Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1902-08-15
FOR 4 PACIFIC CABLE
AN AGREEMENT IS REACHED.
VIII be American Owned and Operated
All Terms Are Agreed Upon
Roosevelt and Knox Give Assent and
Expect Work to Commence Soon.

Oyster Bay, Aug. 11.-Terms upon
which the desired concessions will be
granted for the laying of a cable
across the Pacific to the Philippines
were discussed at length between the
president and Attorney General Knox
recently.
Several months ago the Pacific
mercial Cable company sought permits
sion from the executive branch of the
government to lay a Pacific cable
running from San Francisco via Homo
lulu and Guam to China, there to con-
meet with British cable to the Philip
pines. The proposition of the COM
pany was to assume all expense of op-
Grating the cable. For the concessions
of the ladings at San Francisco, Homo
lulu and Guam the company proposed
to grant to the United States govern
ment special rates and in certain con-
ditions of war practically absolute con-
troll of the cable. The conditions, as
presented by the company to the presi-
dent. were naturally such as any cor
poration might make. They had been
drawn for the company's interests. Mr..
Roosevelt referred the whole subject
to Attorney General Knox with re-
quest that he go carefully over the
proposed conditions, eliminating such
as he might regard as impracticable
and adding such others as he might
believe would subserve the interests
OF the government. The results of his
investigation and his conclusions Mr. |
Knox presented to Mr.. Roosevelt in |
verbal form, the papers in the matter
having been laid before the president. |
Mr.. Roosevelt approved of the amend |
ed conditions and SO far as the exc |
cutive branch of the government is |
concerned the company now may pro-
coed with the work of laying the
cable.
It is regarded as essential, however,
that the conditions be ratified by act
OF congress, as some doubt exists
whether the executive branch of the
government alone can grant such privi-
leges as are included in the Pacific
Commercial Cable company's PROPOSE
ton.
The conditions as approved by Mr..
Roosevelt are regarded as particularly
favorable to the government, and it is
believed that, with the cordial indorse-
ment which he will give in his mes
sage in December, congress will ratify
the conditions without serious delay.
Attorney General Knox added sew
eral important conditions to those pro-
posed by the company, including
these:
That the United States government
at all times shall have priority of SER
vice; that the government, through the
postmaster 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 govern
ment shall have the right absolutely to
control the cable; that in order to pro- :
tect not only the government, but also
individual private customers Of the
company, the Pacific Commercial
Cable company is required to lay a /,
distinct line of cable from China to
Manila, so that it will not be neces-
sary to depend upon the British com !.
l.
cable from Hong Kong to Manila; :
and, finally, that the United States
at any time after the completion of :
the line may purchase the line at an
appraised valuation to be fixed by ar !,
bitrators selected in the usual manner
by the two parties to the transaction.
BY those who have studied the sub
Ject 1t Is believed that a cable laid
under the conditions proposed will be.
to all intents and purposes, a govern =
ment cable line with few If any of the :
attendant upon govern =
ment construction and maintenance.
Under the United States treaty with =
China, the Chinese government has !.
granted to a British company the right :
TO Its domain, and will be obliged to =
grant to the Pacific Commercial Cable :,
company. an American corporation, =
he same right. This will enable the :.
company not only to land its San Fran =,
'isco line in China, but also will ena- =,
lie 1t to obtain q Chinese terminus
or its line to Manila.
In the laying of its cable lines the
company has been accorded the right
o use the United States government q,
oundings. .
Attorney General Knox is inclined to =,
he opinion that tie company will i'm -
nediately proceed to construct its IN
ines. Considerable time will be re- =
uired for the preliminary arrange =,
nents before the actual laying of the II
able begins, but it is regarded now as =.
ertain that an American owned and ~
'perated cable line to the Orient is in -
light. 70
Troops VIII Remain.