The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-02-18


eeraph bill against the arguments OF Mr. Orion and
directly against what the Western Union Tel
egraph Company considered TO be its interests
There contracts or arrangements between the
telegraph company and the Associated Press winch
we do net understand to be open to any
aud all other parties who do or desire
to do similar class OF business and upon the same
terms. We receive some concessions in rates in re-
turn for conditions agreed upon-such rs the agree
ment to do large business instead of petty one,
and to do il all Western Union wires and to
accept certain proportion of it be rendered dur.
ing those hours when the better paying commercial
business does not crowd. But there are no discrm-
nations whatever in our favor-on the contrary, one
point of frequent difference between the two Or
CARNATIONS is the fact that according to our view
the only determinations are against the Associated
Press and in favor of its poorer and weaker compet-
tors. We neither ask nor desire Discrimination in
our behalt-hrst, because we do not think IT would
be fair. even II legal. and. second oeeanse penny
ties We cannot afford TO acceps dangerous prece-
dent which there would be constant temptation on the
part OF the telegraph company 10 follow for gain ana
the tendency of which would be toward The use of
the power OF that great company in the direction or
diminishing the disparity between and rivals
and equalize their weakness and poverty OF facili
ties with strength ;nd wealth in the same ele-
ments or success. We hold that they can have no
Just right to charge rate for transmitting ten
words for customer having $4,000 OF capital and
higher rate for the same service to one who has
500 600 In interest must ana do stand by
the just proposition that telegraph company should
charge rate tor q given amount of tclcgraphic
work of given class, and that ii ought not and can
not Justly or with safety undertake to measure the
respective purses of its customers and do better
worse for any of them because of his ability or
inability when such customers competitors of
each other in the same field OF enterprise We only
ask equality before the law OF Geographic rates and
privileges; and repeat that if that law ever fails to
be observed il fails against us and never in our
favor.
EFFECT OF PROPOSED LEGISLATION.
And come to the practical question, VIII
the proposed legislation whether right or wrong,
impair the power of the Associated Press? General
Butler by his argument here seemed to hold that it
posed by him, in the pest present the postal
telegraph scheme OF former years. and the plan which
he eulogzed on Saturday last as the panacea for
public relief from Associated Press ills woes-to
wit. the placing in the hands of the Postmaster
General the power to fix elegraphic rates Well. the
Associated Press has nothing to fear from either OF
these propositions. Its members are divided in
opinion as to the political propriety and policy of
such measures But. gentlemen, there is no differ
among them to the conviction
that nothing else could make the power Of
would tie enactment of either. The only con,pe-
tton have to meet to-day lives by anu because Of
discriminating Geographic rates in its favor. Ne do
not desire its DEATH and if only be assured that
else get telesraphc service on better terms
than allowed to the Associated Press, organ
cation, experience and our established connec
tions give us a vantage ground which be
shaken il business is managed with ordinary
discretion and skill. This of exact and
equal rates for ali press matter. to ali newspapers
news associations, should have under govern
ment control OF the telegraph, because the rates
would of necessity be uniform TO all patrons just
they are in the of the mails That fixed. be the
rates high or be they low we would care not, for
we ask only a free field But our competitors
TEN proposed, certainly perish. If you reduces
the rates as to save US 10000 per year
in telegraphing, should have just that much
to expend in extending agencies. improving the
class of agents, and thus producing more perfect
result and the Associated Press combination would
still stand united and nvincbc against the assaults
OF those who shrek to Congress for aid in the effort
to cause business currents to run up hii
DISTRIBUTION NEWS.
Let me call your attention now to one more point.
The telegraph company, having control of its own
rates unites with us in arrangements whereby news
reports are delivered to many newspapers ut very
low rates in sections where the population is sparse
and the local papers struggle for existence. This is
true OF large proportion of interior places,
pecally in the south In other words the Associated
Press agrees to accept from such places and
much less than their fair proportion of the cost Of
the common service. We could not do this, how
ever. IL the Western Union Telegraph Company did
not aid in the good work by making similar
concessions in the matter OF their rates Tor
transmitting reports to such exceptional points
just they do and will do for any competitor OF
ours BY this means, and through our system of
sending reports simultaneously to numerous places
at single writing wa are able to supply many
newspapers with dcily reports at total OF $40 TO SIS
per week each, that sum covering at once the con-
trbution to agency, the expenses Of concen-
tratng the of the world and of its photographic
transmission from the point Of concentration to the
parties who are to enjoy it's benefit by publication.
Under this flexible system the strong papers carry
the heavy end IF the load and to the weak the bur
den is made exceedingly light. The press and tele-
graph companies both agree. by and with the
mutual consent of ali the parties to the arrangement.
compensation from the weiito-do.
But the government cannot carry ont any such
flexible 81 stem. oursis government or law. LAWS
rigid Its terms must be the same for the for
the'rich and undertake to say that. it would be
ruihous to any telegraph business public or private
to make there very low rates TO all classes OF it's
toners alike. the effect of Legislative intervention
would be to greatly enhance the cost of telegraph
ports to the whole body of the weaker press. while
cheapenng it tn the wealthy and strong. This would
work hardship to the prosperous journals of the
great cities. These would still combine to divide
the common expenses, protected thea by law from
efficient composition Inon proprietors, viewing
the matter from the selfish standpoint alone, would
gladly concentrate the business in their hands.
II would inevitably crush out the telegraph column
in oil the country press. give ALMOST the entire field
TO the city press and your legislation would be
found to have simply inscribed upon the statutes OF
the country the declaration that 'to him that hath
shall be given, and from him that hath not shall be
taken even that which he hath"
In closing. permit me to remind you, gentlemen,
that not here attorney for the Western Union
Telegraph Company. but IN the interest Of simple
truth alone. The Legislation proposed can affect the
Associated Press only favorabiy and 80 far 1t is
designed 10 help those newspapers which are not in
the Associated Press connection think may well
echo the words to which Mr. Lo wrcy gave different
application and say that as failure 1t viii prove
great The Associated Press offers protest only
against the basing of legislation upon mistaken views
OF organization anu our work. IL oilers
protest any other grounds. but may say as
heard senator Fesscndcn say in debate, many years
ago. when replying u brother Senator who had ut
tered dire threats OF what his state would do in
certain contingency, eve seriously doubt tho wisdom
after due consideration yon think IL just and wise
and sound beg of you not to delay it for day on
account"
In reply to specific inquiry by Senator Mitchell,
Mr. Simonton eaid that in the city of New York
single member of the association Ind the power by
his one objection to deny admission of any new
paper TO its facilities In tho country at large tho
rule this point is various and In determined with
few exceptions, .by local press associations, who
operate with the parent institution. These local
as-ociations make their own laws, and each deter
mines for itself whether IL VIII accept now par; ncrs
and IL so. upon what terms.
Mr. Hubbard-Can you give a single instance in
any section ut the country whore the Associated
Press docs not exercise its power to exclude some
newspaper from particp ,tion IN it's news?
Mr.. ENTHUSIASTICALLY con. IL mistake not
thoro only three points south OF Washington
where amy local association or authority has the
right to place any restriction service Of reports TO
it's competitors.
In reply other queries he stated that there wss
no general Press association in the south covering
that entire section but there lis local association nj
New Orleans which controls the news in that city
In California there two Press associations which
buy the East OF which adds to IL album
dainty from other than Associated Press sources.
and each of which controls its use by its rules
and regulations In all Southern cities. other than
New Orleans, papers can get the Associated Press