The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-21
TELEGRAPH PRIVILEGES.
THE INVESTIGATION BY THE JUDICIARY COM
MITTEE-Is THERE MoNoPoLY2

THE INTERPOLATION By THE JUDICIARY COH-
MITTEE-s THERE MoNoPoLY3
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20, 1875.
The subcommittee OF the House Committee on
the Judiciary commenced to-day the examination
OF President orion relative to the business affairs
OF the western Union Telegraph Company. 1t
appeared from his testimony that no two press
contracts with the company are alike. different
rates being charged for different classes OF
service. The company could afford TO charge
less to those who did a large regular business
over its wires than to parties who sent only small
quantities, on the principle that railroad CON-
pany could afford to charge cheaper freights to
wholesale dealers than to occasional customers
who sent but little over it's roao. Ae was asked
whether tie wealthy papers in aniliatiOn with the
New York Associated Press had not greater factli-
ties than those OF limited means and whether
first class papers could not obtain their de-
spatches cheaper than those OF less prominence.
Mr. Orion thought they could, because OF the
larger surface covered IN the arrange
ments. AS to the American Press Association
it got It's work done over the Atlantic and Pacific
Telegraph lines great deal cheaper than it would
pay !or like amount OF service over the Western
Union lines. The reason why the western Union
could not make contract with the American
Press Association was that by taking on part OF
the business OF Its best customers anu serving that
association Tor less. heavy loss TO the
company would have been accustomed. He was
asked whether In the case OF the Commercial
Bulletin, not in the New York Associated Press
arrangement, there would be difference in the
telegraphic charges to that paper sending 10, 900
words and the charges to the Associated Press
sending exactly the same matter.
mess win the New York paper mentioned would
be but a single transaction. and Independent OF
any previous contract He said that there was no
formal contract between the Western Union
Company and the New YORK Associated
Press, but mere memoranda chargeabIe from
vice. The news furnished to the press was not the
property OF the Western Union Telegraph Com.
Press Press. There was no Arrangement or Understand
ing between the company and the Associated
Press which would prevent other parties sending
dispatches over its wires at the same rates tnat
intelligence was sent to others.
Mr.. James w. Sim0nton, General Agent OF the
New York Associated Press, testified to the ma
ture OF his duties. The Associated Press has no
partnership with the Western Union Telegraph
Company ana that company was under no obli-
CATION to the Associated Press not to make ar
rangements with others for the transmission Of
WHICH Which the western Union was TO- come =
the Associated Press for news In answer
to question the witness said the Associated
Press some times refuses TO deliver dispatches to
the newspapers and as a case in point he referred
to the Petersburg In1er, which had contrary to
to teieGrapnic communication by thunderstorm,
violently denounced the Associated Press. In
consequence Of this conduct n on the part Of the
and Af Instruction. 70 the effect that 1.-THE the
General Agent desired to be privately informed
Of all trouble so that difficulties may be remedied
ii not beyond CONTROL and while not Directing to
complaints invited them in all cases The Vest
ern Union Company had nothing whatever to DO
with the controversies between the Associated
Press and newspapers, and had no power
to prevent the furnishing OF dispatches to news
papers no attacked the Western Union Company.
Even If the Western Union Company were SO dis
posed 1t could exert no such influence The busi-
hess OF the Western Union Company and the
Associated Press was independent and altogether
separate. The committee adjourned until Monday.