The New York herald., 1869-02-16
OTHER OCEAN CABLE PROJECTS.
How the Western Union Telegraph Company
Elected Senator Pomsroy, Of Kansas. :
OPPOSITION LINES IN THE WEST
The People Opposing the Monopoly and
Fostering Competition.
The Rates Reduced to One
Third the Cost.

WASHINGTON, Feb u.s. 1869.
You published on the 2sth ultimo very patron
izing letter from Mr. VIM. Orton President OF the
Western Union Telegraph Company, in which he
claims that you have been grossly deceived INTO
making many erroneous statements in the HERALD
m relation to the affairs OF his company. That ex-
cuse shall avail him no longer Here are some facts
there is no doubt about and since he is so anxious
that the truth shall be known beg 10 call his atten
ton to few relevant questions concerning certain
other matters not herein stated, but which are
nevertheless pertinent and Will hereafter be dis
cussed.
Privileges Of sending dispatches over the Western
Union lines free OF charge have been accorded to
certain persons by the officers OF the company One OF
these deadheaa passes given to the president OF
a Kansas railroad company who has been lobbying
In Washington for additional subsidy during the past
two years or more. This gentleman and other ofh-
GERS of the railroad company aforesaid have sent a
large number OF messages long distances over the
western Union lines free OF any charge whatever
The correspondent OF New York daily morning
newspaper has been likewise thus favored. The
amount the stockholders OF the Western Union Tele
graph Company are plundered OF in this way is very
large. There is misconceptlon or deception in
regard to this matter
1t is alleged that If the postal telegraph system
were established the party in power would usesit
corruptly Here some interesting facts bearing
upon this allegation Since the foundation
OF the government there has been no complaint
in relation to the use OF the mails in this way They
were controlled by democrats during the last Pres
aeatai election ana no republican mas YET com,
Telegraph Has that institution been thus impair
tialY Have dispatches never been withheld to ac-
complish political purposesf
Here are the answers to the above that may in;e-
fesuMr. orton. There is no mistake about them.
The power and money OF the Indian traders ring,
aided By the Western Union Telegraph, carried the
last senatorial election In Kansas against the will OF
majority OF the honest citizens OF that State The
election took place. 1t will be remembered IN jan
uary. 1867. The Legislature was about ninety raui-
cal republicans and fifteen democrats. party con-
test wae therefore Of the question. All the can
ddates were republicans. Messrs. Pomeroy and Ross
were the candidates OF the indian traders corrupt
faction OF the party. The honest wing had their
candidates. also republicans The contest lasted five
days, and was decided by means OF the grossest
abuse OF the telegraph system that has ever been re-
corded. partisan OF the Indian traders ring pro-
duced forged paper, pnrporting to be signed by
United states Senator Henry Wilson, OF Massachu-
setts, urging the Kansas Legislature elect Poae-
roy Co. A friend OF Senator Wilson, who
time, irnmedlsfeIy relegraphed over the Western
Union lines to that gentleman, asking him II he had
really signed & any sen paper sen2tor Wilson ~
was forgery, as he had made no recommendation
IN regard 70 the matter whatever. The despatch
making the inquiry was sent aboat twelve O'Clock
r. M. on Friday. Senator wilson answered II
promptly, but the answer was not received until
about eleven O'Clock A. NJ. on the Wednesday follow
inr-just three minutes too late 70 be used. About
four and one-half days consumed In transmitting the
despatch from Topeka to washington anu return
ID senator Wilson'S reply had been received thirty
minutes sooner the Indian rings candidates would
have been defeated ana the peoples candidate
elected. There Is not the least doubt about this TACT.
Ocean Telegraph Matters Before the Massa-
cbusetis Lesislature--The French Gable BilI
RecomInitfed-An American Cable Project
and Petition for an Act OF incorporation
Possibility of Thee New Cables Between
summcr-Particuiars of the New American
Cable EnfcIprisc.
BosroS, Feb. l5 1859.
