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

able to do more than 01e-thiTd of the cab.e
business between Japan, China. and the
Philippines and the rest of the world, and
in that way secure sufficient amount in
| annual cable tolls 10 enable it TO pay fair
return OF the amount invested.
1t will he observed that included in the
annual income in the foregoing estimate
is the sum OF $500. 900. which is the annual
contract price for the transmission Of
| United States Government messages, as
provided for in the bill accompanying this
report. II will also be observed that this
$500 900 is TO be set aside and used exclu-
sively for repairs and renewals under
sworn statements. This payment is for
services tc be rendered at their fair market
value. There is no element of subsidy in
such proposition.
The Cost OF Cable Tolls
1T appears from the report OF the See
rotary OF War and from statements made
b. the representatives of the Navy De
partment that those TWO Departments are
now expanding, for Government messages
10 the Philippines only, more than $3.50, 600
per year. If TO this be added the cost of
all the cable messages sent by the Depart
ment of State and by other Departments of
the Government TO China and Japan and
the Philippines, and the cost of cab e mes
ments TO stations in the Far East other
than the Philippines, the committee i, con
WINGED that ii will be found that the Gov
eminent is now spending over $500, Geo per
annum for official messages TO and from the
Far East. and that this expenditure is
likely &c continue
The cable system proposed by the bill
tif an allowance is made of II per cent for
sIack-the usual allowance for cables laid
~
will require the making and laying CT about
10000 miles of cable. The Government will
thus be asked TO pay for the service II be
rendered at rate OF not exceeding $50
per mile a>~year. In 1857. when the first
Atlantic cable MAS laid, the United STAGES
Congress passed a bill providing for the
payment of $4,000 year for twenty wears
Tor cable less than 1000 miles in length.
the British Government to give a like
amount; l. e., the cable company was TO
receive $4,000 year for twenty years,
which was at the rate of over $40 per mile
The act of June 10. 1860. provided fnl
payment OF ib,0On per year for ten years
to the company which undertook the COZ
struction of a land line from the Missouri
to the Pacific Coast, a distance OF about
1000 miles. This payment amounted to
$50 per mile, and the cost of constructing
this line was probably $500 per mile. The
present bill will be in excess of 81, 200 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
hold nv h..
be conveyed only by an act of Congress
The operation of such a cable will neces-
Sarlly establish for many years monopoly
OF the cable communications with Hawaii
Guam, the Philippine Islands and TO a
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
-
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-
ton of the company plan for the follow |
ing reasons:
1T grants an exclusive privilege which |
will become a monopoly, and fostNs the |
same by public subsidy amounting to the |
sum of S6,006.000, more than half of the |
cost of the entire construction |
Of the cable.
1T makes no provision for the reduction !
Of the tariff tolls from time to time JUS |
flied by the increasing cable commnnica- |
ion arising from the inevitable expansion |
# our trade and commerce.
The bill as amended authorizes the |
payment OF the subsidy upon the compile
ion of the cable to Manila, and thereby |
ails to ensure the extension of cable conf
nunication with Japan and China upon |
reasonable terms, which is necessary for |
he development OF cur trade with said |
Countries.
"A cable franchise connecting our coun
ry with the islands Of the Pacific. Japan, |
md China will largely control the expand
ng trade and commerce of the Pacific and |
become monopoly of great value, justify
ng private interests in constructing the
anne without a subsidy upon the liberal
erms conveyed in II. r. 1856"
In the judgment OF the minority the mill |
airy and naval interests, as we'll as the ex-
banding trade and commerce OF our people
iemand the construction of the cable by |
he Government and its maintenance and
as an aid 10 our trade and a protection to
,ur people.
Control of the Pacific.
Under the caption of Government owner
hip and control, the minority declare "a
lew era has dawned upon our country.
Fer over a century the genius and indus
ry of our people have been applied TO the
development of our natural resources aud
art Of the United States has been supplied
With means of rapid communication and
until every city. town and
amlet has been made 10 feel the benefit OF
Industrial enterprise; our navigable lakes
nd rivers have been improved until our
inland waters are dotted with a merchant
larine equal to the present necessities OF
our agricultural lands aud nat
raj resources have been developed until
hey are capable of producing sufficient
roduct TO supply the markets of the world
he time has arrived in cur marvellous de-
elopment when, in order to continue the
march Of American progress. We must
each out and command the commerce OF
he sea.
Great Britain has achieved her COM
nercial supremacy by the purchase or con-
truction and control of the great canals
~ the acquisition of territory and the
of her colonies in every part
# the world; by the construction and
ownership OF cables 10 every part OF her
'ast possessions, thereby securing rapid
at reasonable rates for her
rade and commerce. We should profit
~ her example and connect the waters
II the oceans by the Nicaragua Canal
nd join together the islands OF the Pacific
With cable constructed. owned and oper-
tied By our Government for the benefit
f the people without profit or hope of