The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-11-16
will Land Cable.

Will Land Cable.
Miami. Fla. Nov. 16,-The West
ern Union Telegraph has recalled
to New York the Is cable operators
and test men who had been here
since September, awaiting landing
Of the Miami Barbados cable. which
has been held up by the United
States government. The employees
said they understood the company
now planned to land the cable at
Havana, Cuba.
Washington, Nov. 16.-tAssociat-
ed Press.)-The long standing con-
troversy between the state depart
ment and the Western Union Tele-
graph company has reached the
stage of an open break, the COM
pany refusing to handle any further
messages for the department ex-
cept upon prepayment OF tolls.
The company's order was issued
on Nov. 10, it was said today at the
department and ostensibly was to
apply to all departments Of the gov
ernment. 1t was understood, how
ever. that messages sent by other
departments had been excepted in
/ formally from the ruling.
The Western Union company is
stated to have based its action on
the delay by the department in max
ing payments on cable messages
previously handled. Department.
officials asserted today, however.
that it was in their opinion a step
in retaliation for the failure Of the
department to permit the landing OF
a cable at Miami, Fla. connecting
at Barbados with a British cable
from South America.
Several months ago the Western
Union applied for an executive per-
nit to land a cable at Miami but
the state department was said to
have demanded a copy Of the con-
tract between the Western Union
and the British company owning
the connecting South American
cable line. Since the copy was not
forthcoming state department Of
ficers said, the permit was with
held.
Trouble Over Cable.
Later a British cable ship, which
had been chartered to lay the cable
was ordered to Miami. At the sug-
sestion of the state department the
navy department sent destroyers to
the Florida port to keep the Brit
|. ish ship outside the three-mile limit.
The British embassy ordered the
CAPTAIN OF the vessel not to attempt
to land the cable. s
Some time later on William G.
!, McAdoo became counsel for the
Western Union company and depart
, ment officers say he delivered a
! COPY of the contract to the depart
! ment. II had been explained pre-
, viously that the department before
issuing the permit desired to deter
o mine whether the contract between
: 1.-THE American and British companies
f would strengthen the cable monop-
oily held by the British company on
e the east COdSt VI ooutu auiSi 10.
s The cable was still withheld, II
v being explained officially that ac-
n ton was being deferred until after
t the meeting of the international
communication conference, now in
e session here.
: A report reached the government
last week that the Western Union
! was to make another attempt to
J. land the cable and Secretary Dan
iels ordered the commandant OF the
: naval station at Key West to take
the necessary steps to prevent It
= The Western Union company denied
at that time that it intended to land
the line. It was about this time
: that the order refusing government
: cable messages except upon pay
y ment of cash in advance was issued
Payment Withheld.
In stating that its order regard.
4 ing cable messages was issued be
cause OF failure Of the state de.
II partment to pay for messages, the
Western Union company was said
Il to have pointed out that the de-
II partment had made no paymen1
since August. 1913. Department Of
n ficers explained today that paymen
n had been withheld because the com
pany began to withhold the govern
ment rebate Of 50 per cent on cabl
\ messages.
II The Western Union was said I
have explained that because Of war
time congestion the internatioNa
clearing house. in London was q
behind in payment Of tolls to whic
the company was entitled for GOV
ernment messages and that NO r,
n bate to the government could !
msde until this. balance had be-
= -