Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-08-09
PACIFIC GABLE PLANNED
President Approves the Applica-
ton, But Insists on Certain
Conditions.
Government is Given Many
Fayors and Will Practically
Control.
Will Extend to Honolulu, Hong
Kong and Manila-Work to
Begin Soon.

oyster Bay, N. Y. Aug. 9.-At a con-
ference between President Roosevelt
and Attorney General Knox yesterday
afternoon the conditions under which
the Commercial Cable Company may
lay its Pacific cable to the Philippines
were agreed upon. AS decided the con-
ditions practically give the government
control of the cable.
Several months ago the Pacific Com
mercial Gable Company sought per-
mission from the government to lay
cisco via Honolulu and Guam, to chi
ma there to connect with the Britlsh
cable to the Philippines. The PROPOSE
ton of the company was to assume all
expense of laying and operating the
cable. For the concessions of landing
at San Francisco. Honolulu, and Guam
the company proposed to grant to the
United States government special
rates and, and in certain conditions OF
war, practically absolute control OF the
cable.
MIR. Roosevelt referred the Whole
subject to Attorney General Knox with
a request that he go carefully over the
proposed conditions, eliminating such
as he might regard as impracticable
and adding such others as he might be-
iieve should subserve the interests OF
the government. The results of his in
vestigation and his conclusions Mr..
Knox presented President Roosevelt in
verbal form, the papers in the matter
previously having been laid before the
president.
President Roosevelt approved of the
amended conditions, and so far as the
executive branch of the government is
concerned the company may now pro-
coed with the work of laying the cable.
Ii is regarded as essential, however,
that the conditions be ratified by act
OF congress.
The conditions as approved by Mr..
Roosevelt are regarded as particularly
favorable TO the government, and 1T is
believed that, with the cordial endorse
ment of the president. which he will
give the proposition in his message next
December, congress will ratify the con-
ditions without serious delay.
Attorney General Knox added several
important conditions to those proposed
by the company, including these:
That the United States government
at all times shall have priority of serv-
ice.
That the government, thru the post
master general, as is customary in
such contracts, shall have the right to
| fix the rates to be charged by the COM
pany.
That in time of war the government
shall have the right absolutely to con-
troll the cable.
That in order to protect not only the
government, but also individual private
customers of the company, the Pacific
Commercial Gable Company is required
to lay distinct line of cable from Chi
ma to Manila so that it will not-oe nee
essary to depend upon the British COM
pany, which now controls the only cable
from Hong Kong to Manila.
And, finally, that the United States,
at any time after the completion of We
cable, may purchase the line at an APP
praised valuation to be fixed by arbi-
traitors selected in the usual manner by
| the two parties to the transaction.
| Under the United States treaty with
China the Chinese government, having
granted to a British company the right
| to maintain and operate a cable line
within it's domain. will be obliged to
grant to the Pacific Commercial Cable
Company. an American corporation, the
| same rights.
! Attorney General Knox is inclined to
the opinion that the company will pro-
/ coed Immediately to construct its line.
Considerable time will be required for
the preliminary arrangements before
/ the actual laying of the cable begins.