Dean Su,—In reply to your letter of 26th instant I bog to inform you that my Administration has for some time had the reduction of the inland telegraph rates under consideration. As this, however, involves many collateral questions, the Administration regret their inability to ive any definite answer at present. ive In explanation of the "apparent anomaly" of foreign telegrams being charged double the rate of Chinese telegrams over the Chinese lines, it should be derstood that while foreign telegrams are charged per word, Chinese telegrams are charged per Chinese character (transmitted over the lines by 4 figures). Secing that often several characters are required to make up what would he one word in a foreign language, the charge of half rates for Chinese messages in plain language (Chinese messages in code are charged the same rate as foreign messages) has been considered proper and just.
remain, Dear Sir, Your obedient servant, (Signed) Civ Pav-ray. Wriuam D: Lrrris, Esq., Chairman, Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce, (Copy.) No. 1308.
Suaxcnar Geserat, CHAMBER OF
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.