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

able TO do more tn3n one lhId OF NHe N'D.e
business between Japan. China. and the
Philippines and the rest Of the world ana
in that way secure a sufficient amount IN
annual cable tolls 20 enable it to pay talr
return on the amount invested
III will be observed that included IN ine
annual income in the foregoing estimate
is the sum of $500 ono. which is the annual
contract price for the transmission Of
United STATES Government messages as
provided for in the bill accompanying this
report r. will also be observed that this
$3.50 600 is 10 be set aside and used eNelu-
siyely for repairs and renewals under
sworn statements This payment is for
services &c be rendered at their fair market
value. There Is no element OF a subsidy in
such q proposition.
The cost Of cable Tolls.
"It appears from the report OF the See
rotary OF War and from statements made
by the representatives OF the Navy De
partment that those TWO Departments are
now eNpendinE for Government messages
TO The Philippines only more than $3.50 coo
per year. II 10 this be added the cost Of
all the cable messages sent by The Depart
menJ OF State and by other Departments OF
the Government TO China and Japan and
the Philippines. and the cost Of cab mes
sagos sent by yhe Army aud Navy Depart
meuts TO stations iB the Far East other
than the Philippines. The committee i con-
WINGED that il viii DE found that the Gov
eminent is now spending over 100000 per
annum fer Official messages TO aud from the
Far East and that this expenditure is
likely 10 continue.
The cable system proposed 10y the bill
III an allowance is made Of II per cent for
slack-the usual allowance for cables laid
a. he of ms N
viii require the making and laying CT about
10 O00 miles of cable. The Government will
thus be asked TO pay for the sCryice ID be
rendered at rate OF not exceeding $50
per mile a~ycar In 1851 when the first
Atlantic cable Was laid, the United States
Congress passed a bill providing for the
payment of $4,000 year for twenty years
for cable less than 1000 niles in length.
the British Government to give a like
amount; i. e.. the cable company was to
receive $4,000 a year for twenty years
which was at the rate of over $40 per mile.
The act OF June l6 1860 provided for a
payment Of $40 coo per year for ten years
10 the company which undertook the con
structon OF a land line from the Missouri
to the Pacific Coast, distance OF about
1000 miles This payment amounted to
$50 per mile, and the cost Of constructing
this lire was probably $500 per mile. The
present bill will be in excess Of $1,000 per
mile"
The Minority Report.
The minority report is signed by Rep
resentatives Corliss, Fletcher. and stewart.
They say:
The right to construct a Pacific cable
connecting our country with our new pos
sessions in the Pacific Ocean is a special
n..F.a
be conveyed only by an act OF Congress.
The operation OF such cable will neces-
sarily establish for many years a monopoly
Of the cable communications with Hawaii,
Guam, the Philippine Islands, and. 10
large extent. with the markets Of the
orient. and it should be laid. owned. and
operated by the Government for the pro-
lection OF our military and naval power
and the advancement Of our trade and
commerce.
The minority quote from the special
message Of President Mckinley Of Febru-
airy 10. 1899, in which. referring to the pro-
posed cable. he says: such communica-
ton should be established in such a way
as to be wholly under the control of the
United States, whether In time OF peace
or Of war
The minority protest against the adop-
tion Of the company plan for the follow
ing reasons:
1t grants an exclusive privilege which
will become a monopoly. and fOstts the
same by a public subsidy amounting TO the
sum Of 100000 more than half Of the
estimated cost Of the entire construction
Of The cable.
1t makes no provision for the reduction
of the tariff tolls from time to time jus
titled by the increasing cable communica-
tion arising from the inevitable expansion
Of our trade and commerce
The bill as amended authorizes the
payment OF the subsidy upon the compile
tion Of the cable TO Manila and thereby
fails TO ensure the extension Of cable COM
munication with Japan and China upon
reasonable terms. which is necessary for
the development OF cur trade with said
countries
"A cable franchise connecting our coun-
try with the islands Of the Pacific. Japan,
and China will largely control the expand
ing trade and commerce Of the Pacific and
become q monopoly Of great value justify
ing private interests in constructing the
same without a subsidy upon The liberal
, terms conveyed in Il. R. $3.50
Ia the judgment Of the minority he mill
tary and naval interests. as well as the eV-
paudiuR trade and commerce OF our people
demand the construction of the cable by
, the Government and its maintenance and
/ operation al the lowest possible tariff rates
as an aid 70 our trade and a protection 20
our people.
Control of the Pacific.
Under the caption of Government owner
( ship and control the minority declare "a
ucw era has davued upon our country.
F For over century the genius and indus
/ Try OF our people have been applied 10 the
/ development OF our natural resources aud
I internal trade and industries. until every
I par, OF he United States has been supplied
I with means OF rapid communication and
/ transportation. until every city. town. and
+ hamlet has been made 10 feel the benefit OF
Industrial enterprise. our uavigable lakes
and rivers have been improved until our
/ inland waters are dotted with a merchant
marine equal TO the present necessities OF
] commerce. our agricultural lands aud nat
/ ural resources have been developed until
they are capable OF producing sufficient
product 20 supply the markets Of the WoTi1
/ The time has arrived DO cur marvellous de-
Z velopment when 10 order TO continue the
1 march Of American progress. We must
I reach uut and command the commerce Of
2 the sea.
Great Britain has achieved her COM
meroial supremacy 10y the purchase or con
. Struciiou aud control OF the great canals
by the acquisition Of territory, and the
estahli sEment OF her colonies ia every part
of the world by the construction and
ownership OF cables 90 every part OF her
vast possessions. thereby securing rapid
communication al reasonable rates for her
trade and commerce. We should profit
by her example and connect tho waters
Of the oceans by the Nicaragua Canal
and join together the islands OF the Pacific
with cable constructed owned. and oper-
ated By our Government for the benefit