Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-07-03
A CABINET MEETING.
Preparations Made to Carry Out
the Isthmian Canal Law.
PROPOSITION FOR 4 PACIFIC CABLE.


Washington, July 2.-The cabinet
was engaged yesterday at the sug-
gsstion Of Secretary Hay in the prep
aration Of measures to carry out the
terms Of the isthmian canal law. The
government must determine the suf-
Aciency of the title that can be con-
veyed to the United States by the
Panama Canal company; treaty
must be negotiated with Colombia
comforting the necessary rights, and
. technical commission must DO ap-
pointed to carry on the actual work
Of construction. II was decided to
refer the matter Of title to the at
tcrney general, 1t being purely o le-
gal question, and recourse may DO
had by the latter to the French
courts to secure from some high
tribunal a satisfactory affirmation Of
the sufficiency Of title, as the inter-
ests involved are too great to base
the title upon the mere opinion Of an
individual lawyer, either French or
American. The attorney general
may attempt, however, to secure
from the French government, direct
ly through the chamber Of deputies,
in all probability, some legislative
declaration which shall have the
force Of law and etfectually affirm the
legality Of the acquisition Of the CO.
nal property by the United States.
There Is some reason to believe that
while no formal assurances have
passed the French government has
managed to let it be known to the
president that it is willing to do
everything that is necessary to quiet
this question Of title.
Proposition for Pacific Cable.
Washington, July 2.-Secretary
Moody yesterday laid before the
cabinet the proposition Of the Com
meroial Pacific Cable company to
hasten the construction Of their cable
across the Pacific and Offering impor-
tant advantages to the government
in return for the use Of the surveys
made by the United States steamship
Nero for a cable route connecting
San Francisco, Honolulu, Midway is'
land, Guam and Manila. The officials
of the company state that they are
asking these plans solely in the nsms
Of their own company, and that nc
other cable company, domestic OF
foreign, has joined in the applica
ton. The navy department is eur
nestly DESTROYS, for military reasons
that the cable shall be laid as soon al
possible, but certain safeguards arr
desired and these formed the basis o.
discussion before the cabinet yes
terday. 1t is regarded as essentia
that the route shall be all American
a point which will be secured by tn
use of the Midway island as rela,
station and a provision to avoi
touching on foreign soil between tn
terminals. Another point was tina
the United States government shout
have preferential in rates and tim
of Transmission for its messages AM
q have the sole right, in its discretion
to use the cable in time of war. Tn
subject was regarded as too impor
tant for an immediate decision and
, is probable that before the company
application is finally acted on 1t vii
be referred to the attorney genera
The Names Of Battleship.
i Washington, July AIT Secretar
e Moody's suggestion the cabinet yes
terday adopted names for the 81
new ships of war authorized by tn
s naval appropriation bill. The fou
n larger ships, two battleships and tw
armored cruisers, will be name
. Louisiana, Connecticut, Tennessee
= and Washington, but II is not yet SCI
|. tied which states shall be chosen TO
the battleships and vice versa. III
=. two gunboats provided for in the az
10 will be named the Paducah and tn
Dubuque.