New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-27
A PACIFIC CABLE HEARING.
BREEZY TALK FROM GENERAL WAGER
SWAYNE
HE DENIES MR. scaYMsER's ASSERTIONS THAT
THE NEw-JERsEY COMPANY is CONTROLLED
BY BRITISH NFLUENCEs-ABRAM g.
~ HEWITT EULOGIZED.
HEWITT EULOGIZED.
fsY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIPuNE.]

lsY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIRUNE.l
Washington. JAN 2s--General Wager Swayne. Of
New-York eulogized his fellow townsman, Abram
S Hewitt before the House Committee on Inter-
state and Foreign Commerce to-day. and in vigor-
language replied 10 the structures made by
James A. Scrymser last week the cable company
OF which General Swayne is president. General
Svayne's utteranoes furnished probably the
GLIDING chapter in series Of hearings which the
committee has given 10 the representatives Of the
rival Pacific cable companies now competing for
RECOGNITION by the Government.
Mr. Scrymser is the president OF the Pacific Gable
Company Of New-York. and when he appeared be-
fore the committee last week he asserted that the
rival company, of which General Swayne is pres-
dent and which is known the Pacific Cable Com
pany OF New-Jersey. was largely controlled by
British influences. This morning another hearing
was given TO General Swayne. in which he pontedly
denied much that Mr. Scrymser had said. and gave
10 the committee in addition insight into cable
matters generally. After Analysing the two bills
and comparing with the other. General Swayne
directed the attention OF the committee TO the per
sstent calumny that had followed this company
Uhe New-Jersey company with reference to British
influences" and he read from Mr.. Scr'ms tes-
nnony where Lord Salisbury on occasion had
teegrap hed 10 the British Minister in Japan to pre-
vent American cable companies from securing any
advantages there. General Swayne said he could
not contradict this statement. He had no access
the private correspondence between the English
Foreign Office and the English Minister In Japan.
No man. he asserted. could speak truthfully about
such matters without having this knowledge.
Mr. Stewart. of New-Jersey-Have the gentlemen
who appeared In behalf OF the New-York company
before this committee last week this information?
General Swayne Gacetiously)-You don't suppose
they would make such assertion If they had not
this information. do you? 0-aughter)
General Swayne next referred TO Mr. Scrymsers
sad experience OF thirty years" in cable matters,
adding sarcasticaly that if he himself had had
this experience he would be glad TO quit the busi
ness He then reviewed in rapid detail some of the
Experiences" Of which Mr. Scrymser told the
committee last week He said for example. that
Mr.. Scrymser went TO Cuba and made certain cable
arrangements there only to find that he was deal
ing with pack Of scoundrels." Later he came
into contact with another bad man. Sir John ZEN
der. This was also unfortunate. Now Mr.. Scrym-
ser says that although Sir John is dead, he has
who wicked their father.
Dropping at this point his ironical tone, General
Swayne asserted with emphasis that so far
the Spaniards concerned II they could be
heard from regarding this matter. a fresh ver.hca-
ton Of the trita maxim that there two sides 10
every story might be received. So far as Sir John
Pender was concerned. the speaker had never met
him except on one occasion. but 1t was apparent
that Mr.. Scrymser knew him well.
Mr. Scrymsers reference to Mayor Hewitt,
TO which General Swayne next adverted. furnished
opportunity TO euogize Mr.. Hewitt in a grace
ful manner. He characterized him as a man OF
whom all NEWCOMERS were proud. lie was
member Of the House OF Representatives. and CON-
nanded its respect from every point of view. lie
had been connected with large business enterprises
and had come out OF each with unblemshed
character. 1T was reserved" continued General
Swayne, with deep earnestness. "for Mr.. Scrymser
10 pronounce that man publicly liar here and in
the Senate committee" He explained how he had
tried 10 bring about better understanding be-
tween Messrs Scrymser and Hewitt. because, In
his opinion. Of their age ought not TO
quarrel but he could not restrain the former. Now
they do not speak, although they are ne.ghbors.
he next referred to the allegation that Mr. Hewitt
mad said that Sir John Pender had Il large con-
troll OF the New-Jersey Cable Company. owning
stock In II TO the amount OF 100000 The speaker
mad Mr.. Hewiits word that he had never made
such an assertion. II know" continued General
ewayne. III Mr.. Hewitt said this he said what was
not true, for know where every dollar for this
company has been raised IL Mr. Hewitt told Mr..
Sciymser a lie that Is their affair. The Pacific
Ssole Company has nothing TO do with It,
MI PATTERSON. OF Tennessee-Is your company
"ee from foreign influence?
General Swayne-No. sir No company IL free
rom foreign influence. We build all our cables In
them
General Swayne concluded his argument with
1.eI reference TO what he characterized as the
oagoear OF foreign influence" He asserted that
- americans owned every dollars worth OF stock
- ootn the Pacific cable companies. the probabil-
sss were that within ten years the bulk Of the
LOCK LOCK would be held IN London II stakeholder
'""uo Ole. and his stock be sold. he said. 1t would