New-York tribune., 1910-06-21
IaDP REPORTS CONFLICT MAY Be CABLE LETTERS
vars Return Leads to Report
That Rates Will Be Reduced.
NOT FOR CODE MESSAGES
only Dispatches Containing ordi-
nary Words Will Receive Bene-
Tit of Any Reduction, IT'S Said.

theodore n. Vail. president of the Amer
lean Telephone and Telegraph Company.
VINO has been abroad for several weeks.
VIII return home tomorrow on the steamer
Adriatic, OF the White Star Line 1t was
learned on good authority yesterday that
the principal object of Mr. Wallis trip was
TO oring about closer relations between the
Western Union Telegraph Company, which
Is now controlled by the American Tele-
phone and Telegraph Company; the Anglo
American Telegraph Company and the
Direct United States Cable Company. Ltd.
1t Is reported in this connection that at
a conference held in"Lendon last week be-
tween Mr.. Vail and officers of the two
English companies details of a plan for
sending cable messages between certain
hours in ordinary words only at reduced
rates were worked out, and ii is expected
that the plan will he put ia operation
shortly.
The plan, it is said, is similar to the
night letter kilograms idea of President
Vail, recently adopted by the land tele-
graph companies here. Whether or not the
reduced rate will apply only to night mes
sages could not be learned, but it is not
thought that such will be the case.
The officers OF the three companies men,
toned believe, it is said, that by establish
ing lower rate between certain hours for
messages sent in ordinary words they will
bring about a great increase in the service
by encouraging the sending of messages of
a social OF domestic nature from continent
to continent. which are now seldom sent,
owing TO the high tolls
Other plans for closer working relations
than now exist between the three companies
have been agreed on, IL is understood, but
the details will not be made known until
after Mr.. Wallis arrival
The reason code messages are not to re-
ceive the benefit of the reduced rate. # is
said, is that the cable companies do not
care 10 hold out any particular induce
ments for this kind of business. which is q
great strain upon the operator, owing to
the care that has to be exercised in its
transmission.
The sending OF cable messages in ordi-
nary words, it is pointed out, will make it
possible for the sender to make use OF the
telephone from his home or Office to send
messages 10 the cable company to a greater
extent than is now practicable. a large
majority of the cable messages sent now
are in code, and the liability to error in
transmitting such messages over the tele-
phone prohibits the sender from making
use Of this quick and easy method of get
ting his message TO the cable Office unless
the dispatch is very short and the code not
very complicated.
Reports of negotiations looking 20 the
acquisition Of the Anglo-American Teie-
graph Company by one OF the big telegraph
conlpa MES here have been in circulation in
Wall Street for some time, and sharp ad-
vance in the price Of the AngIo-Anerican
Company's stock in London has apparently
furnished some foundation for the rumors.
II was at first reported that the Mackay
Companies were negotiating for the Eng
lish company, but this was officially de-
MED.
Then came President Walls trip TO Eu-
rope. and r1Irnor at once had it that it was
his company that was after. the Anglo
American. Apparently, however, there is
not 10 be a consolidation, but a closer
working agreement. in which the Direct
United States Cable Company. also an
English concern. is 10 be included. -
Under present arrangements the TWO
English companies and the Western Union
exchange traffic, and they have also an
agreement TO pool receipts and divide in
fixed proportion. The Western Union Com
pany has for many years held 4 small stock
interest IN the Anglo-American Company,
amounting, according 10 its last annual re-
port, to fI.303