Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-11-25
FIX CABLE CONTRACT
Government and Company Arrange Terms
of Laying Pacific Wire
COUNTRY TO HAVE SUPREME CONTROL
United States May Cut or MOnOpOliSe Wires
in Time Of War
AMERICAN LABOR TO HAVE PREFERENCE
All Employees Except Unskillsd Men Must
Be Citizens
UNITED STATES MAY BUY UNDERTAKING
In Return Corporation is to Receive
Free Use of SoundinEs and
JNTRY TO HAVE SUPREME CONTROL
United States May Cut or MOnOpOlize Wires
in Time Of War.
AMERICAN LABOR TO HAVE PREFERENCE
All Employees Except Unskillsd Men Must
Be Citizens
UNITED STATES MAY BUY UNDERTAKING
In Return Corporation is to Receive
Free Use of SoundinEs and
other Data Collected by
Steamer Nero.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 24.--The arrange
ments by which the data secured by Nero
ire to be turned over to he Commercial Ca
BILE company for use in laying the Pacific
cable were completed today. The represen-
tatives Of the cable company examined the
charts and expressed themselves as highly
gratifed with the thoroughness Of the work.
Duplicate sets have been prepared and will
be turned over as soon as the contract Is
signed.
The only provision OF the terms laid
down by the government TO which the COM
pany took exception was that providing for
American operatives. This was modified at
the request of the company to provide for
American operatives when obtainable. II
the charts are followed the cable beyond the
Hawaiian Islands will run to the Midway
Islands. and thence to Guam. From Guam
1t will branch to Manila and Yokohama.
Consent Paid for by Concessions.
The following statement regarding the
concessions was given out by the attorney
general today;
The president having duly considered the
application hereby consents that the COM
pany may construct, land, maintain and
operate Geographic lines and capies on the
Pacinc coast OF the United States and
various territorial waters of the United
States to connect the city of san Fran
cisco, in the state OF California; the city of
Honolulu, in the island of oahu, Hawaiian
isIands, and, by way OF the Midway isiapds
and the island OF Guam, the island OF
Luzon, p. l., and a point on the coast OF
II is a condition that said company shall
first file its written acceptance of the
terms and conditions on winch consent Is
i. That the company has not received
any exclusive concession or privilege and
has not combined or associated with any
company or concern to exclude any other
company OF concern formed in the United
states of America from obtaining the
OF China or connecting them with other
cable lines or inland lines OF China and the
company Will not make any arrangements
with any such company or concern Tor
2. That the cable shall touch at no other
than American territory on the way from
the United states to the Chinese empire. A
line from the philippines TO China shall be
ineependently USs OF an foreign Companies and
concerns.
Rates to BE Reasonable.
8. That the rates to be charged for COM
merciaI messages shall be reasonable and
III no case in excess or the tarin set forth
in congressional document No. 36S, house OF
representatives, t1lty-seventh congress.
a. That the government of the United
States, any department thereof, it's oft1cers,
agents and insular or territorial oriicers
and governments upon the route OF such
cable shall have priority for their oftcial
rates as the postmaster general shall an
nualIy fix.
time have the right to purchase the cable
lines, property and effects of the said COM
pany at an appraised value 10 De ascer-
tained by dislnterested persons, two TO be
selected by the postmaster general, two by
the company ana the NTH by the four.
6. That the government of the United
states shall have authority to assume full
control of the cable during war or when
z. That ali contracts entered into by the
company with foreign governments Tor the
transmission of messages by the cable shall
engaged in war, or as the president or con-
gress shall so elect.
s. That the United States shall have au-
thority to sever at discretion all branches
which may be connected with the main
cable during war or a threatened war.
American Labor Obligatory.
.. That the operators and employees. above
the grade or unskilled labor after the
eiusiveiy American citizens II the same
can be obtained.
10. That the citizens of the United States
and of its possessions shall stand on an
equal footing as regards messages with
citizens or subjects of any other country
II. That the cable shall be capable of an
main route from California to Luzon of not
less than twenty-five words minute,
which the said company agrees TO make
every effort TO maintain.
u. That the cable laid shall be OF the best
manufacture,
iS. That ample repair service for said
cable shall be maintained.
IA. That the line be kept for daily busi-
ness and ali messages in the order OF
priority heretofore provided for TO be trans
mitted according TO the time OF receipt.
Is. That no liability shall be assumed by
the government OF the United States by
virtue of any control of censorship which
Il may exercise in the event of war or civil
disturbance, so far as messages directly
| connected with the war are concerned, but
as to the stoppage Of interruption OF other
pensAtion therefor to be paid by the United
| States TO the cable company shall be deter
| mined under the general law.
l6. By the grant OF this permission the
United States government does not insure
| or indemnify the Commercial Pacific Gable
! company against any landing rights
/ claimed to exist in favor OF any company
| sular possessions of the United States.
| IL. That the consent hereby granted shal
! be subject to any future action by congress
Affirming reyoking or modifying, wholly
or in part the said conditions and terms
| on which this consent Is given. The accep
| tance of the terms and conditions upoT
| which consent is given shall be evidenced
| directors OF the cable company under thu
| companys seal, TO be filed with the post
| master general of the United States, upOI
| the filing of which full access shall b'
| granted by the secretary of the navy 10 al
| soundings, profiles and other helpful datl
| IN the possession, or under the control o.
| the Navy department.