The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-09
HARD and FAST
President Roosevelt Ties Up
Commercial Cable Co.
Lays Down Terms on Which 1t
Can Cross the Pacific.
KEEPS RIGHT TO BUY.
Government Messages Have Pre-.
cedence Over All Others.
Speed of 25 Words a Minute
Must Be Maintained.

Oyster Bay, N Y, Aug. 9.-President
Roosevelt today made formal announce
ment that he had granted the applica-
tor of the Commercial Pacific Gable
company to land cable on the shores
of the United States, on the islands OF
Hawaii and Guam and in the PhiilD-
pines, and for access to certain souno-
ings and profiles in the possession or
the navy department. The text of the
memorandum on the subject which was
prepared by the department OF justice
and contains the conditions imposed by
the United States government was one
of the subjects considered yesterday by
the president and Attorney General
Knox. AS authorized by the president,
the memorandum is as follows:
1.-The president having duly consider
ed said application herewith consents
that the company may lay, construct.
land, maintain and operate Geographic
lines of cables on the Pacific coast OF
the United States and the various terri
torial waters of the United States, to
connect the city of San Francisco. Can.
and the city of Honolulu, the Island OF
Oahua, Hawaiian islands, and by the
way of Midway island and the Island of
Guam, the Island of Luzon, Philippine
islands, and a point on the coast of the
Empire of China not yet determined.
TT is conditional to the granting of
consent that the company was to file
it's written acceptance of the terms and
conditions on which consent is given.
to wit:
81 That the company has not receiv-
ed any exclusive concession or privilege
and is not combined or associated with
any company or concern having Sucn
concession or privilege, such as would
exclude any other company or concern
formed in the United States of America
from obtaining the privilege of landing
it's cable or cables on the coasts OF chi
II rs M
assigns, will not receive or become as
sociated with a concern having any
such exclusive concession or privileges
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 American territory or between
them and any point in China, Japan or
other oriental places.
So That the company'S cable shall
touch at no other than American terri
tory on the way from the United States
to the Chinese empire. The line from
the Philippines to China shall be con-
structed by said company and operated
independently of all foreign companies
or concerns
49, That the rates to be charged for
commercial messages shall be reason
able and in no case in excess of the
tariff set forth in congressional report
No. $685. house of representatives, Fifty
seventh congress, first session, signed
by George G. Ward, vice president of
the Commercial Pacific Gable company,
and attested by Albert Beck, secretary,
with prorortionate rates for interme-
date points
"a. That the government of the United
States or any department thereof, it's
torial governments, upon the route of
such cable, shall have priority for their
cablegramS or cablegrams to them,
over all other business at such rates as
ha a Sfar general shall annIallV
fix.
So That the United States shall at all
times have the right to purchase the
cable lines, property and effects of the
said company at an appraised value
to be ascertained by disinterested per-
sons, two to be selected by the post
master general, two by the company
or concern interested, and the fifth by
the four previously selected.
&c. That the government of the Unit
ed States shall have authority to as
sumo full control of the said cable when
at war or when war is threatened.
81. 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. =
49, That the United States shall have
authority to sever at discretion all
branches which may be connected with
the main cable line aforesaid during
war or threatened war.
SO. That the operators and employees
of said company (above the grade of
laborer) after said cable shall have been
laid, shall be exclusively American citi-
zens.
10 That the citizens of the United
States shall stand on an equal footing
as regards the transmission of mes
sages over said con panys lines with
citizens or subjects of any other coun-
try with which said cable may connect
I'll. That the company shall agree to
maintain an effective speed of trans
mission over the main cable route from
California to Luzon of not less than Is
words per minute.
'12. That the cable laid shall be of the
best manufacture.
"13 That ample repair service for
said cable shall be maintained.
IA. That the line shall be kept open
for daily business and all messages in
the order of priority heretofore provided
for be transmitted according to the
time of receipt.
"15. That no liability shall be as
sumed by the government of the United
States by virtue of any control CEN
sorship which it may exercise over said
line in the event of war or civil disturb
ance
'16. By the grant of this permission
| the United States government does not
insure or indemnify said Commercial
Pacific Cable company against any
| landing rights claimed to exist in favor
of any company or companies in re-
| spect to any of the insular possessions
of the United States
III. That the consent hereby granted
| shall be subject to any future action by
| congress, or by the president reaffirm-
| ing, revoking or modifying, wholly or
| in part, the said conditions and terms
| on which this consent is given. The ac-
| ceptance of the terms and conditions
| upon which this consent is given shall
be evidenced by a copy of resolution
by the board of directors of the cable
| company under the comDany's seal to
| be filed with the postmaster general OF
| the United States, upon the filing OF
| which full access shall be granted to
said company by the secretary of the
| navy to all soundings, profiles and other