The matter Of ocean teegraphy and cheap and
quick transmission OF intelligence Is at this time
occupying large share Of the public attention both
an this county and Europe. The success OF the
present Atlantic cable has demonstrated beyond a
doubt the pracicablity OF telegraphing long dis
tances under the sea- and during the interven-
ing years OF Its operation the inventive genius
Of both countries has been largely employed
In devising improvements upon the present
cable and 1t is undoubtedly trae that Ia
the construction OF additional ocean lines they
will be perfect and possess more capacity than
any OF the cables now In operation. The terribly
high tariffs which nave been exacted oy the cable
companies now existing have had the effect 10 con-
line the OF their lines to only the very largest and
most wealthy commercial houses, and wise capital
can DO invested IN better enterprises than
the laying o. additional cables between Europe and
America, and Illus III competition bring about re.
Cucton u tolls aud place tho great agent Of cyilza.
fion and progress in such position 10 be enjoyed
by all
There Eas already appeared IN the HERALD an ac-
count of the proposed French cable enterprise which
ii I contemplated win result n the laying 81 a cable
between France and Massachusetts, during the pro
sent sumner. As j. already known t i the WISH of
ths company 10 have tne american terminus of
their nne m Dux0ury Ia this state, and IN cfort %
obtain peri0lss0n ~ laAd there ~ nov being made
Tie blii grsnS. the privilege came up in the SEN
ate yesterday, when SeaaEor Crane, OF one Of tue
Boston uistICts moved thai the whole matter bs ra
committed 70 the C0nmiliee ON Mercantile ANsirs,
ana that tae colmit.ee ee instructed 20 ifanc ~
report b which would protect ne people aaa Tie
interests VI N8rs aehnsetts.
Pending this iaot.on Senator weston Of the
plymouth district, g0s up aud moved an amendment
70 Mr. Craaes motion, 70 tAe eject that insseld u
having the OH - back 10 tAs COMMITTEES en- Aesra1-
tile Affairs Il Oe referred O scle.i committee OF the
senate. Concluding nis motiol. Mr. Weston said hat
thatcommtiee bed airtady reported once against the
bill and aodec taat ne inenbers " tae committee
were evidently enemics " tie enterprise.
Mr. Craze, evidently somewhat excited, said tAGt
be repealed such cn4fgc from whaseyef source n
might come, ard n thai, while The c0mnlt.
Toe fgn. he opposed % the Bill as twas now araan
ue d.d not tBlLk that any 0f ~ members woaid
ubiccl 10 having tBe American terminus Of foreign
caho IN Massachusetts. II tlie bi was rocoramitted
Ia ielt sure that tie committee wOud report sa -
factory OH ami one v hicl would guard tAe rights Of
the psOple oi Massachusetts.
w. Dsan another Boston Senator, said that a. n
friend III the measure he thought II would be better
10 nave tho bill re,oiDiaIited 70 tie C0iamtec On
hIerc4utllc Ahafs for the members OF tnat commit
lee Knew al abcut the i1attef and were therefore
ueltt dualined 20 act lp0a IL ihau any other COn-
rnllIe could p0es bly, be.
Thcse istts + rcmai Ks seemed 70 have m influence
wl.li ar Weston for nc Immediately withdrew MS
uualiaous vote rec0innliited 10 the Committee on
Mercantile AGars. 49, :, y. ., -,
a. pr siopsy intimate1, there L. yel another case
enteipise projecsed and, " carried forward az now
prooosed ii wl IN thc matter Of usei uness ouiriva
All me Others combined. u ~ 10 he an entirely
American l4tlr, vita an almost ineA1aaatlDe cap
tf ana Inc stock Is 10 he chiefly taken II
Kew York Boston, Philadelphia and one or
f,yo OF Ine luTer Western cities. The en-
terpr.sc has netn quietly conceived anu noise
iessly carried f4'wad 70 sucn degree IN .na
II ,xil I'm p1oubtedy become are3ty. Inc 0prostof
.l, nns anne arcd M tle leg ature TO the french