The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-12-16

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found to be . necessity, and the OBJ
tanning Of this French concession
! showed that other capital than that al
ready invested was ready to enter Into
1 competition with an assurance of an
adeq uate return for their outlay. Inn.
pressed with the conviction that the
interests not only Of the people of the
| United States but OF the world Al
large demanded or would demand the
| increase Of such means Of communities
ton between separated continents. !
was desirsus that the proposed con.
neciion should be made. but certain
provisions of this concession were
deemed by me 10, be objectionable,
particularly one which gave for long
term of years the exclusive riyat vi
telegrap pliic communication by snbma-
rine cable det W cen the shores OfFrance
and the Uaitcd States. l could not
| concede that any power should claim
the right to land a cable On the shore.
Of the United States, and at the came
time deny to the United States, or to
its citizens or grantees, all equal rixht
to land cable on its shores. The
right to control the conditions Tor lay :
ing of cable within the iurisdictienal
waters OF the United States to connect
| oar shores with those Of any foreign
slate pertains exclusively - the gov
ernment Of the United States, under
| such limitations aud conditions ~
Congress may impsse.a nthe absence
Of legislation By Congress 1 was an
willing, on the enc hand, to yield to q
foreign state the right to say that its
grantees might land on our shore
| while it denied q similar right to our
people 10 land on it's shores; and, on
the other hand, was reluctant to de-
ny to the great interests of the world
and of civilization, the facilities sl
such communication as were prOpos-
cd. L, therefore, withheld any resist
snce to the landing Of any cable on
condition that the offensive monopoly
feature OF the concessien be abandon.
ed, and that the right Of any cable
which may be established by authori-
ty OF this government to land on
French territory, aud to connect with
French land lines, and enjoy the nee
essary facilities or privileges incident
to the nse thereof, upon az favorable
terms os any other company, be con-
! coded. As the result thereof the COM
pany in question reneunced the ex-
elusive privileges, aud the representa-
tive Of France was informed that, un-
derstanding this reiinquishment to be
construed as Yrrn NJ tho entire re-
| ciprOcity aud equal facilities which
had been demanded the opposition to
the landing Of the cable was with
drawn. 2e'i ii'' -
| The cable, under this French con-
cession, was landed in the month oi
July, 1869, and has been, an efficient
and valuable agent Of communication
between this country and the other
continent. 1t soon parsed under the
control of those who had the MANAGE
ment of tho cable connecting Great
Britain with this continent, aud thus
whatever benefit to the public might
have issued from competition between
the two lines, was lest, the company
having the greater facilities Of an ad-
ditionai line aud the additional securi-
" of accident to one of them. Bui
these increased facilities, and this aa-
ditional facility, together with the
combined control Of two capital com
panies, gave also greater power to
prevent the future construction Of 9th
0I lAuC0S 0nu W l1tAsAS knO SOs4SA VI w VI 4
teiegraphic communication between
the two continents to those possessing
the lines already laid. Within few
months cable has beep laid, known
as the United States Direct Cable, con-
Meeting the United States directly
with Great Britain. As soon as this
cable was reported to be in working
order the rates Of the existing Consel.
idated company were greatly reduced.
Soon, however, break was annOunc-
the ether line which had been reduced
were again raised. This cable being
now repaired tho rates appear not to
have been reduced by either line from
| those formerly charged by the other
| company. There is reason to believe
! that large amounts OF capital, both al
home aud abroad, arc ready to seek
| profitable investment In the vance
ment of this useful and most civilizing
means Of intercourse aud csrrespond-
snce. They await, however, tho as
surance Of the means and condition.
on which they may safely be made
tributary to the general good. Al
these cable telegraph lines connect
separate states, there are questions "a
4 W tu0AT 8ulLAtiVu anu COattSl w AtOh
eau probably be best if net solely set
tied by conventions between the re
spective states. In the absence, how
ever, Of international conventions OF
the subject, municipal Legislation maj
secure many points which appear IN
dispensible tor the protection Of tn,
public against the extortions whicl
may result from monopoly of tn
right OF operating cable teleyrams. o
from a combination between severa
lines. ........ -aeis.a
First-No line should be allowed t
land on the shores of the UnitedState
under the concession from anOthe
} power which does not admit the righ
!, Of any other line or lines Termed i
J the United States to land and freel
!. connect with aud operate throug
land lines. it @ s5 boss fslodt
i Second-No line should be allowe
} to land on the shores Of the Unite
} States which is not by treaty stipnls
| ton with the government from who's
!, shoress.it proceeds, or by prohibitie
: in it's character, Or otherwise, to th
satisfaction of this government, pre-
t hibited from consolidating or anna
> gamating with any other cable tele
; graph line, or combining Herewith &
3 the purpose Of regulating and nail
tanning the cost of telexraphice con
r munication. $50.
+ Third-AH lines should be bound
! give precedence in the transmission I
: the messages of the governments 4
: she two countries between which e
, may be laid. .f.-.
h Four,h--A power should be reser'
: ed by the governments, either col
: Jointly Or to each. AS regards the me
! s1ges and dispatches from its shor'
and to fix limit 10 the charges to
e maintained for the transmission
u such messages. --.s>..
Il present this subject to the earne
d consideration of Congress. In Il
10 meantime and unless Congress othe
= wise directs, shall not oppose Il
}. landing of any telepraphio cable whit
|. oop,>lioo xy x \ on,3 q nf a the rei ~