The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-02-18
Serious International Compile atoms
Likely to Arise
Should the United States Undertake. to Es-
tahIish a Government Line.
Very Doubtful If China, Japan OF
Australia Would Permit This
Government to Operate a Cable
Within Their Jurisdiction.

Scrymser, President of the Pacific
Gable Company of New York, has re-
turned to this city from a trip of sew
eral months duration in the Far East,
where he has been investiga ting the
possibilities of the construction of an
American Transpacific Gable. Mr..
Scrymser made some interesting state
ments regarding the Pacific cable ques-
ton and President McKinley's message
to Congress on the subject
The Presidents message set forth the
urgency of having direct communica-
ton with the Far East and particu-
larly with the American possessions
there. He suggested the construction
and maintenance of a cable line, by
either the Government or an Ameri-
can corporation-if by the latter,
under such safeguards as Congress
might impose but he said, ri do not
mean to make any recommendations
to Congress as to which of these
methods would be the most desirable. :"
Mr.. Scrymser said: 81 have observed
that third suggestion has been made
that there be a combination Govern
ment and corporation line between the
United States and the Philippines,
which I understand has been favored
by the American Hawaiian Commits
sioners, namely, United States Gov
ernn ent cable line to Honolulu and an
American corporation cabla to the Phil
ippines, China, Japan and Australia.
This latter scheme would be a case Of
putting private capital between the
devil and the deep sea-
Mr.. Scrymser went on to explain how
the Eastern Gable Company. an English
corporation, by reason of vested rights,
would have a monopoly, as far as tele-
graphic cables are concerned, of the
entire Asiatic Coast and all Pacific ISL
ands now owned by Spain or formerly
under the Jurisdiction of that country
until the year 1910. He was of the
opinion that no American cable COM
pany or the United States Government
could obtain landing rights in the La
drones, Philippines. at Hongkong or at
any point on the Asiatic Coast without
obtaining the consent of the Eastern
Telegraph Company.
With reference to the action of the
Secretary of State in disappearing on
December Doth last the rights granted
prior to annexation by the Hawaiian
Government to the Pacific Gable Com
parry, which authorized the company
to lay cables from Honolulu eastward,
Mr.. Scrymser said:
1T would have afforded working
basis for an adjustment of landing
rights founded on reciprocity. In the
nature of things it is clear that the
Eastern Telegraph Company does not
want any Pacific cable established, and
il will not consent to any impairment
of its rights, unless fully compensated
in a manner that will safeguard its ex-
listing interests.
1.-THE Pacific Gable Company is
strongly of the opinion that if it can
secure the necessary concessions from
the United States Government it can
induce the Eastern Telegraph Com
pany to consider a fair business propo-
s:tion, especially when the British COM
pany sees that it will be to it's future
advantage"
Mr. Scrymser was of the opinion that
should the United States undertake to
establish Government cable, serious
International complications would arise.
1t is doubtful, he said. if China, Japan
or Australia would permit the United
States Government to operate cable
within its Jurisdiction. The great cost
to the Government of constructing and
operating such cable he added. would
make it highly impracticable.
THE political situation in the East, ;"
said Mr. Scrymser, lis exceedingly pre-
carious No one knows what may hap
pen there at any moment. Connection
with the Philippines may be cut off
without notice at any time. The Jap
anese realize, too. that war between
China and Russia would isolate them
from the rest of the world, and they are
anxious that the United States Gov
eernment should act promptly.
1.-The Pacific Gable Company has had
a bill before the Congress for some time
asking for cable concessions in the Pa
cific"