The Saint Paul globe., 1902-02-02

Some weeks ago one Of the officers Of
the Western Union company made the
declaration that if the right sought by
Mr.. John a. Mackay to lay a cable
connecting the coast Of California with
Manila and China via the coast of Ha-
waii were granted a cable monopoly
would at once result. The Globe at
the time made the comment that it was
quite a new character which an officer of
the Western Union concern thus assum-
ed, of being the opponent of monopoly in
electrical communication.
The facts relating to the offer of Mr..
Mackay have been made more generally
known of late. That offer is in brief
that he be allowed to build a cable, with
out government aid and with the option
reserved to the government after its CON
struction to take control and ownership
of the same at a fair and agreed valua-
ton. The rates not to exceed 81 a word
to and from Manila and China, and
rate of 50 cents a word to and between
OollLO1 ND anu I1dWdl1 W ME tIlS rest
of the line is in process Of construction
from Hawaii to Manila, to be afterwards
reduced to 35 cents.
Objection is being made and every ef-
fort is being put forward, apparently
chiefly in the interest of the West
ern Union corporation to cause the gov
ernment to build the line itself Those
who are most urgent in the demand for
a government cable are chiefly those
who have heretofore sought a subsidy
and are now, having failed to secure
the subsidy, apparently profoundly i'm
pressed with the advantages OF govern
ment ownership.
No sound reason can now be stated
why the government should engage it
self at this time in the construction of
Pacific cable; and the proposal to con-
struct one by the aid of a government
subsidy is wholly obnoxious. 1t is un-
worthy of consideration in any event. The
principle Of government ownership Of
the facilities for cable communication
with the new territory in the East is
the correct one; but it is essentially met
by the proposal of Mr.. Mackay Should
the federal government find it necessary
to take over that line it can do so under
the terms prescribed by its protector. On
the score Of expediency few will say that
at this time the government should build
such a cable. From what the public be-
lieve to be the case with reference to
the Marconi wireless system it Is a con-
tingency worthy Of discussion that the
cable system of trans-marine cornmuni-
cation may be entirely supplanted before
many years.
All the arguments advanced thus far,
and all the considerations which suggest
themselves to the ordinary citizen In
connection with the Pacific cable favor
the undertaking Of Mr.. Mackay. The at
torney general has declared that the right
exists on the part Of Mr.. Mackay or any
body else to effect landing of his ca
bic without reference to the consent Of
the federal authorities The projectors OF
the Mackay cable say they do not want
any law. They are ready to go ahead
| and build, and will guarantee a maximum
charge of 81 word to individual and
government alike
1t was not until the project of Mr.
Mackay was advanced that any reduc-
ton could be had of existing cable rates.
Those rates were $2.35 a word. Two
months after the Incorporation of Mack
ay's company they were reduced to 81.
at which they are now maintained.
The best service which can be done