, 1877-03-14

Stable, and an advantage to the country
generally. if the Council were to admit
of the draft of law presented or this ques-
ton. Experience had shown him that the
Company were quite willing to meet all
reasonable desires, and do whatever they
could to satisfy the claims of the commu-
nifty. At the same time whatever sugges-
tons may be made in Council would not
be overlooked but he could promise, If
the matter would be left to the Govern
ment, that the public interest would not
be neglected. The Government had re-
ceived dispatches from the Home authori-
ties, 10 whom the Directors of the Compa-
ny had applied, wherein it was stated that
the home government had placed them.
selves in communication with parties who
were we'll versed in telegraph affairs, and
it had been advised that ST. Thomas should
not detach itself from Geographic commu-
~nicatiOn with other parts Of the world.
This he thought to be q powerful recon-
mendat;on in favour Of the draft now be-
fore the Council. The Company were
urgent in having an immediate arrange
ment come to as he had received a com
munication from the Superintendent on
the matter. He could not, however, feel
the urgency so forcible as to lead him to
adopt ether than the present steps.-Mr.
TITLEY replied that it was not his inten-
ton to suggest any interference with the
existing arrangements between the Com
PAW and the authorities but as an i'm.
portant concession was about to be
allowed to them he only recommend
II 60 H. bou.Ek sc 4ho uublio that
we get g little more news from
Den mark-then the benefits would not ap.
pear to exist on one siGe only. For his
part he would argue that the Company be
supported by all means, since they were so
far depending on our assistance.-Mr.
LANCE said that when the Company puts
in force their raised tariff there would be
very little communication between this
and the Island Of St. Croix, as where it
now costs only 30 cents to send q message
Of ten words to that island, it would, for
the same, under the incoming tariff cost
$l.25. He would say that q clause be in
serted IN the draft to the eff ct that no oil.
%teration should be made in the present rate
Of messages to and from ST. Croix. In re-
ferring to the original draft of law govern.
ing the Telegraph Company it would be
seen that the idea Of having cheap com-
munication with our sister island was
strongly asserted but as this present draft
says nothing about it, it may be that the
Company will also augment the charge
now existing between the two colonies,
which would be the means o fstOpping COM
munication.-The CHAIRMAN replied that
the Company had promised thatthere would
be no interference whatever in the present
Fatrs to that Island.-The GOVERNOR said
that if the Company were disposed to al
ter them they had the right, but as they had
promised not to do so he thought it was lit
tie to fear on this score he certainly would
not like to see them augmented, as he
fovoured, for obvious reasons, a cheap
system Of Geographic communication
between the two places. That the Com
pany were we'll inclined toward US in
this respect was shown by their adoption
of the 10 word instead of the 2O-word
system and the charge of AGENTS. per
word instead Of 10 cents, the maximum
figure allowed them by the law. AS
shareholders could hardly be expected to
be satisfied with the present financial
condition of the Company be thought
1t right for us, in order to avoid a con.
dicting position, or the loss of the wires
altogether, to do our utmost to assist the