The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-17

eign Commerce has submitted TO the House
9, report on the establishment OF an
American trans Pacific cable. The ma
jority report, presented by Mr.. Sherman,
favors the private ownership of the cable,
and the minority report. made by Mr..
CoTlxs, advocates Government line.
The establishment of an American trans
Pacific cable has been under consideration
by Congress for many years. Various ar
guments have been urged in favor of this
undertaking, but at the present time all
the arguments used in the past are dwarfed
by the necessities which demand the i'm
mediate establishment of an American
trans-Pacifc cable connecting the Pacific
Coast OF the United States with the Ha-
waiian Islands. with the naval stations
al Guam and with the Philippines
Both in the Fifty-fourth and Fifty fifth
Congresses this committee reported to the
House q bin for the establishment of an
American transatlantic cable In taking
such action the committee was then guided
by a desire to afford to the expanding com
merce of the people of the United States
the facilities which an American trans
Pacific cable could alone give. Though
these bills were supported by the almost
neither of them was ever acted upon by
the House.
The pressing nature of this subject was
emphasized by the special message of
President Mckinley, transmitted to Con
gress on the 10th of February. 1899. and
again by the strong recommendations con
tained in the message submitted to Con-
gress at the opening of the present SEES
sion.
a
II is said that all doubts as TO the prac-
ticability of establishing such a line OF
trans Pacific cable have been removed by
the surveys recently made by the United
States Government, and a practicable cable
route has been found. starting from San
Francisco and going to Honolulu, Guam
and Manila, a distance of 6.S72 knots, OF
s,220 knots il an extension from Guam to
Yokohama is included. as the committee
thinks should be done. The bill now pre-
scented, in substance. provides that the
Postmaster General shall advertise for two
months for bids from a responsible private
American corporation for the establish
ment of a trans-Pacific cable line extend
ing to the Philippines via the Hawaiian
Islands and Guam, with a branch to Japan
(Which latter the committee deems an es-
sential feature of a rans-Paclfc cable sys
tenn; that any corporation bidding shall
deposit 5000 600 in United States bonds
with the Postmaster General is an earnest !
of its good faith and as a guaranty that |
the cable Will be laid. The corporation |
making the most favorable bid (Which !
must not exceed 100000 a year. shall re-
eeiye contract for transmitting official |
messages of the United States for period |
of twenty years to and from the Hawaiian |
Islands, Guam, the Philippines, Hongkong |
Shanghai, and Japan. At the expiration of /
twenty years Government messages are to |
be transmitted forever thereafter at rates |
to be hxed by the Postmaster General. not |
exceeding one-half the rates charged to the |
public. No money whatsoever is TO be paid |
by the United States to the contracting |
company until the line to the Philippines is
completed.
The line is to be maintained under guar
antics. The amount paid by the Govern
ment mot TO exceed $500. 600 per year, is to
be kept by the company exclusively as a |.
reserve fund, to be used only for repairs
and renewals. An annual sworn statement
of this reserve fund is 10 be made to the
Government
The maximum rates to be charged by the
company are never to exceed 80 cents per
word between San Francisco and Honolulu,
and 81 word between San Francisco
Manila, Japan Hongkong. and Shanghai,
!. e., less than half the existing rates. In /
case Of war, rebellion, or other emergency
the United States Government may take
possession of the lines and stations at all |
points within its Jurisdiction. and use and
operate the same.
The bill further provides that the cables
TO be laid shall be of American manufac-
ture. and laid and maintained by an
American company. and by ships flying the /
American flag, provided that such cables
can be contracted for. made, and laid with
in the time limit in the bin specified;
otherwise the cable may be purchased
abroad The committee realizes the i'm
portance of encouraging American manu-
facturers IN the making and laying Of
ocean cables. 1t also realizes the vital
necessity of causing 10 be established a,
speedily as possible, communication by an
American company with the Hawaiian ISL
ands and the Philippines.
The committee has held a number OF pub
lie hearings at which representatives OF
the Army and Navy, and also representa-
tives Of private cable companies have ap-
peared. These hearings developed two pro-
posals. namely. Government cable TO be
laid, owned and maintained by the United
States Government. or a cable 10 be laid
owned, and maintained by private cor
pofation, TO carry Government messages
for fixed amount and without risk 10 the
United States.
Is to Government Ouncrship,
The committee in its report SAYS:
After carefully considering the testi-
mony presented by the representatives of
the Army and Navy Department. it is be-
Iieved that the only arguments in favor of
e Government owned cable are the follow
ing:
''First-Sueh a cable would be completely
under the control of the United States Gov
eminent officials.
This seems of small Importance to the
committee except in time of war. and in
that event the Government is authorized to
assume control of the private cable which
the committee recommends.
'Second-It is argued that Government
cable would be more economical 10 the
United States
This argument loses sight of the neces-
aity OF duplicating the cable, without which
the service would be in constant danger of
interruption. Your committee is convinced
that under any circumstances a duplicate |
cable must beiaid at the earliest practicable
moment, and no scheme for a trans PaciG.
cable that does not include such dupll-
cate arrangement can be regarded as alb
Rolutely safe.
1.-THE following disadvantages Of Gov
eminent cable have occurred 10 the com
mittee, and in the opinion OF the committee
they are controlling and justify the con-
illusions now arrived at:
''First-The great first cost of establish
Ing Government trans Pacific cable sys-
TEN, that is So, 600, coo.
Second-The comparatively great an
hual cost OF a Government cable, estimated
nj 81 .500, eco
'Third-The inability Of the United