The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-08

the shores OF the u nlted states and 81
the same time deny to the United Sta,es
or to its citizens an equal right to land
cable on its shores. The right to control
the conditions for laying Of cable within
the jurisdiction Of the waters OF
the United States to connect our
shores with these or any foreign
state pertains ex ,luslvely to the govern
ment OF the United States under such
limitations and conditions as Congress
may impose. 10 the absence of legisla'
tion by Congress was unwilling, on the
one nsnd, to grant to q foreign state the
right to say that its grantees might land
on our shores, while it denied similar
right to our people to land on its shores,
and. on the other hand, l was reluctant to
deny to the great interests of the world
and civilization, the facilities of such COM
munlcatlOn as were pro posed. | there
fore withheld any resistance to the land
ing of any cable on condition that the
offensive monopoly feature of concession
be abandoned and that the right of any
cable which may be established by au-
thorltv OF this government to land upon
the French territory and to connect With
French land lines to enjoy all the necessa
~ facilities or privileges incident to the
other company be conceded. As the
result thereof the company in question
renowned the exclusive privilege and the
representative of France was informed
that understanding this REIMBURSEMENT to
be construed as granting the entire
reciprocity and equal fsci Iities which had
been demanded the opposition to the
landing of the cable was Withdrawn. The
cable under this French concession was
landed in the month of July, 1869, and
has been an eff ,ient and valuabls agent
OF communication between this country
and the continent. 1t soon passed under
the control, however, of those who had
the management OF the cable connecting
Great Britain with this continent and
thus whatever benefit to the public might
have ensued from the cOmpetitiou be-
tweoa the two lines was lost, having the
greater facilities OF an additional security
in case of accident to one Of them. But
these increased facilities aud this add
tionai security, together with the control
of combined capital of the two companies
gave also greater power to prevent the
future conclusion OF other lines and to
limit the control of telegraph communica-
tions between the two continents to these
possessing lines already laid. Within a
few onths past cable has been laid,
known as the United States Direct Cable
Company, connecting Us directly with
Great Britain. As soon as this cable was
reported to be in working order the rate,
AE ha Nkn1 nnHaol;Iotn1
MES we're greatly reduced. Soon, how
ever, break was announced IN this new
cable and Immediately the rates of tn,
other line, which had been reduced, wer,
again lied. This cable being now re
pairsi the rates appear not to be reduced
by either line from those formerly charge,
by the other company There is reason
to le,iGye that large amounts OF capital
both at home aud abroad, are ready t
seek Profitable investment 10 the advance
ment Of the useful and most civilizln
means OF intercourse and correspondence
They await, however, the assurance Q
the means and conditions on which the
may safely be made tributary to the ger
eral good. As these cable telegraph line
connect separate states there are ques
TOPS as to their organization and contr(
which probably can be best if not solel
settled by conventions between tn
respective states. 10 the absenc
however, of International conventions 0
the subject, municipal legislation may 81
cure many points which appear to n
important, If not indispensable. for tt
prot ction of the public against the e!
tortloas which may result from mono
oily of the right Of operating cable-gram
or from co ubInation between sever
lines
/. No line shall be allowed to land c
the shores Of the United States under Il
concession from another power, whiC
does not admit the right of any 9th
line or lines formed 10 the United Stat
to lsni an freely connect with and ope
ate hrough land lines.
2 No line shall be allowed to land
the shores of the United States which
not by treaty stipulation with the COVER
ment from whose shores it proceeds,
by provision in its charter, or otherwl'
TO the satisfaction of this goveTnmeI
prohibited from consolidating or annals
mating with any other cable telegra
line, or cOmbiniBg Herewith for the p'
pose of regulating and maintaining t
charges Of Geographic communication.
8 All lines shall be bound to give .
cedence 10 the Transmission OF the othc
messages Of the governments or the t
countries between which it may be laid
A A power shall be reserved to
two governments, eli her copjolntly or
each, as regards the messages dispatch
from its shores, to Tx limit to
charges to be maintained for the ira
mission Of messages,
present this subject to the earn
consideration Of Congress. In the me
time, aud unless Congress otherwise
reefs, shall not oppose the landing
any telegraphio cable which comp
with and assents to the points 40
enumerated, but will feel it my d
to prevent the landing of any which d
not eonir to the first aud second POI
as stated, aud which will not stlpuIatt
cOucede to this government the pre-,
ence IN the transmission OF its off
messages and will not enter into 50
factory arrangement in regard to
charges.
NATURALIZATION AND EXPATRIATI
Among the pressing and important c
iect, to which in my opinion the atten
of NonurasS shnuld he directed are ri