The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-02-07

portance of getting a foothold upon the
Hawaiian Islands, and the project OF build
ing cable from some port Of the British
dominion north of US to the Hawallan
Islands and beyond is already mooted IN
English business circles and in political
circles. That is notice to us that we should
not permit any other nation to gain that
advantage. AS an investment it is a good
project in stimulating our commerce, IN
helping to gain control of the great Pacific
commerce that will be built up in the next
generation. This appropriation is baga-
telle compared with the advantages that
will be derived from it. 1t is 200 miles
and little more across. have had estl-
mates made by parties and companies
owning and laying ocean cables, de-
pending somewhat upon soundings and
the bed or pathway, but on the basis
of the survey made by this Government
on one of its lines it will cost from $1,000
to $1,000 mile. In ALL something perhaps
from $1,000 900 to $2,500,0O0. The scheme
of amendment which l have framed and
which is in the bill is the same as has been
adopted with reference to certain rivers and
harbors. 1t is made entirely so that a con-
tract can be made for the whole OF the
work The President is given $5OO,0Oo to
start it now, and no more will be needed
before the next session OF Congress. In
the end we will be involved in no more ex-
pense than, perhaps $2,50 600.
Mr.. Butler said: "In addition to the
commercial advantages which the cable
would give to this country would be the
very great advantage in military sense of
communicating with our ships of war at
that point. As the Senator suggests, II we
had cable and direct Geographic communi-
cation with the Sandwich Islands, possibly
great many of the discussions which
have arisen in regard to the action OF the
officers of the Boston might have been
avoided by receiving news direct from the
Secretary of the Navy. This is one addi-
tional reason why the cable should be
built"
Allen (Pop.) of Nebraska asked what
right this Government had to enter upon
the project
1.-THE same right" said Hale, 'that JEFF
ferson had in adding Louisiana to our ter
ritory; the same right Seward had in secur-
ing Alaska"
asked Allen. He suggested an amend
ment that the Hawaiian cable should al
ways remain under Government ownership
and control. Allen asked what difference
there was between this proposition to con-
struct and own a cable and Government
ownership of railroad.
Hale replied that if the railroad ran into
foreign country and involved a question
of foreign policy it should stand on the
same principle as a cable. But that did
not concede the Government right to con-
struct the telegraph or railroad lines
wholly of an internal and domestic char
acter.
Butler CD of South Carolina cited the
United States survey of the Interconti-
mental Railroad running to South America.
Allen said he was glad to commit a rep
resentative Republican Senator and rep
resentative Democratic Senator as favoring
Government construction and ownership
of foreign cable or of railroad which
was an adjunct to foreign commerce. He
thanked the Senators for embracing this
controversial doctrine of populism. An
extended debate followed as to the consti-
tutional right of the Government to own
or construct railroads, telegraph and cable
lines, being participated in by Platt and
Gray.
Teller of Colorado took up some general
phases of the Hawaiian question. He laid
down the rule of international law that the
United States was bound to protect its citi-
zens domiciled in Hawaii, even though
they were enlisted in the service of the
existing Government.
Teller's argument was with a view to
showing that Secretary Herbert had erred
in ordering that the Philadelphia, recently