The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-02-07
Congress and fhe Franco-American Tese-
graph Cable.

graph CEbls.
Mr.. Sumner reported bill TO the Senate on
Tuesday last, from the Committee on Foreign
Relations, relative to Geographic communica-
ton between the United States and foreign
country, and on the same day Mr.. Charles c.
Leigh made powerful argument before the
same Committee on Foreign Relations against
any contracted and illlberal legislation on the
subject and the monopoly which Mr. Summers
bill is calculated to perpetuate. The bill ID
srtfnlly framed in such way as to have the
appearance Of being fair and just, while it is
evidently in the interest of the existing Allan
tic telegraph monopoly aud the other monopo-
LES bound up with that; for the Introduction
Of such bill, whether it. passes or not, is cal
cuated to delay the work of the Franco Ameri-
can Company Ia laying the cable which is now
ready to be laid. Thehand and influence Of
the monopolists, though not seen by the gen
eral public, and perhaps not by Mr.. Sumner,
In this specious Legislation have evidently
operated upon the committee. The effect may
be to prevent the laying Of the Franco American
cable the approaching season, when it is only
safe to attempt such work. This, of course,
would give the Atlantic Gable Company the
monopoly for another year, would embarrass
the Franco-American Company, and might de-
feat the project entirely. This would answer
the purpose Of the monopolists for the time,
and next year they could go to Washington
again and lobby through some other piece Of
specons legislation to head Off still longer the
franco-American Company or any other rival.
Besides the whiskey lobby, the Western Union
Telegraph lobby and other lobby cliques at
Washington, there is now powerful British
lobby to perpetuate the telegraph monopoly Of
the Atlantic Ocean.
Mr.. Summers bill provides that the United
States government shall be entitled to tho
same or similar privileges with regard to the
control or nse Of any telegraph or cable lines
betweea this country and any foreign country as
may be exercised or enjoyed by any foreign
government from the territory Of which such
cables may be laid. This is all very well and
fair enough in principle. There are other
provisions, too, in it that may not be improper,
such a. giving the government priority in send:
ing messages, the sending Of messages for the
public in the order in which they may be re-
ceived and the power Of regulating the tariff
Of charges by Che government, if all cable
companies. with the land lines connecting, can
be put under the same conditions. But to ira
pose these terms upon the Franco-American
Company or any other, while the Atlantic
Gable Company operates on British soil at both
ends and over which our government could
have no control, is virtually to legis-
late against all cables being landed
on American territory and in favor of the
British monopoly. Then, the provision in the
bill to prevent cables being laid till foreign
governments can be negotiated with and their
consent obtained to grant reciprocal privileges
to American citizens or companies, as those thai
may be accorded to foreigners will, as was
said, tend to delay or prevent the laying of the
Franco American cable or any other cable foi
some time, and thus accomplish the object OF
the present telegraph monopolists. Fair a. the
bill seems 1t is an insidlous attempt to perpet.
uate foreign monopoly to the injury of tho
American public. 1t ia. as Me-. Leigh said in
80 "iS"'sAo"es al atlCmpt w Cudlu tHOu9ut ana
ideas to single channel and to COMPEL our
citizens and the press to pay ten times as much
TOR conveying their thoughts and messages
across the Atlantic as would be the cost with
rival company established and = cable direct
to our shores. Whatever legislation may be
deemed necessary hereafter to regulate or
control the telegraph, this is not the time to
throw obstacles in the way Of rival ocean lines.
Congress should at once give the broadcast and
fullest permission, az far az ts authority goes.
to the Frauco-American company to carry
through its project, now that the cable is ready
to be laid. There can be no doubt that the
French government or any other European
government will be ready to negotiate for re-
cprocal privileges in and over telegraphs be-
tween its shores and those of the United States
To delay the laying Of any cable on that
account would be mere pretence for the pur-
pose Of lavoring an existing monopoly Let
Congress pay no heed to the monopolists or
The lobby but act in this matter upon broad
aud liberal views for the benefit of the public
and in the interests Of civilization.
Andrew johnson In Tennessee.