The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-20
THE CABLE CONTROVERSY.
NEW YORK, NEWFOUnDLAND AND
IOSDUN TELEGRAPH COMPANY,

IlOSDUN TELEGRAPH CuMpASY,}
NEW YORK, May Is. 1871
TO THE AGENT OF THE NEW YORK ASSOCIATED
SIR we have read in the morning papers your
letter OF yesterday addressed TO us, although we
have not as yet had the nonor Of receiving the
same.
Not one OF the messages OF which you complain
passed over any telegraph line under control
That OF Mr.. Cyrus w. Field.
which We VIII thank yOn TO publish with TINS note,
ana remain, sir, yours Respectfully,
MOSES TAYLOR, WILSON q. HUNT.
NEW YORK, NEWFOUNDLAND AND
LONDON TELEGRAPH COMPANY,
NEW YORK, May Is, 1871.
Messrs. PETER COOPER MOSES TAYLOR, CYRUS W.
FIELD. MARSHALL .. RoBERTs and WILSON q.
HUNT, Directors OF the New York, Newfoundland
ana London telegraph Company
GESTLEMEN-l have read the letter OF Mr.. J. W.
Simonton dated yesterday and published In the
morning papers, and In reply To your inquiries
would state tnat not OF the messages referred To
by Mr.. Simonton passed over any OF your ines. By
foreign lines TO Brest, France, by the French cable
to Duxbury Massachusetts, and by the Western
Union lines to New York. remain, gentlemen,
your obedient servant, HENRY H. WAED,
superintendent 1T New York.
NEW YORK, May 49, 1871,
Messrs. PETER COOPER, MOSES TAYLOR MARSHA Ill
o. ROBERTS and WILSON q. HUnr:-
GENTLEMlN-i our favor Of yesterday, lett at my
onlce after business hours, has lust come han Il.
80 far as 1t can at all aiect the question oil fact
VOWED in our charges OF fraud ana maadminis ira
tion In the cable service 1t must be accepted az an
admission OF the justice of all our complaints. The
Ony question to be considered therefore, 10 the
sp0nslbility OF your MIR. Field to render TO us the
explanation placed in his hands several weeks ago.
Referring TO the note or Mr.. Henry H. Ward,
superintendent al New YORK Of the New York New
1oundland and London Telegraph Company, ! have
to say
sand company, OF which you and Mr.. Cyrus w.
Field constitute the board OF directors, Of the
several organizations having cooperative control
of Atlantic cable business. Under agreement OF
e d 81 iI1 inc y sa ans 4So
pany and the French Gable Company became
partners, have common purse and share
ment Of cable business. one stipulation or the
agreement makes your company the representative
IN America of the combination which said agree
ment established. II II OF no cons -qucncc, there
fore, which OF the several cables business Is
tually transmitted-yOur relations To 1t always
the same. You have precisely the same voice In
the control now that you had when both the English
aud the French cables were In use; you enjoy the
same share Of profits; to the pubic You represent
the combination to-day precisely az You did before
the Engliih cables failed. We mold the receipts OF
your Mr.. Ward Tor many thousands OF dollars pad
Tor cable tolls reports transmitted by the French
line; ana only four days ago you, gentlemen, on
behalf OF your coanpany-Mr. Henry weaver Tor the
English companies and captain Richard &. Naync
behalf OF the French company - united In the
satisfy the pubic that there was no reasonable
ground or complaint regarding the manner in which
cable business mas been transmitted since the ser
vice was confined 10 the French cable. Could tesi-
mony 10 your loiBt responsibility be stronger2
In view Of these evidences OF your responsibility
in the premises am unwilling 10 believe that when
gentlemen of your high character signed the letter
OF the 18TH you could have realized the subterugc
embodied IN It's declaration That the messages about
which we have complained dtd not pass any
telegraph line I'M Ter our your conttol, that
Mr.. cyrus W. Feld.n
Your control VI the service, repeat Is precisely
the same IN the oi business transmitted over
one cable as 1t would be If carried any other
belonging To the combination. Having recognized
the propriety on the part OF the New YORK. New
foundland and London Ink OF your combmation OF
meeting ana answering complaints far
You have hitherto supposed them 10 be within your
province, we cannot doubt that when you get
clearer IDEA OF The You VIII assert yonr power
to compel frank disclosure and adequate atone
ment on account OF the entire service. Hoping
that you win not halt half way, earnestly request
that You VIII possess yourselves of the real points In
issue and the actS bearing upon them, In order that
you may be enabled 10 do what believe you VIII
find demanded by your own honor, no less than by
justice and duty.
BE good enough to note that the plea of mo re-
sponsbiiyn Is set up too late In this correspondence
which has been pending during more than four
months. Besides, your Mr.. Field has IN his posses
sion one or your board OF i've directors the writ
ten confession BY Mr.. Henry Weaver OF all that we
have charged Unless Tor some reason not apparent
to you prefer to share the responsibility or sup
pressing the facts, thus conceang what there could
be motive conceal unless wrong. may
iairly presume that you VIII overrule the single
and hand TO us the 'forma reply" 10 specific
complaints. or clear your company OF wiIful COM
pliclty in the outrage and recstabsh the claim cf
the cable combination TO public confidence by
posing and punIShng The guilty party or parties,
whoever they may he. Very respectfully.
J. w. SlMoNfON, General Agent.