The New York herald., 1873-09-02
TELEGRAPH EXTORTlON.
Minister Schenck Again on the
Western Union.
OVERCHARCES ON OCEAN MESSAGES.
4 Fuller Exposition Of the Tricks Of the
Lightning Vendors.
THE CASE WE'LL STATED.
Correspondence Between Mr.. Schenck, Secre-
tary Fish and Mr.. 0rton.
Charges for the Transmission of
Messages.
Facts and Figures for Reflection by Oppo.
nents Of Telegraph Monopoly.
THE CASE WE'LL STATED.
Correspondence Between Mr.. Sohenok, Secre-
tary Fish and Mr.. 0rton.
Charges for the Transmission Of
Messages.
Facts and Figures for Reflection by Oppo.
nents Of Telegraph Monopoly.
Minister Schenck 60 Secretary Fish.
NO. 442.l
LEGATION OF TIE UNITED STATES.

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES
LONDON, July 7, 1873. !
Hon. HAMILTON FISH, Secretary OF State, Washing
ton, d. CT
SIR--My No. 3os, in relation to charges on tele-
graphic cable messages having been made public
through the newspapers in the United States, has
also been copied and attracted attention here. On
ats appearance In print IN the correspondence OF
the London Times letter OF complaint was ad-
dressed to me by the General Manager OF the Anglo
American Telegraph Company in London, to which
Ireplied. l send you herewith copies Of the COM
munication OF that company and my answer
thereto
You will observe that the Anglo American Com.
pany, instead OF meeting and controverting the
statement that there exists some arrangement by
which excessive charges are collected in London
for the transmission of cable messages over the
land lines in the United States, attempts to make
with me an irrelevant issue in regard to some sup
posed reduction of prices paid by the government.
This do not permit The system Of overcharges
which brought to your notice Is that which re-
lates to exactions made here for sending intelli-
gence over the wires within the United States TO
points south and west OF New York.
No response has been made by the Gable Com
pany to my reply, sent to them on the 30th o June.
forward some explanation or denial now that my
letter to you has come out and provoked discus
sion but trust & they ~ wiz not answer aside from
dent servant, ROBERT q. SCHENCK.
ENCLOSURES.
!. Mr.. weaver to General SchencK June 81 1873
2 General schenck to Mr.. Weaver, General Su-
Rerintendent Of the Anglo-American Telegraph
Company, June 80, 1873.
A Telegraphic Tic to tho Minist1~.
ANGLO-AAERICAN TELEGRAPH co. (Llmited),)
No. 20 OLD BROAD STREET,
LONDON, E. G., June u, 1881
SrR-Referring to your letter addressed to Mr..
hamilton Fish upon the subject Of this company's
tarin, which appeared in the Philadelphia cor
sespondence Of the Times Of yesterday, and in
which you state that the alleged 'syst ematic
mpositions" has resulted in large difference to
the government of the United States during the
past year, would draw your attention to the fact
shat, instead OF being overcharged, your govern
company for some years past concession made
by the companies to the American government as
s q b4 to
strictures contained in your letter. am, sir,
'~'' ~''''' 80 q WEAVER, General Manager.
Minister schenck Restates His Case.
LEGATION OF TIL Z UNITED STATES,
LONDON, June 80, 1878.
a. WEAVER, Esq, General Manager Anglo-American
Telegraph Company
SIR have received your note o. the 9th inst,
referring to an ocial letter Of mine Of the SOth OF
April last addressed to the Secretary of State OF
the United States, relating to the charges made for
the transmission Of messages by the Anglo-Amer
ican Telegraph Company, copy OF which letter
has appeared in the public prints. You appear to
overlook or misunderstood entirely the point OF
my communication on the subject and Its object.
raised no question as to the tariff of prices
Of your company whether excessive or
moderate for sending dispatches by the cable
across the ocean from England to America MY
purpose was to attract attention to the charges
=
between your company and the Western Union
Company, for the OF the land lines Of that
pany within the United States to reach points west
and south OF New York; and showed that the ex-
action Of payments made here for that portion OF
telegraphic service was double or more than
double as much as the rates indicated In the
tariff of the American company for the same SER
vice over the same lines at home. This you have
not denied
brought this matter to the notice of my govern
ment, as 1t was proper should do.
II am not mistaken as to the fact there is no
reason for your characterzing my report con-
tanning 'unwarranJed structures" Whether,
you state, the government Of the United States
''has only paid half the current rates OF the COM
pany for some years past and whether that was
as you also inform me, "a concession MAZE as u
pure matter of courtesy" do not certainly know.
I found your scale OF charges when came here to
represent the United States about Tie same, be-
lieve. as 1t continues to be. Inquiry being made
since receiving your letter. Iearn that the reduced
rates OF which you speak relate 10 some agreement
not to make double charges against either the
United States government or Her Majestys gov
ernment for dispatches OF which any portion may
happen to be transmitted in CIPHER. But what
eyer may be the case IN respect OF that statement
lido not see how, with justice or rroprety, IL
should be taken as consideration Tor not expos
ing what appears to be wrong, in the connection
oil which have shown that the public and private
persons are equally concerned
had lar other and higher motives Tor my action
than to assa the interests OF any OF the telegraph
companies on either side OF the Atlantic, and my
communication to my government davlng been
made public, 1t Is certainly no '' reQuital" for any
iavor or advantage that you may be supposed to
have conferred to afford you an opportunity TOR
abolishing an unjust discrimination against many
OF those who have to correspond through the
medium OF che telegraph. am, sir, very respect
fully, your Obedient servant.
ROBERT c. SCHENCK.
Mr.. Schcnck to MIR. Fish.
mo. 460.l
LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
LONDON, July 20, 1873.
Hon. hAMIIroN FISH, Secretary OF State, Washing