New-York tribune., 1902-07-25
l PACIFIC CABLE NEAR.
MOVEMENT LIKELY TO MAKE TERMS
WITH THE COMMERCIAL COMPANY.
hINB MAY BE COMPLETED TO THE PHILIP
PINES WITHIN A YEAR-PLANs NOT
CHANGED BY DEATH OBJ
JOHN w MAcKAY.
fly TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIpuNE.I

rnercial company calculated materially to eX-
pedite the construction of the line to the Phil
ippines and eliminate all likelihood OF future
trouble which might grow out Of the cable land
iings at several points American territory.
No doubt is expressed by officials who are pest
informed regarding the negotiations between
the late John w. Mackay and his agents on the
one hand and the federal authorities on the
other that the cable is to be promptly laid, and
put into operation as far Hawaii in the next
Eve or six months, and via Midway and Guam
ITO DingaIa Bay Luzon by the middle OF l9Uo
The assurances just made public by vice
president Ward who was Mr.. Mackay's right
hand man in all submarine cable matters were
hardly necessary to satisfy the authorities here
that Mr.. Mackays death would cause no modl-
f1cation of his plans, for there had not Tor some
time been any lack of confidence in the COM
pIetion Of the Hawaiian line before January
next. 1t well known that the 1.Oo5 knots
of cable for that span had been manufactured
lnder contract, and that the cable steamer Sill
lvertown was to start from London for the Pa
cihc Coast with it early next month under or
ders to begin laying the line in October. Mr..
Ward. the general manager, who is generally
regarded here likely to succeed Mr.. Mackay
as president had full control of the cable cam
paign in Washington for the last year, and his
esrnestness and thorough familiarity with
the subject caused the Abandonment VI lue
project for government cable to be laid by
the navy and operated by the Postofice De-
partment. The Corliss bill for the government
cable which was decisiyely defeated in the
House on January II, would have passed except
for the formal guarantees given by Mr.. Ward 10
the Secretary of the Treasury just before that
time.
GUARANTEES FROM THE COMPANY.
In these guarantees which bound the gov
ernment in no manner and contemplated no ex-
elusive privileges which other companies had
sought TO obtain. the Commercial Pacific Gable
company subscribed 10 thirteen important stip-
ulations, follows:
First-To charge not more than so cents word
between San Francisco and Honolulu and TO
duce that rate TO 30 cents within two years
after the cable was in operation; TO charge not
more than 81 a word TO Manila or China and to
give the United States Government half rates
on all official messages.
Second-To complete the line to Hawaii by
january i. 1903 and TO the Philippines two
Thrd-To land the cable on American soil
only reserving, however, the right TO avoid
Guam if its vicinity should prove inaccessible
for cable laying by reason of great depths.
Fourth--To sell the line to the government at
any time on appraisal by five arbitrators, two
each selected by the government and the COM
pany, and the fifth to be chosen by the other
Fifth-To transmit government messages at
rates fixed annually by tie Postmaster Gen
eral
sixth-To give priority to government mes
eages ali other business.
Seventh-NOt to receive from any foreign gov
ernment exclusive privileges which would pre-
vent the establishment and operation of a cable
of an American company in the jurisdiction or
such foreign government.
Eighth-Not to consolidate or amalgamate
with any other line. or combine with one to
Regulate rates
privileges equal to those required by other gov
ernments-
Tenth-United States citizens TO be on an
Equal footing with those Of other countries
Eleventh-Precedence of messages as follows;
fSovernment business, cornpany's service busi-
ness, general messages
Twelfth-To keep the line open for business
daily when in working order
Thirteenth-In times Of national emergency
the United States to take control OF the line.
STRICTLY AMERICAN LINE.
After Congress. by refusing to build a gov
ernment line had virtually Endorsed the
Mackay proposition, the Commercial company
applied to the Navy Department for it's sur
Neys between Honolulu and Luzon made by the
Nero In 1899. That vessel remained at sea over
a year on this work, resulting in scurvy for
most Of her officers and crew. and as the ca BILE
experts admitted it would have cost them sew
eral hundred thousand dollars to make survey
of their own, Admiral Bradford insisted, as a
prerequisite TO supplying the charts. that fur
Hher guarantees Of a military and strategic
nature IN ADDITION 10 Lne promises gwen 10
Treasury Department should be made by the
cable company These involved. first Of ALL the
pledge TO land at Guam, which the Neros sur
vey showed 10 be perfectly feasible. and not TO
land the cable on foreign territory By thus
making ii an all American cable, SPECIFIC perInis-
sion land on the coast of California and
Iuzon rendered unnecessary, thus at once
settling Of the most vexing questions that
had arisen If the cable was TO touch foreign
territory at any point the consent Of the Presi-
dent to land on American soil was indispensa BILE,
and account OF the military Importance Of
the Pacific 10 the United States the President
WAS not disposed 10 grant such permit. Among
Admiral Bradford's other stipulations, the COM
pany had 70 employ none but American citi-
zens as operators and in all other positions. to
provide for the constant maintenance of repair
vessels, with heavy penalties for any delay Of
messages in war time, compelling the company
TO land at Guam, and 10 give satisfaction on
several points which might not occur 70 others
than military men.
On receiving these assurances Admiral Brad
ford recommended that the chart be furnished
10 the company, with a view 10 the government
assisting and Fastening the completion of the
line which he and his colleagues deemed of in
dispensa BILE Importance to the United States in
case Of an International emergency. The Presi-
dent while heartily favoring the project. decided
10 take the whole matter away from the
Treasury. Navy, Postofice and other depart
1nents. and TO concentrate every detail of the
arrangements for safeguarding the governments
interests in the hands of the Attorney General
VINO ior tne last ten Gays mas Deen giving his
entire personal attention to it, IL is safe to
say that the company will make all the prom
1ses the Attorney General decides desirable
and that in return IL will have access to ali
the pavy's data The United States will under
take TO protect the companys landing places
against foreign attack, and there will be an
implied responsibility on the part Of the navy
TO assist, far is compatible with regular
cruising service. in the laying and maintenance
of the lines.
THE CABLE ROUTE