The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-12

The bill appropriating 100000 for the
construction, operation, and maintenance
Of a Pacific cable under the control of the
Navy Department was passed by the Il
ate yesterday after few minutes discus
sion. The report on the bill, which was
submitted by the Committee on Naval AZ
fairs, contains the following eXplanatioa:
1T provides for laying submar he ca
bic from san Francisco to Honolulu, the
work to be done under the supervision Of
the Navy Department, which has made he
surveys and determined the practicability
of the route. IN this work the till pro-
vdes that the Navy Department may use
any of its ships that can be adapted to the
task Of laying the cable, and that II it
needs other ships il may charter them
wherever they can be found
In addition to this it provides that the
Secretary of the Navy in his discretion. 4
he finds it is not practicable to .ay tire
cable by the force of his own department,
may contract, under specifications and due
advertisement. for the construction. laying,
and equipment of the cable provided for in
this bill All wires cables. nsulators
batteries instruments. and other ma eri Is
and appurtenances should be of first q, IS
quality.
"Seetion provides that the cable. wires
and other Instruments. materials appli-
ances, and appurtenances necessary in the
work Of laying said cable. shall be Of
American manufacture, provided that the
same can be procured at a cost not exceed
ing II per cent above what the same can be
procured for in foreign markets.
90
these provisions are ample to ensure the
work by private enterprise, while leaving
the general charge Of it with the Govern
ment and the ownership there when com
pleted. At any rate the experiment will be
tried in the building of the short end of the
line, from san Francisco TO Honolulu, and
our future course can be governed by the
experience gained in this work.
1T is believed that the cost of the line
between the two places named will be not
far from 100000 and should the bill be-
come a law at the present session of Con-
gress, it is hoped that the work may be
under way within year
In reply TO questions Mr.. Hale, Chairman
Of the Committee on Naval Affairs, said
that the cable could be supplied in T.
United States but at a cost y per cent
greater than the foreign prices; that the.
the cable to Honolulu; that afte-ward thes
question Of further extension could be de-
cided and that the route might be fion
Seattle or san Francisco north BY the
Alaskan islands and Japan. ---r 20
Mr.. Pettus moved to strike out section -
which provides that the cables wires. and
other instruments shall be of Americs n
manufacture, provided they can be prog.
cured al cost not exceeding 70 per cent
Of what they can be procured for in foreign
markets He asked why the Government
was to be taxed for the benefit of manu-
facturers, and declared the proposition 10
be an absurdity.
Mr.. Tillman said that as a member OF
he Committee on Naval Affairs he had
consented to that section, and he sugges- ed
that as it might prove to be an advantage
TO the iron industry OF Alabama it should
be accepted as sort OF nursing bottle.
up to this time, Mr.. Pettus replied,
Alabama is not willing to accept your
bribe"
i did not offer it as a bribe, Mr. Till
man interposed. 4s--a--
Il DO not know what else lis" sid Mr.
Pettus. y have seen a very great State
close to me accept the sigaf B5ttie. ard
now the Senator from South Carolina. is
offering it to Alabama on a silver plate"
Il am not offering Alabama anything.
Mr.. Tillmau broke in. Il called attention
TO the fact that Alabama was Interested in
a struggle in The iron industry. and that
while there may be no help for Alabama in
this bill. il is perfectly fair that IL she can
manufacture steel armor there cheaper
than elsewhere, l. for one. will be very
glad that she gets the business. We have
been sending money North all the time and
never getting any back"
Mr.. pettus-The great grandchildren Of
the Senator from South Carolina will. some
Of them. be here in the Senate before any
armor plates are manufactured in Alabama
So far from our struggling for position ir
the manufacture Of iron in Alabama and
not struggling at all Alabama is master of
the situation both as TO iron and coal
Senators know that this thing is wrong.
Rhode Island is at the present moment
the head centre Of the protective policy.
Mr.. Pettus amendment-was rejected
yeas II; nays. IS. and the bill was passed.