Year: 1875

the United States and the Continent of Europe
though the possessions of Great Britain at either end
of the line in the control of an association which
had at large outlay of capital and at great risk de-
monstrated thei practicability Of maintaining such
means of communication. The cost OF correspon-
dence by this agency great possibly not too large
for proper remuneration for so hazardous and so
costly an enterprise. 1t was, however heavy charge
upon means of communication which the progress
in the social and commercial intercourse of the world
found to be necessity and the obtaining Of this
French concession showed that other capital than
that already invested was ready to enter into compe-
tition with the assurance Of adequate return for
their outlay. Impressed with the conviction that
the interests not only Of the people Of the United
States but of the world at large demanded or would
demand the multiplication OF such means of COM
munication between separated continents was de-
sirous that the proposed connection should be made
But certain provisions of this concession were DEEM
ed by me to be Objectionable particularly the one
which gave for long term of years the exclusive
right of telegraphic communication by submarine
cable between the shores OF France and the United
States.


could not conce1e that any power should claim
the right to land cable the shores OF the United
States, and at the same time deny to the United
States or to its citizens, the grantors an equal
right to land cable Its shores The right to con-
troll the conditions of the laying of cable within the
urisdictoral waters of the United States to connect
our shores with those of any forgn state pertains
exclusively to the government of the United States,
under such Limitations and conditions as Congress
may impese In the absence of legislation by Con-
gress, was unwilling on the one hand to yield to
foreign state the right to say that its grantees might
land on shores while it denied similar right to
our people to land on its shores; and on the other
hand was reluctant to deny the great interests Of
the world and Of civilization the facilities Of such
communications as we're proposed. therefore with
held any resistance to the landing of any cable on
condition that the offensive monopoly feature Of the
concession be abandoned and that the right Of any
cable which may be established by authority of this
government to land upon French territory and to
connect with French land lines and every necessary
facilities privileges incident to the use thereof
upon as favorable terms as any other company be
conceded AS the result thereof the company in
question renounced the exclusive privilege and rep
resentatives of France were informed that, under
standing this REIMBURSEMENT to be construed as
granting the entire reciprocity and equal facilities
which had been demanded, the opposition to the
| landing Of the cable was withdrawn.


The cable under this French concession was landed
in the month of July, 1862 and has been an efficient
and valuable agent of communication between this
country and and other continents. 1t soon passed
under the control, however, of those who had the
management of the cable connecting Great Britain
with this continent. Thus, whatever benefit to the
public might have ensued from competition between
the two lines was lost, leaving the greater facilities
of an additional line and the additional security in
case of accident to one of them. But these increas
ed facilities and this additional security, together
nr -r1gk
companies gave also greater power to prevent the m
ture construction OF other lines and to limit the con-
troll of telegraphic communication between the two
continents to those possessing the lines already laid
Within the past few months new cable has been
laid, known the United States Direct Cable, con-
Meeting the United States directly with Great Brit
ain. As soon as this cable was reported to be in
working order the rates Of the then existing CONSOLE
| dated company were greatly reduced Soon, howev-
er, break was announced in this cable, and
Immediately the rates of the other line, which had
been reduced, were again raised. The cable being
now repaired the rates appear not to be reduced by
either line from those formerly charged by the
soidated companies There is reason to believe that
large amounts of capital both at home and abroad,
are ready to seek profitable investment in the ad-
vancement of this useful and most eivilizing means
of intercourse and correspondence. They await,
however, the assurance Of the means and conditions
on which they may safely be made tributary to the
| general good.


Gable Legislation Suggested.


As these cable telegraph lines connect separate
states, there are questions as to their organization
and control which probably be best If not solely
settled by conventions between the respective states.
In the absence, however, Of international conven-
tions on the subject municipal legislation may secure
many points which appear to me important If not
indispensable for the protection Of the public against
the extortions which may result from monopoly Of
the right cooperating cable teegraphs OF from COM
| bination between several lines


First no line should be allowed to land on the
shores of the United States under the concession,
from another power which does not admit the right
of any other line lines formed in the United States
to land and freely connect with and operate through
land lines.


Second, no line should be allowed to land on the
shores Of the United States which is not by treaty
stipulation with the government from whose shores
it proceeds, by prohibition in its charter other
wse to the satisfaction of this government is pro-
hibted from consolidating amalgamating with any
other cable telegraph line contracting Herewith
for the purpose of regulating and maintaining the
cost of telegraphy.


| Third, all lines should be bound to give precedence
in the transmission OF the official messages Of the
government of the two countries between which ii
may be laid.


Fourth, a power should be reserved to the govern
ments, either conjointly to each as regards the
messages dispatches from its shores, to fix limit
to the charges to be demanded for the transmission
| Of messages.


Ipresent this subject to the earnest consideration
of Congress. In the meantime and unless Congress
otherwise directs, shall not oppose the landing o
| any telegraphic cable which complies with and as
sents to the points above enumerated but will feel
my duty to prevent the landing of any which does
not conform to the first and second points stated
and which will not stipulate to concede to this gov
ernment the precedence in the transmission of its
official messages and will not enter into satisfac
tory arrangement in regard to its charges.


Fraudulent Naturalization.


Among the pressing and important subjects to
which, in my opinion, the attention of Congress
should be directed. those relating to fraudulent
naturalization and expatriation. The United States
with great beraty offers its citizenship to all who
in good faith comply with the requirements Of law
These requirements are as simple and upon favor
able terms to the emigrant the high privilege
which he is admitted can or should permit. do moi
| propose any additional requirements to those which
the law now demands, but the very simplicity and
the want of unnecessary formality in our laws have
made fraudulent naturalization not infreQuent,to the
discredt and injury Of all honest citizens, whether
| native or naturalized.


Cases of this character are CONT uually beint
brought to the notice of the government by rep
resentatives abroad and also those of persons rest
dent in other countries, most frequently those who
they have remained in this country long enough to
entitle them to become naturaiized have generally
not much overpassed that period and have returned
to the country OF their origin, where they reside
avoiding all duties to the United States by their alb
sence and claiming to be exempt from all duties t.
the country of their nativity and Of their residence
by of their alleged naturalization 1t is due
to the government itself and to the great mass Of th
naturalized citizens who entirely, both in name ant
in tact become citizens of the United States. that
the high privilege of citizenship Of the United States
should not be held by fraud in derogation OF the
laws and Of the good name of every honest citizen
On many occasions it has been brought to the knowl
edge OF the government that certificates Of natura
zation held and protection interference lain
ed by parties who admit that not only they were moi
within the United States at the time Of their pre-
tended naturalization, but that they have never re-