Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-26
CANAL AND PACIFIC GABLE
Questions Before the House Committee on
Commerce.
Bill Amended sosas to Apply the Con-
tract System - British Company's
Concessions i'm the Philippines.

The House committee on interstate and
foreign commerce today reconsidered the
Nicaragua canal bill, which had been re-
ported with an appropriation of $40, ,OOO,-
co., and changed the appropriation section
so as to make $1O,OOOOOO available. with
authority to contract for the entire exca-
walton, construction, defense and compile
ton of the canal at total cost not exceed
ing S14OOOO,OOO.
Before this action was taken Mr. Hen.
burn, chairman Of the committee. stated
that as all the members Of the committee
were anxious for the success of the bill. it
was well to consider some objections which
had been raised. He had heard several OBJ
jections on the ground that the whole s14O,-
ooo,oOO was appropriated now, and three or
support the bill If the entire sum was an
propriated now, but would support It if
only portion was made available at once
to begin the work.
Mr.: Coriss of Michigan thereupon offer
ed the following new section, which was
adopted:
Sec. 6. That the sum Of 100000 is
hereby appropriated out of any money in
the treasury not otherwise appropriated to-
ward the project herein contemplated and
the Secretary of War is further hereby au-
thorized to enter into a contract or con-
tracts for materials and work that may be
deemed necessary for the proper excava-
ton, construction, defense and completion
of said canal, to be paid for as appropria-
tions may from time to time be hereafter
made, not to exceed in the aggregate $14O,-
O0O,OOO''
Mr.. Fletcher of Minnesota asked: "When
you get that canal half built for $14O, 600 900
what will you do for the other half?'
Mr.. Corliss answered that the highest es-
innate of cost thus far was $133, ,OOO 600
Mr.. Hepburn added that in the amended
form the hill :jmplv ha not
system and limited the aggregate to $780,
100000.
In the amended form the bill was ordered
The Pacific Cable.
The Pacific cable question was then taken
up. and Gen. Wager Swayne Of New York
spoke in favor Of private cons truction and
ernment ownership.
Mr.. Louis Marshall Of New York appeared
in behalf Of the Eastern ExtenEson and Au-
stralasian Telegraph Company. the British
company which now operates the cable
connections with the Philippines, and stat
ed that he was present to submit a
"caveat' or notice of prior rights. He ex-
planned the concessions held by this COM
peny from Spain, some of them extending
until 1910, and one of them granted in 1898,
giving exclusive landing rights In the Span
ish Pacific islands until 1915.
Mr.. Marshall said the company main
tanned that these grants. by Spain were
binding on the United States, as this gov
ernment had succeeded to Spain's sover-
shoes"
Mr.. Corliss asked ff-1t was claimed the
United States could not lay cable to
Manila.
Mr.. Marshall said 1t was held this could
not be done without Distinguishing the
existing rights in some regular way. He
submitted a brief on this point and will be
heard further.
Claims ContrOverted.
Capt Squier, acting chief signal officer,
stated that owing to the assertion Of ex-
elusive rights the " ar Department had
secured copies of the original concessions
under which this British company was
operating. He said these controverted the
claims of exclusive rights. They were be-
ing translated and would soon be submitted
to Congress-