Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1902-08-16
FOR A PACIFIC CIBI
AN AGREEMENT IS REAcur,
VIII BE American Owned
"ted-All Terms Agreas
Roosevelt and Knox Havo
Assent and Work MAY n.
pected to Commence g. *

granted for the laying Of "Hi %
across the Pacific to the pbi,,nS Sa0s
were discussed at length betwaa ppiu us
president and Attorney Genera, 'u y 'ae
recently. hnoS
Several months ago Tho
mercial Cable company sought no aclac
sion from the executive branch - !,
government to lay Pacific ~ aa
running from San Francisco via LIZ LIZ
lulu and Guam to China. tharo =. ouo
meet with British cable to tho DIX, svU
pines. The proposition of tho oal
pany was to assume all expense ~ -
Grating the cable. For the concoss,a
OF the ladings at San Francisco Ho Hons
lulu and Guam the company nronoaas
10 grant to the United States povos.
ment special rates and in certain -.
dltlons OF war practically absolute ~
troll of the cable. The conditions =.
presented by the company to the nro.,
dent, were naturally such as anv ~,
poration might make. They had No.
drawn for the company's interests ".
Roosevelt referred the whole subioo,
to Attorney General Knox with q "a
quest that he go carefully over tbo
proposed conditions, ELIMINATING oroh
as he might regard as impracticabla
and adding such others as he mipbt
believe would subserve the interests
OF the government. The results NJ b,o
investigation and his conclusions NJ,
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 eye.
cutive branch of the government is
concerned the company now may pro.
coed with the work of laying the
cable.
1t 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 priv.
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's
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
Gable company is required to lay
distinct line of cable from China 10
Manila, so that it will not be neces-
sary 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 Oh
the line may purchase the line at aD
appraised valuation to be fixed by d.
bitrators selected in the usual manner
by the two parties to the transactlon-
By those who have studied the SUI.
ject it is believed that a cable laio
under the conditions proposed Will DE-
to all intents and purposes, a govern
ment cable line with few if any OF INC
disadvantages attendant upon govern
ment construction and maintenance
Under the United States treaty WIN
China, the Chinese government na0
granted to British company the rlsh'
to its domain, and will be obliged
grant to the Pacific Commercial CaOi0
company, an American corporatiVn'
the same right. This will enable NV
company not only to land its san ff9I
cisco line in China, but also Will ena
BILE it to obtain a Chinese terminus
for it's line to Manila.
In the laying of its cable lines ~
company has been accorded the risu.
to use the United States governm0''
soundings. -
Attorney General Knox is incllneuV
the opinion that tie company will III.
mediately proceed to construct
lines. Considerable time will Dc
quired for the preliminary arrans
ments before the actual laying Oh ~
cable begins, but it is regarded no"
certain that an American owned on
operated cable line to the Orient is y