New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-16
A PACIFIC CABLE ADVOCATED.
GENERAL WAGER SWAYNES AHuo"H.>i
BEFORE THE HOUSE COMMERCE.
COMMITTEE

x,-,,.o, Ton 15-CeneraI Wager Swayne. OF
New-York representing the Pacinc Sapie NoN'p"''
Of New-Jersey appeared before the House 'o",-
r,erre Committee to-day. IN support OF PROPOSE
ton 10 throw open TO competition the iev'"s VI
cable from the United States to Jepan' by way ~
tJoro,urn He contrasted the Senate ana thc
House bills saying that the former directed 'he
Postmaster-General TO make contract VIII" ~. ',,
lowest responsible bidders while the House o,''
gave the privilege Of laying the cable 10 certain
company. He went on TO show that wna' Is NM"
as the Colonial Conference. which has been si''s
IN London. has within the last fortnight conciuded
its sessions and that 1t favors n cable from van
CONVEX TO Japan with branch lines to Aus'raHa
and Honolulu, the imperial government paying a
part Of the expense. while the remainder Is o''ueo
among the colonies interested. This cable wouo
be built exclusively by the British and ieaVe no
justification for an American cable
General Swayne explained that in all ciVi'zeu
countries the telegraph Is regarded as part OF 'he
mail service except in the United states "neie
1t is controlled by private persons Even mere. "
is merely an extension Of the American postomce
system All the cable bills before congress- lie
said reegated the details to the Postofnce Depart
ment. thus recognizing the cable as part OF the
nost,l service The postal service he held was
not required to be remunerative. therefore. the
stipulation TO pay the money OF the United states
in the form Of subsidy to the cable company
for twenty years. was not strictly subsidy, mas
much as the Governments business is carrieu uui
ing that period free of charge. There was no IN
consistency in that he thought. as the malls were
carried In some parts Of the country by private
persons who were paid for their service.
In answer TO questions from the committee, Cen
eral Swayne explained that the other company
which desired the contract would undertake %
build the cable this year. His company could not
do that Neither could his company lay the cable
to Japan and China within seventeen months from
this date They would not attempt to do II until
the bed Of the ocean had been properly surveyor.
The English Government he asserted. would not
Law their cable If the United States first enters me
field He referred TO the existing conditions In the
Hawaiian Islands by showing that the Hawaiah
people feel that they may not long remain an IN
dependent nation. He asserted that sooner or ater
they would their lot with some nation ana
that nation would probably be the one which wou9
put them In communication with the renalnder oI
the world and thus help them to build UP their
..x
In answer to a question. = the men COMPOSING
his company were responsible, General Swayne
mentioned the names Of some OF the leading IN
corporators among whom were Colonel Spauldihg,
who had lived many years in Honolulu, and hed 10
a contract from that Government TO lay caple 70
San Francisco. Other members OF the company
were D. O. Mills. Of New-York; General u NJ.
Dodge, who built the Union Pacific Railway; James
J. Hill president of the Manitoba Railway; Aprafh
s. Hewitt of New-York, and many others