A MovEMENT is on foot amonget the leading papers in London which may probably have considerable effects on refer to the combination that has been at length formed against Route: la being made to start a ce-operative leystem which will place journals position of greater iudepoudenoe. Lo valuable services rendered by Reuter to the Press," writes an Indian contem. porary, "have been cordially acknowledged, but proprietors have become inerensingly conscious that their dependence on Renter for news, and their support of a great monopoly in connection with an indispensable part of their business, is inconsistent with the dignity-and repute of a free Press." Asa matter of fact, it would appear that for a very long time past the leading journals have been by no means in the dependent position' that might be inferred from these remarks. 'Most papers of first-rate standing Lave their own special cables, and through these the groater portion of the most important news of the world is re. galany transmitted. A glance at any London paper will be sufficient to prove that Reuter's telegrams occupy a comparatively subordinate position, the "own" and the "special " corres. pondence figuring in successive columns of telegraphic intelligence printed in bold type, while the telegrams furnish ed by Reuter's Agency are not only much briefer, but, a8 our contemporary points out, are printed iv small type and relegated to a position of com. parative insignificance. At the same time the income derived by Renter from six of the leading London journals has hitherto been £12,000 a year, ench paper having contributed £2,000 80 that the loss which threatens the Agency is extremely serious, and may lead to compulsory remodelling of the service, The Standard declines to follow the example of its contemporaries, and as yet we do not know what policy Une evening and provincial papers tay adopt. But these two things are; to all appearance, certain: that a eubsidy of £12,000 year is from honceforth to be withdrawn, and that the monopoly hitherto enjoyed by Reuter will, in consequence, be virtually broken up. We have seen a hint that Reuter's Agency will attempt to moot the difically by increasing the terms of subscription at the expense of the subscribers who rem That scheme, if indeed it be seriously entertained, is foredoomed to utterly fail. There are already complaints from all quarters Unt Reuter's charges are too high. The Tudian newspapers and Governe ments, says the Madras Mull, subscribe between them five thousand rapees a month in ordinary times, and six thou. sand in war times, to Renter's telegrams; while both the Indian and the Australian Presa consider the service too costly, and complain that the telegrams they receive do not adequately represent 80 large an outlay. We of the China Press echo the complaint. We do not know how the proposed Press Telegram Assoviation is to be managed, but it ie at any rate argued and believed by those who ought to know that the Press could get more for its money than at present by creating an organization of its own.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.