Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1921-01-13
CABLE CHARGES
UNFAIR TO U. S,
Assistant Secretary of State De-
mands Lower Rates for
Government.
HEATED TILT WITH CARLTON
Western Union President Charges Da-
Wis With Making False Statements
and lntimidatine Cuba-Sena-
tor Kellogg Raps for Order.

Washington, Jan. 11.-A heated tilt
between Acting Secretary of State
Norman III. Davis and Newcomb Carl
ton, president of the Western Union
Telegraph, prompted by a sensational
attack on the State department ofe
cial by the Western Union head,
marked the hearing before the senate
commerce committee on the Kellogg
bill to prohibit the landing of cables
on American shores without express
permission of the government
Mr.. Carlton charged Mr.. Davis with
making false statements, with threat
ening and intimidating the Cuban gov
eminent and with incompetence in
connection with the refusal of the de-
partment to permit the Western Union
company to land at Miami, Fla, ca
bic from Havana.
Mr.. Davis chief contention on be-
half of the State department was that
for half century 1t was the policy
of this government to permit the land
ing OF no cables where the foreign
end of the cable was in the hands Of
foreign monopoly.
Calls Policy a Dead Letter.
Mr.. Carlton replied that the policy
was a dead letter, as practically every
cable from the United States to for
eign countries was in the hands of
foreign monopoly. Mr.. Davis ex-
planned that in many cases foreign
governments refused to live up to
their agreements after cables were
laid. He further charged that the
Western Union company charged the
United States government full com
mercial rates for the transmission OF
official messages, where it gave Great
Britain and other foreign nations half
rates; that the United States was
compelled to pay cash for all service
where foreign governments were per-
mitted credit.
THE President" said Mr. Davis,
docs not doubt his legal authority to
control cable connections between this
country and foreign countries. New
ertheless, the Western Union has seen
fit to contest this authority in the
|
that this company should charge twice
as much TO transmit official messages
as il charges the British and other
governments for the same service. We
held that the government has the
right to compel this company to ac-
cord us the same privileges given to
foreign countries. This bill should be
further extended to give government
control of All land connections and
radio stations in the United States.
w. U. Contention Absurd.
1.-The contention of the Western
Union that the interstate commerce
commission should exercise control
over foreign cables Is absurd. The
commission has no jurisdiction OUT
side the United States, and no accu-
rate knowledge Of conditions of for
eign countries where intricate diplo-
matte questions are involved.
The government was not Informed.
of the intention Of the Western Unionl
to land n cable al Miami until the
project was near completion
THAT is untrue said Mr.. Carlton.
"rhe government OF the United
States was fully informed before we
began the work and only refused when
we were about TO complete the opera
ton"
a wordy argument followed. 1t be-
came 50 heated that Senator Kellogg
was forced to rap for order Mr.. Carl
ton charged that Mr.. Davis had for
hidden n cable ship loaded with cable
for the Miami to Havana line to leave
England and had SO instructed the
English government.
II have nothing to do with the ship
leaving England" said Mr.. Davis.
as that an official permission?'
asked Mr. Carlton.
You may take 1t So" was the re-
ply.
Mr.. Carlton turned TO his secretary
with the command: "Wire that ship
to proceed at once"
"And add" said Mr. Davis, "that
landing operations on the cable are
not 10 begin without express permits
sion"
Questioned by Senator Kellogg with,
regard TO censorship Of American ca
Bile messages, both commercial and
official, Mr.. Carlton first refused TO-
answer, but later admitted that cop
les OF all cables were placed In the
hands of British officials and presum-
ably were censored.
'"rhls Is unavoidable" said Mr..
Carlton, because the concessions un-
der which we are permitted to land
cables IN Great Britain give the Brit
ish government authority to do prac.
tically anything they please"