The record-union., 1891-02-13
PACIFIC CABLE.
THE BILL FAvoRABLY REPORTED
IN THE HOUSE.
1t is Claimed That the Democrats VIII,
Bitterly Oppose Its
Passage.
Special to the REcoRp-UsroS.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.-The House
Committee on Foreign Affairs agree.
though not unanimously, to report to the
House with some notifications, the bill
to incorporate the Pacific Cable Com
pany.
The principal change made was to re-
duce from 100000 TO S15O,Oo0 the sum to
be paid to the company annually for fif-
teen years by the United States Govern
ment, after the cable is completed and
open for business.
Inc committee, in reporting the bill,
says it regards it as properly securing
and guarding the interests of the United
States. The committee carefully con-
sldered whether the proposed cable line
could be established by private enterprise
unalded by the Government. It is con-
Vlnced that as business undertaking, the
receipts ofthe line for years to come would
not be likely to defray the expenses of op-
Grating and maintaining it. Still less
would 1t secure to the investors any in
terest or return on their investment.
Inc importance to the United States of
cable communication with Hawaii has
been suggested to Congress in messages
OF Presidents Cleveland and Harrison,
and also various Cabinet officers and COM
H.
ment last November provided concession
for the establishment of cable communi-
cation, so that it is a most opportune time
for Congressional action
Such cable line would be of great
service not only in securing Hawaiian
autonomy and American Proclamation,
ana securing to our country the COM
merce of the Pacific Ocean and of Aus
tralia, bat there is great danger that
unless action is taken at this session
large proportion Of that trade and COM
merce viii be diverted to Canada.
Messrs. Hooker of Mississippi and
Andrews of Massachusetts declined to
sign the report. They object to its bounty
feature.
McCreary, the ranking Democratic
member of the Foreign Affairs Commit
tee, and who will in all probability be its
next Chairman, said to your correspond
ent that, although he was not present at
the committee meeting to-day, he was un-
alterably opposed to the bill, because he
old not believe in'the Government aiding
private enterprises. He said he would
not make a minority report, but he and
General Hooker would fight the bill
earnestly on the floor Of the House
McCreary was asked if he thought the
bill would pass, and he answered, "Not
If the Democrats can help it. If it ever
comes up in the House, l suppose the Re-
pose to fight every bill that contains a
subsidy feature
rs it probable that the cable bill will be
called up in the House this session?'' he
was asked.
81 don't know about that" he an
swered. Il hope not. There are three
ways in which it may be called up tor
consideration. First, by unanimous con-
sent, and this can't be had, win say
right now; second, by the Committee on
Foreign Affairs being given day by the
committee on Rules, the committee con-
sentlng that the transpacific cable bill
shall be one of the measures to be con-
sidered on that day; third, by the Com
mlttee on Rules setting aside day for its
special consideration.
Il have been trying, for weeks and
months to get Mckinley to give a day for
Foreign Affairs Committee bills, but L
have not succeeded yet"
Representative Morrow was seen, and
he said to your correspondent: "You
need not fear. Our Foreign Affairs Com
mittee will be given day, and one of the
measures which I will be authorized to
call up Will be the transpacific cable
bill, and it will pass, too. / see that a San
Francisco paper thinks that the cable
Will cost twelve million dollars This is
grossly incorrect. We had General
Hartwell of Boston before our committee,
and examined him closely, and he fig
ured out the cost to be s., 900, 900 for a
cable from San Francisco to Honolulu.
General HartweH is one OF the chief
movers in the cable scheme, and his fig
ures are reliable, as they were reached
by careful computation made by engin-
GERS and scientific men,
As stated in these dispatches some time
ago, Senator Mitchell's bill, which was
Identical with Morrow's, was not reported
by the Committee on Foreign Relations,
but substitute was reported, authorizing
an appropriation of $500, 900 to be placed
IN the Presidents hands to aid any cable
company that wishes TO and is able to lay
a Pacific cable. This substitute is now
being considered by the Senate Commit
tee on Appropriations, which now have
the sundry civil appropriation before it.
Your correspondent to-day asked Sena-
tor Allison, Chairman of the Committee,
if the substitute for Mitchell's bill would
be incorporated as an amendment to the
sundry civil bill as passed recently by the
House, and he said the committee had the
matter under advisement and would soon
decide.
The German navy will have thirty.
seven more vessels in active service this
year than last. The total number to be
assigned To duties lasting from three TO
ten months is ninety-six. !