Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-02-17
AMERICAN rnXss.rAc,rrc CABLE
An Expert weighs the Pros aud Cou. itc.
EsrdinE Establishing Communication.

New York. Feb. i5.--Jamcs A. scym-
ser. president Of the Pacific cable Co..
Of New York. has returned 10 this city
from a trip OF several months duration
In the far east where he has been inycs-
tlgailng the possibilities ~ the con-
struction Of the American Trans-P nci-
fic cable. Mir. scymacr made some In.
tcrcating statements regarding the Pa
cific cable question and President Me.
Kinlcy's message to Congress on the
subject.
The Presidents message set forth the
urgency OF having direct communiCA.
ton with the far east and particular
with the American possessions thcrc.
lie suggested the construction and
maintenance OF a cable line by either
the government or an American cor.
poration-if By the latter. under such
safeguards ar Congress might impose"
any recommendation to Congress aa
to which OF these methods In most de-
| nirnblc."
MIR. Scymner nnid: II have observed
| that third suggestion has been made.
that thcrc be combination govern
mcnt and corporation line between the
United States and tho PHILIPPINES,
by the American Hawaiian commits
nioncfr. namely United States gov.
eminent cable line TO Honolulu and an
American corporation cable TO tho
Philippines. Chinn. Japan and Austria
liza. This latter scheme would be case
81 putting private capital between the
devil ana the deep sea-"
Sir. ScymHer went on 20 explain how
the eastern cable company, an English
corporation. by reason OF vested rights.
would have a monopoly as far ~ tcle'
graphic cables are concerned of the on
tirc Aaiatic coast ana all the Pacific Is
lands now owned by Spain or formerly
under the Jurisdiction OF that countr,
until the year 1870, He was OF the opin'
ion that no American cable company,
or the United States government could
| obtain landing rights In the l.adroner,
Philippines. az iiongkonE. or at any
point on the Asiatic coast without OBJ
tanning the consent OF the Eastern Tel
egraph company.
with reference to the action OF the
secretary OF state In dinapproving on
December .9,h last the rights granted
| prlor to annexation by the Hawaiian
government TO the Pacific Gable com.
| pany, which authorized the company
10 lay cables from Honolulu eastward.
| Mr. Scymser said!
at would have afforded a WORKING
rights founded on reciprocity. In the
nature OF Of things II In clear that the
| Eastern Tclcgraph company does not
want any Pacific cable established and
| IL will not consent TO and impairment
| ~ It's rights unless fully compensated
| IN manner that VIII safeguard Its
| existing interests.
''I'he Pacific Gable company II
strongly OF the opinion that II II can
| secure the necessary concessions from
| the United States government II can IN
ducc the Eastern Telegraph company TO
| consider "A fair business proposition.
| especially when the British company
sees that II will be to Its future advan-
tage,"
Iii. soymsor was of the opinion that
should the United States undertake TO
establish IA government cable serious
| international complications would arise.
| II Is doubtful. he said, II China. Japan.
| or Australia would permit the United
/ States government to operate a cable
within It's Jurisdiction. The great cost
10 the government Of constructing ana
operating such q cable. he added. would
| make II highly impracticable,
"'rhe political situation In the east"
| said Mr.. Scymacr, "ia exceeding pre-.
| cariOus, No one knows what may hap
| pom there at any moment, Connections
| with the Philippines may he cut on
| without notice al any time The Japan
Csc realize too that war between
| China and Russia would issolnte them
| from tho rest OF the world. and they are
| anxious that the United States gov
| eminent should act promptly
"fhe Pacific Cable company has had
| n bill before the Congress for some time
asking for cable concessions In the
| Pacific"