New-York tribune., 1871-06-28
CABLE CHARGES AND THE W U TELEGRAPH co.

CABLE CHARGES AND THE W. U. TELEGRAPH co.
To the Edttor Of The Tribune.
SIR have just noticed the following in an
editorial in THE TRIBUNE the 2st instant. After
ferrng to the announcement that the Atlantic Cable OF
1865 has been recovered and repaired, you say;
Preyou, to the breaks the taf IS each
Com1ny refused to reduce their tolls on such messages
The inference to drawn from this statement so far
as it refers to the W. u Telegraph Co.. is that the action
Of that Company produced the advance in cable rates to
the press 3 81 per word and also that its
persistent refusal reduce the only obstacle in the
way of return by the cable managers to TIE former
policy OF half rates to the press Drlef mentOn Oh he
facts will show the injustice done this Company by your
statement. -,
The tariff on all cable messages whether for the public
or the press ia fixed by the Cable Companies, tho
Western Union having no more TO do herewith than In
the determination of the rates charged by lHE
TRIBUNE for the OF its advert sing columns For tine
transmission Of cable messages between Newfork ana
the American tenin OF the cables the western union
Company agrees accept eight cents word when the
tariff is $40. The injustice Of charg Ing this Company
with the responsibility of the advance TO the Press IRON
37s 81 per word because Of our alleged refusal 10
accept cents word instead of eight of the tarf
OF $40, which Is to take elect July VIII DC apparent
upon moments consideration.
Again, the Cable Companies DO not ask nor do they
expect that the western Union company wl maze any
reduction from the rate above named for any class OF
to be also well known TO THE TRIBUNE that this Com
pany has uniformly favored liberal arrangements with
the press and the policy OF charging full rates on news
for publication recently announced by the Cable
Managers was adopted without consultation with U.s.
and therefore without our concurrence.
Very respectfully
WILLIAM ORION, President.
Neto- York. June %. 1871.
I'VE presume few if any other readers drew from
the paragraph above partially quoted the meaning
President Orton attaches 70 it. The very next SEN
tence indeed after the he quotes shows that no
such meaning could have been intended We believe
the simple fact, 80 far the Western Union Is con-
cerned about the advance in rates to the Press to be
this: Just when The TRIBUNE had fairly begun the
system of wholesale teegraphng. by which the late
FrancO-Prussian war was made the best reported ol
modern conflicts received notice that the rates 1t
was charged must be advanced from S'8 to a trifie
over 40 cents Gold per word. No reason was ever
assigned save that while all the other sections OF
the line between London and New-fork agreed
To charge press messages at 0ne-haI ther
rcoular rates for miscellaneous business, tue west
ern Union refused To make any deduction; ana no
explanation OF this was ever given save that the
Western Union had ali along done It's share OF TINS
service at rates prOpOrtlOnately much lower thah'
durinp great part of the time the Cable Companies
had received and did not therefore have the same
reason or margin for reduction. Ii continued 10
,borge our business at the rates as tho'e
charged the general public throughout the pressure
~ this war news We have not found lalt WIN
tins. we have not indeed thought 1t worth w4lle'
hitherto. to make full statement OF the iact-haI