Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-12
THE. fRANSPAClFIC CABLE
PASSAGE BY THE SENATE AFTER
LITTLE DEBATE.
Provision Made for n Line to Homo
IuIu-The Work to BE Done Under
Navy Departments Control.

With little debate of Importance the Sen
ate yesterday afternoon passed the Pacific
cable bill, a.measure appropriating $1,000
600 for the construction of a cable line be-
tween San Francisco and Honolulu. The
bill was unanimously reported by the COM
mittee naval affairs.
The bill provides for cable from San
Francisco to Honolulu, the work to be done
under the supervision of the Navy Depart
ment. which has made surveys and deter
mined the practicability of the route. The
Navy Department may use any of its ships
that be adapted to the task Of laying
the cable, and if it needs other ships it
may charter them. In addition to this 1t
provides that the Secretary of the Navy. in
his discretion, if he finds 1t is not practical
Bile to lay the cable by the force Of his own
department may contract, under Specifica-
lions and due advertisement, for the con-
struction. laying and equipment of the ca
BILE. All materials and appurtenances shall
be of first-class quality.
Section ) provides that the cable, wires
and other Instruments, materials, appli-
ances and appurtenances necessary in the
work of laying the cable shall be Of Ameri-
can manufacture provided the same can be
procured at a cost not exceeding - per
cent above what the same can be procured
for in fore Sn markets.
Mr.. Hale Explains.
Mr.. Hale explained that the bill provided
only for the building of the cable from San
Francisco to Honolulu. This would be, he
said, in the nature of an experiment and
upon the result of 1t would depend in
measure the future course of the govern
ment 1t might be deemed desirable in the
light of experience, to start the Philippine
cable from some point like Seattle and pro-
coed to Japan by the northern route
Mr.. Pettus moved to strike out section 5
Of the bill.
UI,-r- ha sG,I,o =,
ment consent to be taxed on its own busi-
ness for the benefit of certain manufac-
turers It's an absurdity. Even II you do
rob the people by your taxes, you ought not
to rob the government
Mr.. Tillman Is. c. as a member of the
naval committee, defended the bill. the re-
port in which all the democratic members
of the committee had Joined. While he was
not, he said. a protectionist or in favor of
subsidies, he regarded the provision in Sec
ton of this bill in the interest of the psO-
pie, as 1t would be a sort of nursing bot
tie to the industries Interested He
deemed 1t a desirable experiment in gov
eminent ownership and control, and eX-
pressed the opinion that it might prove a
good thing for Alabama.
Up to this date" said Mr.. Pettus, Gala
bama will not accept your bride. 1 have
seen one great state near mine accept the
sugar bottle. and l don't like it,
Mr.. Tillman discaimed any effort to
bride either Senator Pettus the state of
Alabama but he anxious to increase
the struggling iron and steel industries of
Alabama and hoped to see the day when a
government armor plate factory would be
located in Alabama
Alabama is not struggling at ALL" re-
torted Mr.. Pettus with spirit. Alabama
is master of the situation both as to iron
and coal But the great grandchildren of
the senator Cri1lman) will be here in the
Senate before any government armor plates
are manufactured in Alabama This thing
is wrong and senators know it."
Nr Iafaa tad
to sand the bill passed without division
Public buildings were authorized and
amounts appropriated for them as follows:
Allentown. Pa, s153.0n; Carthage. Mo-
2.OnI: Reno. New, $4,000; Bluefield. w
Va, $1,000; for an addition to the Hart
ford. Conn, public building, $250,000.
miscellaneous Bills.
The following bills were passed: Relating
to the admission to and dismissals from the
reform school of the District of Columbia :;
appropriat ting 100000 to establish branch
home of the National Home for Disabled
Volunteer Soldiers at Castle Pinckney,
Charleston harbor, S. c.; authorizing the
construction OF a bridge across the ITALIA
hatchie river, Miss. authorizing the Presi-
dent to invite the international congress of
navigation to hold its ninth session in
Washington. d. c., and appropriating $25,-
600 for expenses; providing for the erection
of dwellings for the keepers of the Crosse
Isle Mich, light house
Mr.. Chandler then addressed the Senate
in support of an amendment he had offered
to the naval appropriation bill providing
for the reorganization of the United States
naval observatory.
After a brief executive session the SEN
ate at 5:15 pm. adjourned.