Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-11-14
CAUTION TO PRESS ASSOCIs
ATOMS.
The HerRId's Scheme 10 Pro.
mole Healthy Competition.
Nav York Herald.

1he New YORK Associated freSs
has since its creation patronized the
Western Union Telegraph Company,
paying it a large sun annually tor the
transmission of news dispatches.
Other press associations have also
been the patrons of the Western
Union Company, which has thus re
ceived an important share of its rev
enues for many years from the press,
which has been its largest and most
important customer.
Several of the contracts between
press associations and the Western
Union Telegraph Company have lately
expired, and negotiations are now
pending, we understand, for a renewal
of these contracts. We advise the
proprietors of newspapers which are
members Of the Western, New Eng
land or other press associations not to
allow themselves OF their associations
to make long contracts with the
Western Union at this time. There
is a prospect that this monopoly may
presently have such opposition
as will naturally compel it TO
make more reasonable rates, both
on land lines and cables. We are in
formed from a trustworthy source
that the money has been actually sub
scribed to extend the Baltimore and
Ohio land lines in such a way as to
complete ina very short time an eff
fectiye opposition to the Western
Union land lines. The well informed
correspondent who sends us tits in
formation adds: The Baltimore and
Ohio Company and those associated
with it adopt this programme in order
TO protect and enhance the value Of
their own property. not TO injuTe the
property Of Others" With their mo
tives, however, the public has little to
do. The important point for the pub
lie and for the press, which is neees
sarily 50 largely interested in cheap
telegraphing, is that the Baltimore
and Ohio people have secured the
means necessary to extend their land
telegraph lines, so that the public has
the promise Of a healthtul opposition
in telegraphiDg. As the Baltimore
and Ohio land lines are to have con-
n%ection with the new cable this system,
if it is extended as is now promised,
will offer a complete service to the
public and to the pre- 9.
1t is this prospect which leads US
to caution press associations and pro-
prietors of newspapers who are mem
bers Of such associations against max
ing contracts just now with the West
ern Union company for a term Of
years. The policy Of those who con-
troll and manage the Western Union
has been to create and N iintain a
monopoly Of telegraphing, BY land and
sea. 10 their own hands. Opposition
land lines have been bought up at what
everybody believes were ex~travagant
rates, TO be consolidated with Western
Union; and more recently the differ
ent Atlantic cables have also been
confined, or pooled" as the phrase
goes, under the control Of the West
ern Union. No one can doubt that
such 3 monopoly is contrary to the
public interests. Even if the stock
we're not greatly watered the public
will not be IS well or as chesply
served BY a monopoly as if it has its
choice OF two or three lines.
Just now these who control the
Western Associated Press seem 10 be
chiefly anxious to become partners Of
the New York Associated Press, and
in their esgerness to obtain this OBJ
ject seem 70 us to be giving them
selves away" 70 use a street phrase,
70 the Western Union managers, who
for their own ends have encouraged
and helped them. 1t does not re
quire argument 10 show prOprietors OF
Western journals that they would
make a mistake 70 bind themselves Al
this time By long term contracts a
fixed rates 10 the Western Union
company when il il probable, and ap
parently certain, that before NAM
months are over the completion Of an
! opposition land and cable system viii
enable them to secure more advsnta
geOus terms from the Western Union
or from the opposition line. COmpe
ttion among Western journals is So
active, and the use Of the telegraph
and cable is % necessary to them
that the members Of the Western
Associated Press would give an i'm.
portant advantage 10 their rivals out.
side Of the association If they should
commit themselves 70 fixed rates for
term Of years with the Western Union
at this time.
We begthe members Of the Western
Associated Press also 70 consider th,
proposition made b. the Herald 70 ID,
New York Associated Press, Of which
IL il . member. 10 admit 10 member
ship and share 10 the management moi
only the Western. but the New Eng
and, the New York State and tb,
Pennsylysnis and the Southern AssO
cisted Presses. We believe that thii
would be fair, and that il would hell
20 perfect the collection add distribu
tiOn Of impartial and valuable new
reports. We repeat what We han
before said 10 the subject: the Heralt
wants osig N periect the system 0
collecting news 70 that the report
shall be accurate, truthful. complete
and not subject 70 either political
= religious " financial manipulation
ADythi1gBhieh looks 70 thatend shal
always have our ready and zeslou