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

IL l. trped That the United states
would Lose More Than II Would
Gain. md That Traffic Would he
Limited - Minority Contends THAT
thc Country Would Profit Greatly.
The Committee on Interstate and For
oign Commerce has submitted to the House
s report on the establishment OF an
American trsus-Pacifc cable. The ma
joriiy report. presented by Mr.. sherman
favors the private ownership OF the cable,
ari the minority report. made by Ny,
Corliss. advocates q Government line.
The establishment Of an American trans
Pacific cable has been under consideration
bv Congress for many years Various ar
suments have been urged i'm favor Of this
undertaking bat at the present time all
the arguments used in the past are dw1rfed
by the necessities which demand the inn
mediate establishment of an American
Pacific cable connecting the Pacific
Coast OF the United States with the Ha-
waiian Islands. with the naval stations
AZ Guam and with the Philippines.
Both in the Fifty-fourth and Fifty-ffth
Congresses this committee reported 70 the
House q hin 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
unanimous opinion Of the committee,
neither OF them was ever acted upon 10y
the House.
The pressing nature Of this subject vas
emphasized by The special message oil
President Mckinley. transmitted 10 Con
Eress on the 10th OF February. 1899. and
again by the strong recommendation con
tanned in the message submitted to Con
Eress al the opening OF the present ses-
sion.
Result Of surveys.
II is said that all doubts as TO the prac-
ticability Of establishing such 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,
aud Manila. a distance OF 6.S12 knots OF
s220 knots IL an extension from Guam 10
Yokohama is included. as the committee
thinks should be done. The bin 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
irE TO the Philippines via the Hawaiian
Islands and Guam. with branch 10 Japan
(which latter the committee deems an es-
sential feature Of trans-Pacihc cable sys-
tenn. that any corporation bidding shalI
deposit SEQ GOO IN United States bonds
with the Postmaster General is an earnest
Of it, good faith and as a guaranty that
tie cable viii be laid. The corporation
making the most favorable bid (Which
must not exceed $500 600 a year. shall re-
eeive q contract fer 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. Al the expiration Of
twenty years Government messages are to
be transmitted forever thereafter at rates
20 be fixed by the Postmaster General, not
exceeding one-half the rates charged TO the
public No money whatsoever is 10 be paid
by the United States 10 the contracting
company until the line 20 the Philippines is
completed.
The line is 10 be maintained under guar
anties The amount paid by the Govern
ment mot TO exceed $500. 600 per year. is to
be kept by the company exclusively as
reserve fund, to be used only for repairs
and renewals An annual sworn statement
Of this reserve fund is 10 be made 20 the
Government
The maximum rates 10 be charged by the
company are never 10 exceed 81 cents per
word between San Francisco and Honolulu,
and 81 a word between san Francisco.
Manila Japan HongkOng and shanghai,
g. G.. 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
20 be laid shall be Of American manufac-
1ure. 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 in
po-tance Of encouraging American manu-
fscturers in the making and laying II
ocean cables. ID also realizes the vital
necessity OF causing 10 be established. a,
speedily as possible. communication by an
American company with the Hawaiian Isle
Ands and the Philippines.
The committee has held a number 81 pub
lie hearings at which representative OF
she Army and Navy and also representa-
lives Of private cable companies have aq-
peared. These hearings developed two pro-
posnls namely. a Government cable. 10 be
isid, owned. and maintained by the United
States Government, or cable 70 be laid.
owned. and maintained by private cor
porstion TO carry Governments messages
tor fixed amount and without risk 10 the
United States.
A. to Government Ownership.
The committee in its report says.
After carefully considering the testi-
mouy presented by the Representatives Of
the Army and Navy Department IL IS be-
Iieved that the only arguments in favor OF
q Goverument-o owned cable are the follow.
ing
sFirst-Such a cable would be- oompletel
under the control Of the United States Gov
ernment officials
This seems OF small importance 10 th'
committee. except in time Of war and Do
that event the Government rs authorized %
assume control Of the private cable Whlci
the committee recommends.
sSecord-It is argued that GoEt-nmen
cable would De more economical 70 th'
United States
This argument loses sight OF the noces
sity OF duplicating the cable without Whiel
the service would be In constant danger %
interruption. Your committee is convince
that under any circumstances. a duplicatI
cable must belaid at the earliest practicable
moment, and no scheme for a trans Pacid
cable that does not include such q dupli
cate arrangement can be regarded as alb