The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-10
Cannot Charge Over One Dollar n
Word for Messages to and from
the Orient and San Francisco.
FIFTY CENTS TO HONOLULU
THE LIMIT FIXED IN THE AGREE
MENT WITH THE PRESIDENT.
OmciaI Announcement of the Condi-
tfons Imposed on the Company by
President Roosevelt.


prove OF the plan TO lay a submarine cable
In the Pacific to connect the United States
with its Pacific Oriental possessions. The
subjoined memorandum clearly states the
position of the President To the condi-
tions which he has formulated the Pacific
Commercial Cable Company or any other
similar organization must accede before
President Roosevelt will stamp the pro-
jet with his approval. The memorandum is
not a contract. 1t simply defines a situa-
ton in which the President will consent to
the laying of the cable.
It is quite likely that an act of Con-
gress ratifying the conditions imposed
will be necessary. but that is another story.
Thus far the only proposition of a respon-
sible and definite character that has been
made TO the government to lay Pacific
cable has come from the Pacific CONNER
ciaI Cable Company. That this proposition
made by Thomas +. Clark on behalf of the
company was not born entirely of phil
anthropic desire TO aid the government is
pretty clearly indicated by the following
latter OF Attorney General Knox to the
President dated Marlborough House, At
lantic City, ~. J., Aug. 3:
THE PRESIDENT herewith return, per
your direction, letter of Thomas +. Clark,
dated July %, addressed to the secretary of
state and by him transmitted to you and
by you TO me with direction that answer be
furnished you. The answer TO this letter is
that the interests of the government, in
respect 10 the matters referred to therein,
have been carefully considered and safe
guarded I inclose for your information
copy or the conditions upon which you
were willing to consent to the laying of the
Pacific cable. Mr.. Clarks letter seems pre-
dictated upon the theory that the govern
ment did not understand the full situation.
You will observe that the conditions you
have approved go much further than Mr.:
Clarks suggestion, for the protection of
the interests Of the United States and the
commercial interests Of its people as WELL"
THE CONDITIONS.
The memorandum of the conditions i'm
posed by the executive was as follows:
THE President having duly considered
said application herewith consents that the
company may lay, construct land, main
tain and operate Geographic lines of cables
on the Pacific coast of the United States
and the various territorial waters of the
United States 10 connect the city of San
Francisco. Cal, the city of Honolulu,
Island OF Oahu, Hawaiian islands, and by
way OF the Midway islands and the Island
or Guam. the Island of LuZon, Philippine
Islands. and a point on the coast of the en-
piTe of China not yet determined. 1t is
conditioned TO the granting or consent that
the company is to file its written accept
ance OF the terms and conditions on which
consent is given, TO wit:
''F'irst-That the company has not
ceived any exclusive concession or privilege
and is not combined or associated with any
or privilege, such as would exclude any
other company or concern formed in the
United States of America from obtaining
the privilege of landing its cable or cables
on the coast Of China or connecting them
with other cable lines or inland lines of
China. and said company its successor or
assigns will not receive or become asso-
ciated with a concern having any such ex
elusive concession or privilege. The said
company has not combined or associated
itself with any other cable or telegraph
company or concern for the purpose of
regulating rates between points in Ameri-
can territory or between them and any
point in China. Japan other Oriental
places
MUST BE ALL-AMERICAN.
''Second-That the company's cable shall
touch at no other than American territory
on the way from the United States to the
Chinese empire. The line from the Philip
pines 10 China shall be constructed by said
company and operated independently of all
foreign companies or concerns.
'sThird-That the rates TO be charged for
commercial messages shall be reasonable
and in no case in excess OF the tariff set
forth in congressional report No. 56S.
House of Representatives, Fifty-seventh
Congress, first session, signed by George G..
Ward, vice president of the Commercial
Pacific Cable Company and attested by
Albert Beck, secretary, with propOrtionate
rates for intermediate points.
"Fourth-That the government of the
l.,
its officers. agents and insular territorial
governments the route of such cable
shall have priority for their cablegrams,
or cablegrams TO them, over all other bust
at such rates 5 the postmaster gen.
eral Shalls annually fix.
"Fifth-That the United States shall at all
times have the right to purchase the cable
lines. property and effects of the said COM
pany at an appraised value to be ascer-
tanned by disinterested persons. two to be
selected by the postmaster general, two by
the company or concern interested and the
fifth by the persons previously selected
"Sixth-That the government of The
United States shall have authority to as
sumo full control of the said cable when
at war or when war is threatened.
''Seventh-That all contracts entered into
by the said company with foreign govern
ments for the transmission Of messages by
the said cable shall be null and void when
the United States is engaged in war.
MAY CUT THE CABLE.
''Eighth-That the United States shall
have authority TO sever at discretion all
branches which may be constructed by the
main cable line during war or threatened
war.
''Ninth-That the operators and employees
of said company above the grade of Ia
borer) after said cable shall have been
laid shall be exclusively American citi-
Eens.
''Tenth-The citizens Of the United States
shall stand on an equal footing as regards
the transmission or messages over said
company's lines with concessions OF sub
5ects OF any other country with which
such cable may connect.
''Eleventh-That the company shall agree
to maintain an effective speed OF transmits
sion over the main cable route from Cali
fornia 10 Luzon of not less than twenty
five words per minute.
''Twelfth-That the cable laid shall be
of the best manufacture.
''Thirteenth-That ample repair service
for said cable shall be maintained.
"Fourteenth-That the line shall be kept
open for daily business. and all messages
I'm the order OF priority heretofore pro-
vided for be transmitted according 10 the
time of receipt.
''F-ffteenth-That no liability shall be as
sumed by the government OF the United
States by virtue of any control or censor
chip which IL may exercise said line
in the event OF war or civil disturbance
''Sixteenth-By the grant of this permits
sion the United States government does
not insure indemnify said Commercial
! Pacific Cable Company against any land
ing rights claimed 20 exist in favor of any
| company or companies in respect to any
Of the insular possessions of the United
States.
| Observation-Disclosures the consent hereb y
granted shall be subject to any future &C.
| ton by Congress or by the President az
| IN part. the said conditions and terms on
which this consent is given. The acceptance