The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1880-04-18
THE NEW ORLEANS DEMOCRAT SUNDAY, APRIL IS $780,
THE PRESS CONVENTION.

THE PRESS CONVENTION.
The Southern Press Convention, that as
sembled In Atlanta on the fifteenth, while not
as numerously attended as could have been
desired, was nevertheless sufficiently repre-
sentative In Its character and achieved sew
eral important results, so far as the tele-
graphic service Of the newspapers OF the
South is concerned.
The association had not met before since
1869, and the consequence was an entire want
Of concert of action on the part OF the papers
published In the various States South. Each
paper pursued It's own course In regard to
telegraph news, and the very natural conse-
quenoe Of this lack of unity was poor and
very expensive service. The readers OF news
papers cannot fail to have noticed the vast
difference In quality and quantity between
the kilograms In the Northern and Western
papers and those sent by the New York
Associated Press to the papers South 1t
has been observed also that our press
frequent receives news full day after it's
publication In the journals of the other and
more fortunate sections OF the country SO
long as our press submitted to this unjust
discrimination, Of course there was no Inn
provement, nor was 1t possible for the pro-
test of any one or two papers, acting In
dependently, to effect a change. Hence the
necessity for calling into life again the
Southern Press Association, which could
speak with authority and remedy the many
evils complained Of.
At the meeting OF Atlanta, on the fifteenth.
q reorganization was effected upon q perma-
nent basis, and measures taken to make the
association thoroughly representative body,
whose actions will reflect the sentiments and
| wishes of the prees Of the South and COM
mand respectful consideration. j. ii. Estill
OF the Savannah Meas. was elected president;
Il. p. Howell, OF the Atlanta Constitution. vice
president; VIM. Rule. of the Knoxville Chron-
tcle treasurer: and II. II. English, of the
Selma Times, secretary. A board of six d.
rectors was also elected, and resolution
adopted admitting any newspaper In the
Southern States taking the Associated Press
dispatches upon the payment Of $5 per annum.
Hon. Erastus Brooks chairman OF the
executive committee OF the New York Asso-
ciated Press, Mr.. Simonton. general superln-
tendent. and Mr.. Somervllle, of the Western
Union Telegraph Company, were present
to confer with the members of the Press As
ISOLATION and expressed entire willingness to
make any changes In the reports that might
be suggested, both as to quality and guam
tity, but declared that the service could not be
rendered for less money. They proposed, how
ever to send to such papers Us might desire
IL, 1000 words per day extra, for an additional
compensation of about $5 per week, which vii
make the service for the New Orleans jour
mails taking the New York Associated Press
dispatches amount to $500 words per day. In
stead OF 1900 as heretofore.
On the suggestion of the DEMOCRAT steps
will soon be taken to give, each day, the
sales, ETC., OF spot and future cotton at this
point, and fuller reports will be sent rega rd-
ing the movements Of grain, cargoes afoat,
quotations OF European markets, as we'll as
of sugar, giving Havana market, Cuba crops.
etc. The rapid growth Of the future business
of the greatest interest to the entire South.
rendered 1t very necessary that steps should
be taken to have reports Of the transa otions
telegraphed In full, while the great increase
of the grain trade. and the certainty Of Its
progressive development. render 1t ess ential
that the fullest advices regarding grain
should be published every day here for the
benefit of dealers. New Orleans is natu rally
very deeply Interested In sugar, and the re-
ports OF the sugar markets as given hereto
fore have been far too meagre and unsatis-
factory. III these results are achieved, as we
believe they will be. from the assurances made
to the Press Association at Atlanta by M essrs.
simonton and Brooks, then the meeting
ring very material benefits to our own people
and the people OF the entire South.
The convention was addressed by Judge
George II. Parker, general agent OF the Amer
lean Union Telegraph Company, who set
forth the advantages that would accrue to
Southern newspapers upon the ompletion OF
their lines, which he said would not be longer
deferred than next September. He declared
that much better service would be given
for much less money. and claimed that with
equal facilities with the Western Union they
could readily afford to lower rates, because
they were operating upon capital OF $10,-
OOe, 900. while the Western Union was COM
PEELED to pay dividends on q capital OF $780,
600 000
There can be no question that the compile
tion of the American Union lines will have
the effect to very materially lessen rates. not
only for newspapers but also for individ uals.
A healthy competition will inevitably spring
up, to the very great benefit of the general
public. Nor will the result be to seriously
niure the Western Union, for while rates
will be materially lowered, the business will
be greatly increased, and there will be enough
to keep both companies busy.
ABOUT THE MILITIA BILL.