The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-02-08
A CABLE TO HAWAII.
Senators Said to Favor the
Project.
ANXIOUS TO ROAST GROVER.
Why the House Might Be Likely
to Concur.
IL Is HARDLY A NEW PROPOSITION.
That Is the Point Upon Which Hale
Relies to Beat the Mills Point
Of Order.
IT IS HARDLY A NEW PROPOSITION

an appropriation for beginning the con-
struetion of telegraph cable to Honolulu.
From the tenor of the debate in the Senate
it is probable that body is favorable to this
project and will be willing to appropriate
$4,000 in the diplomatic appropriation
bill toward commencing it. The Vice
President may rule out this amendment
on Senator Mills point of order that new
project of this character is not germane to
a regular appropriation bill, but as the
majority of Senators seem to favor the
cable project they could, with some shadow
of excuse, successfully appeal from his de-
cision, contending that it is not a new
project, but had its inception in 1891, when
Congress, by ordering the Navy Depart
ment to take deep-sea soundings between
Monterey Bay and Honolulu, practically
began the cable.
If Hale's amendment should prevail in
the Senate it would, of course, have to be
concurred in by the House, and here there
would be another fight. No point of order
could be successfully raised in that body.
Then in view Of the recent disturbances in
Hawaii, and the fact that many Democrats
are critical of the leveland-Gresham Ha-
waiian policy and are on general princi-
pies anxious to roast the administration,
the cable project may get through the
House. Nearly every Republican member
will for it, and the disposition Of many
of the Democrats to join with the Republi-
cans in opposing administration wishes was
very well illustrated by to-day's vote on the
financial bill
The laying of a cable was further dis
cussed in the Senate to-day, but no
conclusion was reached and the item
remains as stumbling block to
the diplomatic and consular appro-
priation bill. The cable project has
been well nigh lost sight of in the wide
range of the Hawaiian debate. 1t is ex-
pected, however, the cable item will be
voted on tomorrow, and from the tenden-
cies shown by the speeches, the belief pre-
walls that the item will be adopted. All
the Republican speeches have been favor
able to the cable, and it is expected the en-
tire Republican vote will be given to the
appropriation of $4,000 to begin the work.
Several Democrats, including Messrs.
White. Morgan and Blackburn and other
Democrats of the Foreign Relations Com
mittee, are favorable to the cable plan, al
though some OF the Democratic Senators
oppose it as antagonistic to the admins
tration policy toward Hawaii.
The Senate passed the bill relating to the
navigation and commerce of inland waters
of the United States, not including the
great lakes and connecting waters, and the
debate on the proposition for cable to
Hawaii was then resumed. Minister
Thurston of Hawaii, accompanied by Mrs.
diplomatic gallery.
Teller of Colorado called attention to the
latest dispatches from Hawaii, showing
that the British authorities were asserting
their purpose of protecting british citizens
under any and all circumstances. The
Senator compared this with Secretary
Herbert's orders that American citizens in
Hawaii would receive no naval protection
if they assisted in maintaining the existing
Government.
Gray of Delaware stated as a legal propo-
sition that in the recent uppisings in
Hawaii the Americans who participated on
one side or the other could not be called tn
account by this Government, but added
that they forfeited the right of protection
for the results consequent upon their ac
ton.
Frye suggested that the press DISPATCHES
to-day showed that Gray's legal provost
ton was not the one adopted by Great
Britain.
Palmer of Illinois argued against the
cable project. He said it was purely
political plan, not dictated by commercial
conditions. He did not believe in the
acquisition of Hawaii, either by annexa-
ton or otherwise. Our annual exports to
Hawaii were less than the proposed cost of
this cable.
"Why is Great Britain trying to build
this cableP' asked Aldrich.
Because she needs it for an extension of
her possessions, said Palmer.
"And that is why we want it-because
we need it," responded Aldrich.
Morgan of Alabama suggested the mis-
fortune to arise if our naval or military
dispatches from Hawaii, Japan or China
had to come through British cable COM
pany.
Palmer asked what the United States
would do with the Hawaiian Islands if she
got them tomorrow morning. ''Oh for
one hour of Charles Sumner" exclaimed
the Illinois Senator as he narrated Sum-
ner's course in defending San Domingo
against absorption.
''Look for Japan as the great power of
the Pacific said Palmer. "We could have
no fear of Great Britain in that direction,
but let the development of Japan be
watched. China has disappeared and need
no longer be considered. Japan's invasion
of China has been a march. Already Japan
has 10000 people in Hawaii and it is japan
we must reckon with hereafter"
Higgins of Delaware spoke in favor of
the cable, and said that the rise of Japan in
the Pacific was a reason why we should
have this cable and extend our influence.
Gallery of Louisiana spoke against the
cable This led Higgins to ask if the peo-
pie of Louisiana could afford to oppose the
national policy of the United States toward
Hawaii because the latter was sugar COM
petitor of Louisiana.
Gallery denied that there was any ma
tional policy toward Hawaii. In his opin-
ion the people of the United States, if they
could express their views, would not I'M
dertake the absorption Of Hawaii. Gallery
declared himself against annexation.
The consideration OF the cable item was