The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-16
FIGHT OVER CABLES
CARRIED TO SENATE
Rival Company Says Western
Union Seeks Monopoly With
British Interests.
RADIO CONTROL Is URGED
Government Representatives
Ask Law to Control All
Cable Landings.
Special Despatch to TIE NEW York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. C., Dec. Is.


New York Herald Bureau
Washington, ID. c., Dec. 15
The dispute between the United
Union Telegraph Company over the
landing Of a cable at Miami, which was
prevented forcibly some weeks ago by
an armed naval force. received
thorough airing before the Senate Com
mittee on Interstate Commerce to-day.
All parties in interest were heard, in
Guiding Acting Secretary Norman NJ.
Davis OF the State Department, Walter
S. Rogers, American delegate to the In
ternational Communications Conference;
Elihu Root, Jr., counsel for the All
American Gable Company and Newcomb
Carlton. president of the Western Union
Company.
The testimony. which took a wide
range. covered not only the dispute be-
tween the State Department and the
Western Union. which involves q COM
merciai war between that company and
the All American Cable Company Of
New York over South American busi-
ness. but included also the stand taken
by the United States In the Communica-
tons Conference over the dis ostion of
Gernan-owned cables seized Dy Great
Britain, France and Japan at the be-
ginning Of the European wsr.
Here are the outstanding develop
ments Of the hearing, which was held to
enable the committee to make report
or the bill Of Senator Kellogg (Minn.).
Republican, proposing to give the Gov
eminent power to prevent the unauthor-
tzaI IF
shores.
Acting Secretary Davis recommended
that power be conferred upon the Presi-
dent, to be delegated to the State De-
partment. to control all the cable land
ings and cable communication. This was
fatty opposed by Mr.. Carlton, who urged
that this control be given to the Inter-
state Commerce Commission.
Mr. Rogers and Mr.. Davis urged i'm
mediate direct cable connection between
the United States and Germany. which
was cut off by the seizure Of the Ger
man cables.
Mr.. Rogers strongly recommended
strict governmental regulation of radio
receiving stations, asserted that foreign
governments were now building up
system OF receiving stations here
through contracts with American cit-
zens. and that America is heading for
trouble" because OF the lack of such
regulation.
Mr.. Root, for the All American Cable
Company. charged that the Western
Union sought to land its cable at Miami
on a contract with the British owned
Western conn any. q monopoly which
was said TO be interfering with Ameri-
cas- commercial development in South
America and other countries.
Mr.. Carlton admitted the intention OF
connecting with the British company,
but denied 1t was out Of harmony with
American enterprise insisted It was
merely a measure of economy and
sound business. and said that every
foreign cable company was more or
less o monopoly and that they proposed
to complete their connection with it in
Cuba If not permitted to land in Miami
Mr.. Carlton said he made this an
nouncement in no spirit Of defiance but
merely as 4 statement Of plans that he
thought ought to be carried out In the
interests of his company and of the
public they served. "If the State De-
partnent wishes TO tear UP this cable.
as it has threatened 10 do" continued
Mr.. Carlton. they may do so. We
shall do ali we can to establish our
business in South America and shall
protect ourselves II possible"