The record-union., 1899-02-27
SUNDRY CIVIL BILL.
SENATE COMMITTEE REPORTS
UPON IT.
An Amendment Provides for the
Construction of q Gable to
Honolulu.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26.-The Sem
ate Committee on Appropriations have
completed consideration of the sundry
civil bill as passed by the House and
reported it to the Senate. The most
important amendment is for a cable to
Honolulu. The amendment provides
that the cost Of the cable shall not ex-
coed $2.5O0.00O The text of the amend
ment is as follows:
THAT there shall be constructed by
the United States under the Secretary
of the Navy for military, naval and
postal purposes, a submarine, cable and
connecting land lines from Pacific
port in the State of California to be
designated by the President to the city
of Honolulu, in the Hawaiian Islands.
THAT the Secretary of the Navy is
hereby authorized, empowered and ii-
rected to detail one or more vessels of
the United States for the purpose Of
making surveys and taking careful
necessary soundings in order to deter
mine the most practicable line for said
ca ble
That the construction and laying OF
such cable or cables shall be under the
general control and direction Of the
secretary of the Navy and he is here
by empowered and required immediate
~ after the passage Of this Act to pre-
scribe and cause to be prepared plans
and specifications for the construction
and laying of said line of telegraphic
cable. to be constructed and put in op-
GRAFTON at the earliest practicable date.
Contracts for the construction and lay
ing of said line Of Geographic cable and
for supplying the necessary instruments
and appliances connected Herewith. ex-
cept such work as can be advantage
eously and efficiently done by the Navy
Department, shall be awarded and ex-
ecuted by the lowest responsible bidder
or bidders after such notice by adver-
tisement for sealed bids shall be deem
ed reasonable and sufficient by the Sec
rotary of the Navy. Provided, that in
all advertisements for bids, it shall be
provided that all appliances and ma
terial shall be of the best quality.
adapted for the highest efficiency. That
when such Geographic cable is compler-
ed the operation of the same shall be
under control of the Postmaster Cen
eral, who shall establish a rate of ton
for commercial messages not exceeding
70 cents per word to Honolulu and for
ing one-third Of the above named rates:
and the sum of $4,000 is hereby ap-
propriated toward the construction OF
said cable. and the total cost Of said
line shall not exceed $2,5O0,OOO to be
paid for from time to time as appro-
priations shall be made by Congress"
The total increases of the Senate
amount to 4,O93, 4O6; the bill as re-
ported to the Senate carrying 81, $685.
9s9. The more important changes fol-
low:
Light and fog signal near Point Ar
guello, CAL, $4,000; revenue cutter on
sea coast, $112.500, limit of cost $685.
600: to pay widow of General Calixto
Garcia amount of bail forfeited In
United States Court in Southern Dis
trict of New York, $500.
A proviso is added to the appropria-
ton for the projections of forest reserves
so as to provide that keepers shall en-
force the laws of the States in which
such reservations are located
The total appropriation for the Gulf
survey is increased from S677. 900 TO
$749O00. Some of the items follow:
Canadian Commission expenses. $780,
900: Paris Exposition appropriation
autnoHZed increase from $3.50 600 to
100000, appropriated by amendment
SSS0000, of which $4,000 is for clerk
hire; for construction of buildings in
connection with exposition $3.50, 600: for
a monument to Lafayette in Paris. TO
be dedicated as feature of the ex-
position, $4,000: bullion is to be pur-
chased from which $4,000 silver dol
lars are to be struck commemorative
of General Lafayette. the proceeds to
be used in the erection of the monu-
ment; industrial commission. appropria-
ton increased to $4,000 per annum.
4 Proviso attached to appropriation for
Government Printing Office fixing pay
of book binders and printers at so cents
an hour: new Government Printing
Office, S350,O00 limit of cost, 81, OOO, 900.
Underground London contains $4,000
miles of telegraph wires, 3OO3 miles of
sewers, $50 miles Of water mains e 2O0