Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-10-04
CABINET HAS CABLE OFFER.
The Pacific Proposal May Have Hid.

Washington, D. c.. Oct. 3.-Whether
or not the proposition Of the newly
formed Pacific Gable Company is meant
in good faith is problem before the
cabinet.
The same men who compose the new
company also own the company which
has been barred out of Cuba by the
government decision that certain con-
tracts made by Spain must be carried
out by the United States.
A similar state Of affairs exists at
Manila, and ruling voiding the "ex-
elusive rights" agreement between
Spain and the company now reaching
the islands would establish an Inn
portant precedent, sufficient to open
a way into Cuba and give q chance
at the large business there.
Practically all OF the time of the cab.
met meeting Tuesday was devoted to q
discussion Of the Pacific cable question
President Roosevelt is anxious to see a
transpacifics cable touching at Honolulu
Guam, and Manila. Surveys were made
some time ago by the United States and
a feasible route developed for the entire
distance. Private companies We're slow
to take up the matter because the dis
lance to be covered In the Pacific
seemed to render the cable too expen-
slye to Justify its being considered as
commercial proposition. 1t seemed
therefore that the United States would
be compelled to build the cable itself as
a military necessity.
The only cable to the Philippines now
is in British hands, while Hawaii has no
communication at all by wire with the
government here in Washington.
One OF the first things which cons
fronted President Roosevelt Tuesday
was the proposition from John w. Mac
kay. president of the Commercial Gable
Company, to build line without gov
eminent aid, from San Francisco 20 Ma
Mia. He made application merely for
the privilege Of landing in Hawaii,
Guam. and the Philippines.
T As the proposition was first submitted
to the government 1t looked like an ex-
tremely simple one. which would be acc
cepted with profound thanks. During
the discussion before the cabinet, how
ever, 1t developed that there was come
thing more behind the proposition than
was at first apparent. The cable CONF
pany which now reaches Manila built
its line there only when the Spanish
gave 1t contract for the
exclusive rights for a submarine cable
for period OF forty years. Mr.. Mackay
and his associates take the ground that
this concession on the part Of the Span
ish government was rendered void by
the war which destroyed the sovereign
t. OF Spain in the islands and transfer
red the control to the United States.
= The treaty Of peace between Spain
and the United Staten however, binds
this country to respect all existing con-
tracts in the country coded by Spain.
Much the same case came UP in Cuba,
and 1t IL still pending there, with the
result that the Mackay Cable Company
has been refused entry into Cuba
The sentiment OF the cabinet in favor
Of building Pacific cable was. of
course, unanimous. The legal questions
however, were deemed to be so
serious that Attorney General Knox wae
to go into the question thor
cuehly and render an opinion first as to
whether an exclusive right to land q
cable for a period OF years 10 q vested
right with which the United States could
not interfere. and, secondly, IL such a
should appear to be in the
nature Of a contract regarding another
company, whether II would
operate to prevent the build
ing by the government Of q cable line.
This question may not be decided for
some time, because much will depend
Upon the exact language OF the grant to
the existing cable company. President
Roosevelt is fully alive to the great Me-
cessity for such cable and probably
will refer to it in his message to con.
press.