Evening star., 1919-01-26

hiSiNC Ntat II HScuS ana WHdL Inc COUl-
merce of the old countries has? Our
wire service has become
"A utility of necessity; 1t has become
one of the essentials of our national
development
While private property must be re-
speefed. proprietary rights must not
be allowed to obstruct the solution of
this very vital problem any more than
proprietary rights OF any utility must
be allowed to prevent regulated or
controlled restriction. The constitu-
tional rights in such cases are identi-
cal
With International wire
SyStemS th~4p -. an immense amount
or work to be done. At the present
tlfe we nave so many systems of
wires, SO extensively duplicating serv-
Ice and plant, that immense waste is
entalled. Our international wire sys-
tems--that is. our systems crossing our
boundaries into Canada and Mexico
are imperfect in their plan and Or
ganization.
Two systems. International and inter-
national, must be intimate and efficient
IT they are to meet the requirements
or business during certain seasons
which demand direct and instantaneous
between great CONNER
clal centers distant from each other
Briefly summed up, to meet our ma
lional requirements we must have COM
plete, efficient and cheep intra and in
yer national electrical transmission
service competent to place all Of our
sreat cehters in available, quick, close
ana dlfect communication with all
other great centers. no matter how dis
tant from our centers or from each
other.
The advantage of service which
shaii be immediate and instantaneous
Is obvious. Those prejudiced against
hn1
thlnk that speculative interests would
be those solely or chiefly served. It is
an ldea wholly wrong. If purchasing
merchant from his producing center
can by cable talk to his buyer at the
transoceanic consuming center. TINS
making of the sale and purchase. SO 10
speak, one transaction, he will be con-
tent with small margin, but if the
exchange of ideas with regard to price
ana other arrangements, particularly
crealts' taxes days. weeks or months,
the margin between buying price and
selling price must be correspondfnrly
large And this will be at the cost OF
sne seller, not at that Of the buyer.
,Ihis should be remembered.
1t Is obvious that American conn
meree, If it is to develop, must have
better means of communication at q
cost which will not handicap the
transaction Of business done at a
small profit. The days OF small BUSH
ness and large profits passed with the
clipper ships. The days Of small prof
Its and large business commenced
with the steamship, steam road and
electric intercommunication and have
developed with them. Today they can
be changed only by mutilated oppor.
tunity.
But they cannot be stimulated
properly without more efficient COM
munication than that which exists at
present. and which can be brought
about only in one way-under the ae-
gis or governmental authority, by spe-
cially shaped legislation. The United
states Is now on one side of the world
system OF communication; it must he
brought into the center Of world
system of electric intercommunica-
ton.
Much can be done with the present
cable system by combination and op-
GRAFTON In close connection with the
iana system, also closely combined;
Eut 10 DO thorough and efficient
piece of work there must be a con-
siderable expenditure Of capital on re-
location. extension and other inn
provement; and II we are to have an
independent International cable sys-
tenn we must be quite equipped to get
aiohg without the foreign manutac-
turerS of submarine cables There
mas been no sufficient or continuous
demand for deeD-sea cable in this
country which would warrant the cre-
atloh or manufacturing plant capa-
ole OF turning out a Longtime deem.
sea cable, and hence the art never has
been developed here. Before ii can
be so developed some research and
experimentation will be necessary.
The nation is spending thousands
or millions of dollars on the construc-
uoh or ships to compete in foreign
commerce and Yet leaves the most es-
Sentlal contributory instrument to the
extension OF its foreign commerce TO
private Initiative and foreign enter.
prise. This is silly business.
VITA the expenditure OF less
money than hundred million dollars
ana the cooperation of cable con,na-
hies controlled by the United States
government system might be or.
Sahized and developed quickly which
would put the business of the United
states. as it were, at the front door
OF every business house in the world.
ihis without doubt, would be profit.
aole from the very moment of it's in.
ltia tion; certainly it would be profit.
aolc from the moment of the jnaue,,.
ration OF its business operation,
And l, who have studied this sub.
Ject throughout the greater portion
OF long and active life, declare that
all this can he dnpa ~ nae, - -