The Indianapolis journal., 1899-01-19

lied the construction Of lighthouses fog
signals, etc Then the bill to grant the
Pacific Cable Company a subsidy OF 500 900
a year for twenty years Tor the eonstruc-
uon and operation Of a cable was called up
and a very spirited debate, which occupied
the remainder Of the day, followed. The
opposition was headed by Mr.. Corliss. Rep,
of Michigan, who advocated the construc-
ton of the government cable. No conclu-
SION was reached at the hour of adjourn
ment, and as the special order under which
the House was operating expired with the
adjournment and as objection was made
to fixing another day for its consideration,
1t goes over indefinitely until the committee
can get another day, or until special order
During consideration of bin to estab-
lish light and fog signal station at Hog
island shoals, Narragansett bay. r. l., there
was a sharp passage between Mr.. Hepburn,
chairman of the interstate-commerce COM
mittee, and Mr.. Cannon, chairman of the
appropriations committee The latter in
dulged in some rather sharp criticism Of the
showing upon which the bill was presented.
Mr.. Hepburn resented this. and scored the
chairman of the appropriations committee.
He charged him with gratuitOUsly insulting
members of the other committees who re-
said the country held him responsible for
the cheeSe-paring policy the government
pursued. which left the country unprepared
when the war with Spain occurred Even
the hasty appropriation of $50, 600 900 just be-
fore war was declared. he said, only par
TALLY repaired the condition in which we
found ourselves 4as a result of this policy.
Mr.. Cannon, in defense of his own course,
made a reply which evoked cheers and APP
plause from both sides of the house He
referred to his long service in the House on
the committee on appropriations. He sai(.
he always looked conscientiously to the
best interests of the government. He had
erred frequently, perhaps, in the light Of
subsequent events, but he had always acted
honestly with the light he had at the time
He spoke of the way Congress had been
compelled to feel its way in building up the
new navy. The result of the war, he said,
had magnifcently and splenddly vindicated
fTcr fn ncyiya
Tor IN TINS respect, nor in any other, and
he should continue to do his duty as he saw
II, irrespective or the caustic comment or
the gentleman from Iowa. The bill was
then passed.
Mr.. Hemenway (Rep., Ind) made the
point of no quorum on the passage of a bill
tC establish a lighthouse and fog signal at
Point Arguello, Cal, at a cost not exceeding
$4,000, On call of the House the bill was
Bills were passed for a relief ship for the
Fourth lighthouse district to cost not eX
eeeding $4,000; for a lighthouse at Oyster
Bayou, La, to cost not exceeding 5000; to
construct a telephone and telegraph line
from Table Bluff to Salmon Creek Cal, to
cost $l,6O0; for lighthouse and fog signal
at terminus of Straight canal Toledo, o.,
&c cost $I5,oV0 and for a steam whistle at
Michigan City, Ind.
Mr.. Hepburn then called up the Hawaiian
cable bill. Upon the objection of Mr. Dock
cry Dem., Mo- the bill was considered in
committee of the whole Mr.. Evans (Rep.
ky) in the chair The bill authorizes the
citlc Cable Company, of New York, at the
rate of 100000 per year for twenty years for
the transmission of government messages
from San Francisco to Honolulu and points
on the Japanese and Chinese coasts the
company to deposit $2500 900 in government
bonds with the postmaster general within
fifteen days after the passage of the act as
guarantee of the construction of the cable
The bill fixed the rates for private individ-
uals at not to exceed $1.25 a word to China
and Japan, and 80 cents to Honolulu, press
rates not to exceed one-fOurth of the cable
rates.
Mr.. Bennett (Rep., N. ", in support of
the bill, review the contest over the Pacific
cable. The committee, after long investiga-
tion, he said, had decided that the strong
est company should construct this much
needed cable. The Pacific Gable Company
was incorporated under the laws of New
York, with a capital stock of $4,000 GOO. The
men behind it controlled the Mexican cable
and other cable lines. They had built 4,000
miles OF cable. Asked who the directors of
the company We're he replied they were the
president of the Mexican Gable Company
Mr.. Scrymser, Edward l.. Bailey, j. Pier
pOnt Morgan, j. K Todd and George s.
Baldwin He did not know the names Of
In reply to questions, Mr.. Bennett said
that neither the postmaster general, the
secretary of the treasury, the President nor
the secretary of the navy had been con-
''It seems to be a legislative contract with
a few wealthy New York gentlemen" inter-
rupted Mr.. Dockery, TO give them a monop-
oily of the Pacific cable business"
The debate continued for the remainder
of the afternoon. Mr.. Hepburn attempted
to get unanimous consent for resuming con-
sideration of the bill next Tuesday, but Mr.
Bailey objected.
Saturday, Feb. 4, at o'clock, was the
hour fixed for the exercises in connection
with the acceptance by Congress of the
p Blair from the State of Missouri. Then,
at 5:15 p. m, the House adjourned.