The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-02
and orderly powers to insist on the propel
policing Of the world.
THE PACIFIC CABLE

u 4 Z rE "a !. Is = Il s
During the fall Of 1901 a communica-
ton was address to the secretary of state,
asking whether permission would be
granted by the president to a corporation
to lay cable from point on the Califor-
MIA coast to the Philippine Islands by way
of Hawaii. A statement Of conditions or
terms upon which such corporation would
undertake to lay and operate cable was
volunteered.
Inasmuch as the congress was shortly
to convene, and the Pacific cable legisla-
ton had been the subject of consideration
by; the congress for several years, it
seemed to me- wise to. defer action upon
the application until the congress had
first an opportunity to act. The congress
adjourned without taking any action,
leaving the matter in exactly the same
condition in which it stood when the
congress convened. ~
= Meanwhile it appears that the Com
nercial Pacific Cable company had
promptly proceeded with preparations for
laying its cable. It also made application
ito the president for access to and use. OF
ssoundings taken by the u. S. Steamship
Nero. for the purpose of discovering a
practical route for trans Pacific cable,
the company urging that with access to
these soundings it could complete its
cable much sooner than if it were re-
quired to take soundings upon its own
subject, it appeared important and desir
able to attach certain conditions to the
permission to examine and use the sound
ings, If it should be granted. >
THE. CONDITIONS. IMPOSED.
In consequence of this solicitation Of the
cable company, certain conditions were
formulated, upon which the president was
willing to allow access to these sound
ings and to consent to- the landing and
laying Of the cable subject to any alter
ations or additions thereto imposed by the
congress. This was deemed proper, es--
pecially as it was clear that a cable con-
nection Of some Kind with; China, a for
etgn country, was at, part Of the COM
pany's plan. This course was, moreover,
In accordance: with 8 line. of presidents,
including President Grants action in the
case of the first French cable, explained
to the congress In his annual message of
December, 1875 and ins;the instance oc-
curing In 1879 Of the second French cable
from Breststofs st. Pierre,,With a branch
to Cape Cod. sS ff%.t35{g2 i.
=" These conditions prescribed, among
other things, a maximum rate for com
mercial messages and that the company
should construct q line from, the Philip
pine Islands to. China, there being at
present, as Is well known, a British line
from Manila to Hongkong. "
The representatives Of the cable COM
pany kept these conditions long under
consideration, continuing, in the mean
time, to prepare for laying the cable. They
have, however at length acceded to them,
and an all-American line between our Pa
cif1c coast and the Chinese empire, by
way Of Honolulu and the Philippine
islands. is thus provided for, and is ex-
pected within a few months to be ready
for business. s ~; {ssszs#a# r.:
Among. the conditions Is one reserving
<1,o ~ III to
repeal any or all Of them: A copy of the
conditions is. herewith Transmitted.