The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-20
INvIOLABILITY OF KILOGRAMS.

The Baltimore Sun publishes an article on the ques-
ton of the inviolabily of telegraphic dispatches
and says that there is very general feeling that the
Potter Committee, in deciding to go into an inves-
tigation of the cipher dispatches. has taken the
proper tending to make its inquiry into the
Presidential election thorough. SO much notoricty
has been given to the cipher dispatches and much
mystery surrounds them, that investigation
would be perfect that did include this branch of
the subject its scope. How is that the dispatches
the republicans have not been forthcoming while
those of the democrats have 1t would be curious 10
inquire. though IL is difficult to why confidence
should have been betrayed In either case. 1t is
the duty therefore. Of the Potter Committee to get
at the bottom Of the divulgcnce of these dispatches
apart the charges and countcrcharges bribery
aud corruption in connection with the Presidential
election. This matter of the disclosure of kilograms
is one of serious moment The cipher dispatches to
be Observation-Disclosures supposed to be in the Gus
tody of the Western Union Telegraph Company =
the columns Of the New York SylJans. tho head.
quarters of the Western Union Telegraph Company
being in the city Of New York II Is OF special in.
terest TO the public. i'll Wow of the confidence re-
posed In telegraph companies and the fact that telc-
grams entrusted to their care ought TO be nviolae
letters committed to the mails the Potter
mittee ~ ascertain how those cipher dispatches
obtained. The NEw YoRK HEIALD. in discussing this
subject quotes the Revised Statutes OF the state
New York to show that tanpcring with telcgrams il
put in tho statutes on the footing tainperng
win private letters
ut is well known that the late Mr. Orton rs Prcsi-
dent OF the Western Union Telegraph Company, OBJ
jected In the outset to surrcndering to % committee
OF Congress tho kilograms, whether cipher other
wise which passed North and South from friends of
both political parties during the tendency OF the
Presidential question in the returning board States
Did he finally place them conhdentiay la the hands
OF any one2 And whether he did or did not how is
IL IL that the Tribune got hold of the original demo-
cratic dispatches what became OF the oonfdeil-
tial dispatches of the rcpubcansY'
ntfa Al liz
practice of considering kilograms public property
the Sun remarks very appusitcy that 'the English
Courts have decided that kilograms. even In suits be-
tween parties are as sacred AZ letters Our courts
recognize the right to call for kilograms in suits at
law. But even this right Is limited. IL Is not % row
ing one. But so long as the originals of kilograms
in tho hands of the telegraph companies. they,
being the custodians of them, responsible tor
their saekccpng. and IL any account other than
a legal mandate, they surrender throw open such
kilograms to third parties, they guilty % iia-
grant breach o. trust and shouu be punished TO the
FULLEST extent OF the law. The duty Of the Potter
Committee will not be performed until IL has pushed
its inquiries into tho way In which the cipher de-
spotcbes we're tempered with aud show upon whom
tl,s censi1re should fail."