New-York tribune., 1902-08-10
NOTA MONOPOLY FRANCHISE
PRESIDENT GAVE HIS CONSENT TO
ONLY BONA FIDE OFFER FOR
PACIFIC CABLE
PACIFIC CABLE.
rpY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. J

Oyster Bay, Aug. s.-The conditions under which
the President has consented to grant to the Com
mercial Cable Company authority TO lay cable
across the Pacific Ocean is by no means monopo-
stic franchise. He gave his consent. as stated
by Attorney General Knox. in response to the only
bona fde offer that had been made for building
Pacific cable. Under the provisions prepared by
the Attorney General. which a revision and
modification of the application made by the Mackay-
Bennett people, any private concern might have
obtained the authority which has been
granted them, practically in tie shape of
ter proposal, which doubtless has proven entirely
agreeable to the Commercial Pacific Gable Com
pany.
The reopening Of the question OF the Presidents
prerogativc authorize cable to be laid is
garded here as wholly unnecessary. 1t is under
stood that when asked specifically if the power to
grant this permission rested within executive
prerogatives the President answered that his posi-
tion was not court Of justice.
At the same time it was in regard to this point
largely that the cable project was held In abey
ance fol 50 long time.
The decisions reached by the President, stated
IN The Tribune yesterday, were largely the
suit of the work of Attorney General Knox, who
had been carefully Investigating the subject If
much doubt had existed about the power of the
Executive to authorize the Commercial Pacific
Cable Company begin work under the condl-
tions published II IS declared here that such in
formation should have been sent to the promoters
of the project instead Of granting them provisional
authority to go ahead with the work It Is officially
explained to up any confusion that matter
under what conditions the Commercial Pasifc
Company begins it's abor It must have the sanction
of Congress at time in the future.
The Mackay- Bennett people have simply received
an authoritative order, officially submitted as a re-
ply the first bona fde proposal made to the gov
ernment that could have been obtained under simi-
lar circumstances by any other concern.
Several provisions for the laying of the cable were
given in The Tribune yesterday, Among others
the following:
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 Philippines to China shall be constructed
by said company and operated independently of all
foreign companies or concerns
That the rates TO be charged for commercial
messages shall be reasonable, and In case in
excess of the tariff set forth in Congress report
No 56s, House of Representatives. LvIIth Congress
president of the Commercial Pacific Cable Com
pany and attested by Albert Beck: secretary
That the government of the United States any
department thereof its officers, agents and insular
or territorial governments upon the route of such
| cable, shall have priority for their cablegrams.
cabIegrams to them over al other business. at
That the government Of the United States shall
| cable when at or when war is threatened
! That all contracts entered into by the said
| panv with foreign governments for the transmits
sion of messages by the said cable shall be null
void when the United States is engaged in war
sever discretion all branches which may be con-
nected with the main capie line aforesaid during
! That the operators and employees of said com
pany (above the grade or iaborerl after said cable
shall have laid, shall be exclusively American
! citizens
troll or censorship which II may exercise over said
Line in the event IT q his tbe ned States
Government does not insure or indemnify said Com