The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1920-11-24
CARLTON MAKES
WIDE CLAIM FOR WESTERN
UNIoN-SAYs HIS COMPANY
is AUTHORIZED BY LAW TO
LAY CABLES IN ALL NAVlGA-
BILE WATERS IN UNITED STAT
Es-NAvY DEPARTMENT HAS
INTERFERRED.

lNTERFERRED.
New York, Nov. 23-Newcomb
Carlton, president of the Western
Union Telegraph company, declared
tonight that his company has gener-'
a. authority under an act of congress
to lay cables in all navigable waters
in the United States, and specific
permit from the secretary of war.
Mr.. Carlton made this assertion in
a formal statement which he issued
in connection. with the company's ap-
plication in the courts of the Dis
trict of Columbia for an injunction
to restrain the secretary of the navy
from interfering with it's plan to ex
tend it's telegraph lines from Miami,
Fla, to Miami Beach.
Last April" he said, "the Western
Union Telegraph company COM
menced the construction of wires
along the causeway over Biscayne
bay, which separates Miami from
Miami Beach. There are two draw
bridges in the causeway and follow
ing usual procedure and in order to
avoid interruption to navigation a
cable is laid on the bottom of the
bay at each of these drawbridges.
"The Western Union has general
authority under an act of congress to
lay cables in all navigable waters in
the United States. In addition to
this authority it holds a specific per-
NIT for this work from the secretary
of war. The purpose of the con-
struction was to improve the connec-
tion from Miami to Key West, the
present connection being an unsatis-
factory temporary affair to meet the
requirements of government dredg-'
ing operations:
Notwithstanding the unquestioned
right of the telegraph company to
improve it's system, further indorsed
by the approval CT the war depart
ment the navy department has for
months arbitrarily interpreted with
the progress of the work by force of
arms and stated that if the cable
was laid they, the navy department,
would Immediately cut it. We are
informed that this action was taken
at the request of the state depart
ment, although the state department
, has no jurisdiction whatever over
the extensions of the telegraph sys-
:, tenn.
1--WE have made diligent inquiry
during the last eight months in an
endeavor to ascertain what objection
there was to our proceeding with
this work and although we have
been met only with the repeated
promise of that department that they
would at once straighten out the
matter, we are as completely in the
dark today as we were eight months
ago, except that we now know that
the power of the armed forces Of the
United States mas been used to pre-
vent the lawful carrying out of work
which was authorized by an act of
congress.
1T is because of this action that
we are now seeking the protection
of the courts in an effort to ascertain
whether autocratic methods can be
used to prevent the needed extension
of telegraph service to meet the de-
mand of the public"
-. New York, Nov. 23.-When in
formed that Secretary Baker had re-
voked permission for laying cables
at Biscayne bay, Miami, Fla, granted
the telegraph company, Newcomb
Carlton, president, refused to COM
ment on the action.
Asked if his company would make
any move in the matter, Mr.. Carlton
replied:
81 have nothing to say tonight
GOING TO GREENVILLE.