New-York tribune., 1873-06-26
TELEGRAPH CHARGES.

MR. oRroN's REPLY TO GIN. sCHENcK-THE ALLEGED
ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN TIE ANGLO AMERICAN
AND WESTERN UNION COMPANIES DENIED.
The Hon. VIM. OrtOn, President Of the West
ern Union Telegraph Company has prepared and for
warded to Secretary Fish letter meeting the charges
made by Gen schenck letter to the state Depart
ment in regard TO alleged arrangement between the
Ango-Amorican and the Western Union Telegraph Com
panes. Mr. ortons letter is Substantially as follows
WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH CoMPAsY.}
HEWNoRK, June a. 1873.
cir: It appears that the Minister Of the United states
n Iondon mas addressed official letter 10 tho Depart
Of STATE IN TcS @ moral ss en arc Of cer
a. YOU inform me- transmitted the Post Office Depart
e1t and bv the latter given 10 the press for pub
cetion It does not appear that any effort was made
either bv state POstONce Department. 10 ascer
taf The charges were true and therefore II be
av inferred that they assumed 10 be true by the
officials OF both departments, VINO appear 70 nave also
assumed that the correction OF the abuses alleged Woud
he secured bv making them public. The charges made
bv. Gen Schenck which concern the managers OF the
Weshern Union Telegraph Company these:
/ That the AngloAmcrican Telegraph Company
which controls the submarine cables IN operation he
thc Western Union Telegraph Company through which
sVstematc imposition is pracuccu Wnlcn ought 20 NC
exposedD which arrangement "binds the Western
ifnIonT IN allow the cable companies retain
third Of what is charged for the transmission or caDie
,nrssa nes over The Land lines in the United States
2 That under this arrangement, the charges Tor the
transmits Of cable over the wires, beyond
HewYork are double the regular tariff prices charged
ON domestic messages an oyorchargc TO be divided be-
tween the companies who parties 70 IT," and that
the Western Union pocket for their share, much
than twice their whole proper charge"
g. That communications transmitted by ocean cable
on Government business subject 10 the same over
charges as are the messages OF Individuals
To these charges respectfully submit the following
reply;
made arrangement with Tie companies controlling
the Atlantic cables for connection the mutual
exchange business which, Gen. SchCuck says, Is
proper enough, and convenience TO every one, well
as to the contracting parties"
q But it Is not true that this arrangement binds the
Western Union Company to allow the cable companies
10 retain oue-thrd, any other share, OF what IL
charged for the transmission OF cable messages the
land lines IN the United states, nor that the charges Tor
such transmission are IN excess OF the average charges
for other teit graphic messages
Fac facts tnese The cable business Is controlled
by the cable companies who fix tue rates 10 be
charged and make and modify the rules governing its
appIy these rates and rules TO cable messages in the
United States, whether received from or transmitted TO
the cables and 10 accept certain fixed rates per word
their for all services connected with the
transmission OF such messages, including the keeping
proper accounts and collecting aud paying over the
moneys accruug therefrOm There are more than COCO
telegraph In the United States, being i'm
practicable 10 supply Edropean offices Win tariff TO
each stations tins country divided into four
districts. each Of which uniform rate is established
NeS-YOrk includes 8 cents "a word payable TO the West
ern Union Telegraph Company for their part OI ine
service. The rates beyond New-NOrk are:
For all stations 10 SeS,JtTsey Pennsylvania Delaware MARY
For ali other errtory the Nisspp River neadus
For al ciher station, United Sie. v, Of tIe Ms.
Ine rates 10 points on tue Pacidc coast have been
slightly reduced since the date OF Cen schencks letter
message IN the United States "A minimum OF
ten words, with ratio per word for additional words
above Ten but the rules Of the cable companies permit
any number OF words 20 be sent at the word rate aud
result Is that majority OF the cable messages con
tain less than ten words those OF three four, and five
words being common ana occasionally a message Is
offered containing only two words. The Western Union
tween Chicago and Ncw-YOrk. The minority OF cabe
messages from Chicago contain less than ten words
average entire month having been as low a. sN
words. In the OF 81. Louis and st. Paul. the rate
on domestic messages to New-YOrk IL Al 30 for ZEN
words Iess, wne the cable rate 10 cents
word But between NeW-YOrk New -Orlpans and Mobile
the local rate " for 10 words Ornever less and some
times than-20 cents word while the rate ON
cable messages is only 10 cents word The result IA
tl,at an cafIe MESSAGES the Westrrn Uuiiu IS', -,
actually only the average OF their local rates
three words from New-OTleans aud St Louis 10 New.
York for 10 cents from san Francisco and ore for
co cent? such messages are handled at c,TsnerahIs
loss and IL charged by Western Union rules wonld he
treated containing 10 words Concerning the rates
collected in England, or other portions Of Europe for
10 stations III the United States the Western
Union Company have voice, aud respect TO many
OF them nave had no knowledge until piompted 10 in
Quire by the published charges made by Cen Schcuck
8. Ii Is also untrue that communications Transmitted
by ocean cable Government business are sunecad IN
the same oyeTcharges as are the messages OF ndyid
uals," 10 aDy OygTonaTges whatever as will clearly
appear by the following statement which can be verI
fled by reference 10 the vouchers the State Dspar
ment The tarln on cable messages trou London to
gtOn paid in London IA four shiIiugs and three
pence word when pald III Washington the charge IL
81 word. But although there obligation on tine
part OF the cable oInpaos to transmit messse ON
GoyerInent basiness ~ less for duas
such messages transmitted at hail rates betwee
London ana New YORK Instead therefore, OF the rate
OF four shiilngs and three pence d word London TO
Washington, the state Department pays Ouy two shi-
ngs and three pence, ana from Washington 10 London
nifty three cents word. instead OF d Us have the
honor 10 be, very respectfully your eooaient
WILILAhC ON. President.