Ellsworth American., 1875-12-16

| cation OF such means of communication he.
tween separated continents. | was desr.
ous that the proposed connection should be
I madc. But certain provisions OF shis con
cession were deemed by me to be objection
able. particularly the one which gave for a
long term of years the exclusive right ol
telegraphc communication BY submarine
cable between the shores OF France aud
the United States.
| could not contedc tha: any power
should claim the right to land a cable ON
the shores OF the United States. aud at the
same time deny TO the United States, or to
its citizens, or the grantors an equal right
To land cable on its shores. The right to
control the conditions of the iayiny of a
cable within the jurisdctorial waters OF the
United States to connect our shores with
those OF any foreign state pertains exclus-
lively TO the government of the United
States, under such limta tions and condi-
tons as Congress. may impose. In the alb
sence of legislation by Congress, | was un.
williag on the one hand TO yield to a foreign
state the right to say that its grantees might
land on our shores while II denied a similar
right To our people 10 land GU IL, shores
and on the other hand | was reluctant Ia
deny the great interests Of the world and
of civilization the facilities of such commit.
ncations as were proposed. | therefore
withheld any resistance to the landing OF
any cable on condition tha. the offensive
monopoly feature of the concession be
abandoned aud that the right Of any cable
which may be established by authority of
this government TO land upon French terri
tory aud TO connect with French land lines
aud every necessary facilities or privileges
Incident 10 the use thereof upon n favora-
f.arf -
ed. As the result thereof the company in
question renounced the exclusive pi iivilegc,
aud representatives OF France were in
formed that Misunderstanding this rrlinqulsh-
ment To ho construed a, granting the en-
tire reciprocity aud equal facilities which
had been demanded, the opposition 10 the
landin. Of the cable was Withdrawn.
The cable under this French conccssl
was landed Ia the month OF July, 1863, and
has been an efficient and valuable agent OF
communication between this country and
other continents. 1t soon passed under the
control, however. OF those who had the
management of the cable connectin. Great
Britain with this continent Thus. what
ever benefit To- the public might have en-
sued from competition bctccn the TWO lines
was lost, leaving the greater facilities Of an
additional line and the additional security
in case Of accident 10 one or them. But
those Increased facilities and this addition
al security, together with the control OF the
combined capital OF the two companies
gave also greater power to prevent the fu-
turc cousi ruction OF other lines and To linn
it the control OF telegraphic communica-
ton between the two continents to those
possessing The lines already laid.
Within the past few months a new cable
has been laid. known a. the United States
Direct Cable, connecting the United States
directly With Great Britain. A. soon a
thi- cable wa, Trpurtcd To be- in working
urdrr the rates 81 th1tAcu * >tiug CONSOLE
dated company We're greatly reduced.
soon. however. 4 .rcIk wa announced tn
thi> uvN cable and immediately the rates
ct the other line. which had been reduced.
wstr again raised The cable being now
repaired the rates appear not 10 be rcduc-
eel ~ either luv from those formerly
rs the consolidated companies.
lhgrc i reason ~ believe ihIt large
4muuit, ,. capital. bath A Uomc ai,.
abr,ad, Alc ready - ecck pruHtabtr Invest
iRcuI in the advancement OF TIL, useful AID
most riviHling means OF Intercourse aud
They await. however.
the assurance OF the means and condition,
"u which they may safely be made tributa-
~ To the general good
CABLE LEGISLATION SUGGESTED.
4. these cable telegraph lines conucc,
,,.n.,r,r. s,at,.. rhrrr nrr questions a. 10
rh, II oryanization and control which prob
,r,ly r..tl be best II no. solely settled by
cnuv,,,i. ans h,.tyyrrn the rr.nectiyc states
In th,. absence. however. OF international
an the subject mupicipal lepI,-
iation may secure MANY point, which ap-
near IA M. importaut If not iudl.pcusablc
lar the nro,cciion OF the publfc against tn. \
.xtnrfinns which NAV result from Il ruonop-
DIV Of the right OF operating cable trlc-
,raph. or from 4 combination between sew
sr.i linz.
Fir>t. no line should be allowed 10 land
I'm H.. shore, Of the United state, under
rh,. concession. from another power which
doe. moi admit the right OF any other line
or line, formed IA The [ Glted States oIaud
and freely connect with and operate
through ltud lines.
o,rp,d no line should be allowed to
Iand III NV, shores or The United States
which II HUI gy treaty Stimulation NTH the
government from whose shores i prorrr.d>
ur hy pruhibuiuu Ia IL charter or other
.,r,,i,,j,,., ,r.,,,,. .,.n,,,,li,t,tj,,o ar ANAL
.amAtins with any other cable telegraph
lime. or coutraciin. Herewith Tor the pur-
pose uf regulating aud maintaining. the
ro,t OF tr!r.raphv.
Th.ld. All lines ,honld be bound 70 give
in the transmission Of the Of
fetal nc>,ag oi The government Of the
Two countries between which il may be
land.
Fourth. power should o. reserved 70
-Ae governments, either conjointiy or 10
rach. A. regard the message or dispatches
from its shores to fix limit To the charges
10 be demanded for the transmission "i
present thi, subject To the earnest con-
of Congress. la the meantime
and unless Congress otherwise directs.
shall not oppose the landing OF any tele-
graphic cable which complies with and as
,entS to the points above enumerated, but
viii feel it my duty to prevent the landing
Of any which does not co"lorm to the hrst
and second points as stated,and which Will
not stipulate to concede 10 his govern
ment the precedence III the Transmission OF
its official messages and will not enter into