The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-11-18
WESTERN UNION
AYBEBARRED
State Department Threatens TO
Revoke All C0mpany's Ca j..
bic Landing Permits.
RELATIONs sTRAINED
Department Alleges Company
Has Disseminated Against
United States. ....

Washington. Not. III Relations be-
tween enc Western Union Telegraph
company and the state department al
ready strained % the point of open
rupture reached siage TO-DAY where
ne government was understood 90 be
sonsidorlng seriously revocation q
anding permits under which thc com-
pany's existinr cables are operated
rhe power ftht executive branch
81 the government to iake such q
lrasiic step has never beca established
II thc courts. but ,eted 'utiuRron
~ ne purpose 20 brlns 10 ~ al issue
vaH contained 10 formed statement
IN the controversy alken aut tudty by
ne state department
Nier Hnnounelne tHe refusal ~ the
sHn1anY % handle government cable
u asagrs except upon prepay ment or
as wnrrt We~aaMes originating ugi~Ala
~ Ne tnltna States "A rcducwl rat'e
lha statement said Il had been the
Ifarm p0iieF - tho government 20
fiaN the laudInN ~ cables 0nig on
nuMilnn that fhe United States should
ae etuiiied to enjoy the same prht-
naes with reaafd q the control and
$50 20 sufh lines - were exercised ny
farezu governments
IA was ohtinue the statement added,
ihar enc lnltei ~ta8es could not he
ssNnetsied t0 allow ne Western Union
company an Amerlean corporation. ~
e5tafsu fur government messages twleq
i0e tsicr charesd the British abd oih-
~ governments.
While the nature aud scope ~ exec
alive aniheriiY oxer lhe laf,ding and
feeaalilon ~ cables lacks consrcsston.
a ~ court donnaian. ihe present 90.
n,lnlairailan has taken the posiilOa thst
Isl de pnwer was vesied lu ihc presi-
irni thr1uRh his constitutional con-
ieM w flrelwn relations Examination
IS co. state department. ~ me leEal
risiltf nf the government has rcNe9iHd
mat tuch o policy Was held dlring I've
terms Of Grant. Hayes. Garfield Arthur
Cleveland ana Harrison.
A contrary position vas taken, how
ever .by Secretaries olncy and Ores
sam. and U was held 4 situation misht
arise o. test ihe departments poNeF
lnwlsla1ixe aet a. declare and ratifF
tAe government authority was sought
at ihu last session ~ congress.
Al mat Time thf reported design
suur SnUnihs aTo - the Western Tn
on company % land = cable az Miami
Fiorida. connecting with q British ca
hie AZ iho Barbados. aroused the state
department. The proposed connection
vas viewed 81 directed toward the
slFengthgping ~ ne British cable mo-.
uanolv 0n ihe east coast ~ south
America Fer thaA reason, n was
held hat any ianding permit grantrd
Che Western Union should safeguard
thc interests nf M United states.
IN order 90 establish lhis power =
lhe president. the state department
sent % congress q hill 90 prevent the
unauthorized landing of cables pre-
tlding for Injunction proceodings
aeaaist operation of any cables not
cnmpying with the landing license
uanted ~ the government
This measure never Was reported
from enc committee. where "A still
lies. M ne absence 81 supportlng leH-
islAtinn. 4 is knoNn that thc stale de-
psrtment depends In BIS present dis
puio win the Western Union ln some
measure upon the siueie decision APP
pruachins ne question never handed
down By a United states ludgc
Because 20 the Western Union de-
mandlns Cor prepayment on govern.
ment cahlcgrams. i i understood thai
orders have been 4 ned IN some de.
rarimenia that buNisiess b. routed over
the lines ~ either cable companies AZ
much a. possible