The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-01-19
GABLE N The HOUSE
Pacific Company's 100000
a Year Subsidy
HOLLY DEBATED ALL DAY
Advocates of Government
Construction Take a Hand.

Washington, Jan 1s-The committee on
interstate and foreign commerce had the
right Of way in the house today and sue
ceeded in passing quite a number OF bills
Of minor Importance, most Of which
authorized the construction of lighthouses.
fog signals. etc. The nthe bill to grant
I the Pacific Gable company a subsidy OF
800 90 a year for twenty years for the
construction fand operation OF a cable
was called up and a very spirited debate,
which consumed the remainder OF the day.
followed The opposition was headed by
Mr.. Corliss CRep. Mich), who advocated
the construction Of a government cable.
No conclusion was reached at the hour or
adjournment and as the special order
under which the house was operating to-
day expired with the adjournment, and as
objection was made to fixing another Gay
for its consideration, it goes over indefi-
nitely until the committee can get another
day for the special order Is adopted.
SOME SMALL BILLS PASSED.
The first bills passed were small meas
ures to improve the lighthouse service.
A bill was passed TO establish depot for
the Sixth lighthouse district, with an ap-
preparation of S35 600 therefor.
During the consideration OF a bin 10 es-
tablish light and fog signal station at
Hog island shoals, Narragansett bay. r.
l., there was sharp passage between Mr..
| Hepburn, chairman of the interstate COM
merce committee, and Mr.. Cannon, chair
man of the appropriations committee.
! The latter INDUCED in some sharp criti-
cisms of the showing upon which the bill
was presented. Mr.. Hepburn resented this
and scored the chairman Of the appropria-
tons committee.
CANNON'S cHEESE-PARING.
| He charged him with gratutiously in
| sulting members of other committees who
reported bills carrying appropriations. and
said the country held him responsible for
| the cheese-paring policy which had left
/ the country unprepared when the war with
Spain occurred.
/ Mr.. Cannon, in defnse of his own
/ course, made a reply which evoked cheers
and applause from both sides Of the house.
He referred to his long service in the
! house on the committee of appropriations.
He had erred frequently, perhaps, in the
light of subsequent events, but he had al
ways acted honestly with the light he had
at the time. He spoke of the way con-
gress had been compelled 10 feel its way
in building up the new navy. The re-
suit of the war, he said had nagnificentIy
and splendidly indicated its course. He
| had nothing to apologize for in this respect
nor in any other, and he should continue
to do his duty as he saw il, irrespective
of the caustic comment of the gentleman
from Iowa.
The bill was then passed.
MORE SMALL BILLS.
Mr.. Hemenway (Rep., Ind made the
point of no quorum on the passage OF
bill to establish a lighthouse and fog sig
| nal at Point Arguella, Cal. at a cost not
exceeding sS5, OOO On a call Of the house.
the bill was passed, 176 to 6.
Bills were passed for relief ship for
the Fourth lighthouse district to cost not
exceeding $4,000 to construct telephone
and telegraph lines from Table Bluff to
Salmon creek. Humboldt county, Cal, 20
cost $500 for relief ship for the Fourth
lighthouse district and for a lighthouse
and fog signal al the terminus Of Straight
channel. Toledo. o., to cost $4,000.
THEN THE HAWAIIAN CABLE.
Mr.. Hepburn then called up the Hawaii
an cable bill
Upon the objection Of Mr.. Dockery
dem. MOI the bill was considered in
committee of the whole, Mr. Evans (Rep.,
KY in the chair. The bln authorizes the
postmaster general TO contract with the
Pacific 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 .,he company to deposit $3.50 900
in government bonds with the postmaster
general within fifteen days after the pas
sage of the act as a guarantee OF the
construction of the cable The bill fixed
the rates for private individuals at not
10 exceed $1.25 a word to China and Japan
and S5 cents to Honolulu. press rates not
to exceed one-fourth OF the cable rates
Mr.. Bennett (Rep.. y. ". in support OF
the bill, reviewed the contest over me Pa
cifc company. The committee. after long
investigation. he said. had decided ;hat the
strongest company should construct this
much needed cable The Pacific Cable
company would be Incorporated under the
laws OF New York. with a capital stock Of
SO 60 .0CO The men who were behind i
controlled the Mexican cable and other
cable lines. They had built 1900 miles OF
cable. Asked VINO the directors Of the
company were. ne replied they were the
president Of the Mexican Cable Company.
Mr.. Scrymser. Edward L. Bailey. J. Pier
point Morgan. J. X Todd and George 5.
Baldwin. he did not know the names OF
the stockholders
\ DOCBLE-HEADER SUBSIDY.
Mr.. Bailey asked II this company was
not seeking q subsidy FOR the company
from Japan.
Mr.. Bennett replied that II was. Sut he
denied the statement Of M Bailey that
the subsidies would pay the interest on
enough money to construct the cable. It,
cost. he said, would be $1,000 0d0
in reply to questions. Mr.. Bennett said
that neither the postmaster general the
secretary Of the treasury. the president or
the secretary OF the navy had been con-
suited about this bill.
1T seems 20 Be a legislative contract
wi-h a few wealthy New York gentle
mel." interrupted M Dockery Dem
Mo-. ''to give them a monopoly Of the
Pacific cable business"
Mr. Bennett gave notice that a. the
proper time he intended 10 ore- amend
ments 70 provide that The cab.e should
touch The Lad7oaes and TIE Philippine
islands
\ SUGGESTION or DOODLE
Mt Lewis Dem. Wssa.) asked z Il
was tue that this company hzs con-
tractei with the Great Northern Erten-
son company 20 build th= cable ard .
have a controlling interest OF condition
that this company would secure enough