The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-09-11
MARCONICO. DEFIES
NAVY DEPARTMENT
"Do Not Recognize Your Au-
thority." President Griggs
Writes to Secretary.
TO WELCOME LEGAL TEST
Power to Censor RadiOgrams
Rests With Commerce De-
partmcnt. 1t Is Alleged.

The protests and replies which have
passed between the Msrconi Wireless
Telegraph Company and the Governmen,
regarding the wireless censorship estab.
lshed since the beginning of the Euro
pean war apparently have developed into
an open break with the Navy Department
This break IL indicated strongly in a
sharp letter which has been sent to Secre-
tary Daniels by John ". Griggs. presl-
dent OF the Marconi company.
The letter refers to the wireless message
received on September 2 by II. Is. Hunt In
this city from the British cruiser Suffolk
asking him to bring provisions and sup
plies to the cruiser and transfer them
two miles south of the Ambrose lightship.
The message was delivered by the Mar
conf company
Secretary Daniels. who received copy
OF the private message 10 Hunt through
his censor at the Siasconset station, com
planned against the action OF the station
IN forwarding the message and, threaten
ing to close the station, demanded an ex-
PLANTATION from the company. The matter
was referred to President Grggs, who IS
also general counsel.
His letter in reply says the company
cannot recognize any authority Of your
dets. impose censOrs or to stop our bust
ness" II accuses the navy censor who
sent q copy OF the message to Secretary
Daniels. and also let IL leak out into the
newspapers. of violating q Federal law
and says a legal test OF rights in the mat
ter will be welcomed.
The lttter states that the company
has been anxious to conform to the Gov
ernments request for strict neutrality
and would have abated its strict legal
right TO do had the Government 5
action been such AS to allow II to do
80. The company reiterates that its pro-
tests against the censorship and its re-
quest for citation OF the statute per-
hitting censorship have been disregarded.
The act Of Congress Of August 49,,
lol2." IL continues. 'confers upon the De
partment Of Commerce certain supervi-
sorry powers over radio communication.
but we know of no statute which confers
any such power or authority on the
Navy Department. The assumption by
The Navy Department of authority to in
tervene seems to be unJustined by any law
and to be practically a usurpaton OF the
power OF another department OF the Gov
eminent
with reference to your threat to close
our station. We have to suggest that In
the nrst place you have no right or
power 10 do II. II can be closed only
w INV dNAloH OF department VI ,OU
merce In revoking our license. which can
be done only for cause. and no cause
Exists. In the second place the result
OF carrying out such a threat on your
part would be OF immensely more in
jury TO the public than II would he 10
This company. in cutting on one OF the
coastal stations constantly used by ships
AZ sea ard liable TO be needed TO answer
calls OF distress"
The letter then calls attention to a pro-
vision OF the act OF Congress OF 1912
making it crime for any person to d.
vulge or publish the contents OF a mes
sage passing through a radio station I'M
less required 10 do so by a court or com
petent authority. The Department OF the
Navy. President Griggs maintains does
not fuhl the meaning OF competent au-
thorty"
'1f YOU differ with us as 20 the law
OF the case or any OF the views herein
expressed relating TO our rights in the
premises" the communication concludes
I'VE shall welcome any legal action that
viii decide who Is correct"