine ArsTher beauties rest tho foundations of
science Responded to by Daniel Huntington.
The Printing Press-Perfected by American genius Re-
sponded to by Colonel II. n. Hoe.
The remaining company then departed.