Evening star., 1901-10-02
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Opposition to Granting a Pacific Cattle
Franchise.
REPRESENTATIVE CORLISS' VIEWS
The President Received Many
Callers Today.
ONE APPOINTMENT MADE

| the granting Oh a permit
to the Pacific Commercial Cable Company
for cable landings in this country, Hawaii,
Guam and the Philippines has stirred up
the different interests in the building of a
trans-Pacific cable, as well as the advo-
Gates of various plans. and President
| Roosevelt is hearing something from all
| sides on the subject.
| Representative Corlss of Michigan called
today to see the President and to protest
| against the granting of landing privileges
to any company. Mr.. Corliss takes the firm
| ground that the government should not
grant such a privilege to any concern, and
that it should build, own and operate it's
| own cable line, Just as it operates the pos
| tai facilities.
| He declared to the President that this
| should be done not only for the benefit of
the government, which pays large sums
| trade and commerce. which would un-
| doubtedly be benefited and increased by
| low cable rates.
A Minority House Committee Report.
Mr.. Corliss called the attention of Pres
| ident Roosevelt to minority report sub
mltted by him in the Fifty-siXth Congress
proposing the construction by the govern
| ment of a cable line to the Philippines. The
majority report was made by Representa-
tive Sherman of the committee on inter
state and foreign commerce. AS a member
| of the same committee Mr.. Corliss made the
minority report and he declared today
that Congress would have adopted the
views of the minority.
Congress will pass such bill at the
coming session if the permit now desired is
not granted said Mr.. Corliss. I'm fact, /
believe that the minority report would have
been adopted by the House anyhow if pow
erful influences had not been used to pre-
vent. The right n
meeting this country with our new posses
sions is special privilege belonging to
the people and can be conveyed only by
act of Congress. In our report to Con-
sress our committee opposed the majority
report for these reasons:
1T granted an exclusive privilege which
will become a monopoly, and fosters the
same by public subsidy amounting to the
sum of $6,OOO,0OO more than half of the
estimated cost of the entire construction of
the cable.
TT made no provision for the reduction
OF the tariff tolls from time to time justi-
ned by the increasing cable communica-
tlon arising from the inevitable expansion
of our trade and commerce
The bill as amended authorized the pay
ment of the subsidy upon the completion Of
the cable to Manila, and thereby failed to
insure the extension of cable communca-
tion with Japan and China upon reasonable
terms, which is necessary for the deyeloD-
ment of our trade with said countries
Il take the view that Great Britain
achieved her commercial supremacy bv the
purchase or construction and control of ca
mails and cables.
Cost of Government Cable.
Il believe that the line can be built by
the government at cost of $S,OOO,OOO. Cen
eral Greeley of the signal service has esti-
mated the cost at $10,OOO,OOO. Rear Ad-
miral Bradford makes a similar estimate
The company now seeking the rights of
Jar
to much more than the subsidy of So 600, 900,
which 1t was proposed to pay a private
company"
The majority report in favor of a cable
maintained by a private corporation was
exhaustive and the disadvantages of gov
ernment cable were summed up by saying
that a government cable would cost S15,-
100000, with an annual outlay of s., 500, 900;
that 1t could not land or operate in Japan
or China, which would lesson it's income, it's
annual expense being as stated above and
that private corporation will give the gov
ernment all the advantages of a government
line for official business, in time of peace
or war, at a fixed charge for the service
and without any risk to the government
the corporation raising the entire capital
and assuming all risks, for a sum not ex-
ceeding 100000 a year for twenty years
and rate thereafter to be fixed by the
Postmaster General, not exceeding half the
rates charged the public thereafter.
Under Favorable Auspices.
Among President Roosevelt's long list
of callers today were ex-Senators Faulk-
ner and Cannon. They talked good while
with the President, who was most cordial
in his reception Of them. The President
spoke of the fact that his coming into Of
nee was under most sad and shocking
circumstances, but that he greatly appre-
ciated the fact that Vice President never
succeeded to the Presidency under more
favorable auspices as to loyalty and
patriotism Of people and prosperous com
ditions The sentiment of the country
was thoroughly patriotic, the people were
satisfied and happy, Industrial affairs were
satisfactory, there was no sectional feel
Ing and no bitter partisan politics The
President was not unmindful Of these most
favorable conditions, and it was his earnest
desire to do all in his power to have these
conditions continue.
Col. Russell b. HarrisOn's Case.
Colonel Russell B. Harrison paid his re-
spects and was pleasantly received by the
President. Colonel Harrison did not desire
to talk business with President Roosevelt.
but it is said to be likely that his trouble
with the War Department will soon be re-
vived, and President Roosevelt asked to
take some action. At the recent meeting
OF the Spanish-American war veterans at
Buffalo the national committee on legisla-
tion of the association was instructed to
take up the case Of "Comrade" Harrison
land give it earnest and persistent atten-
tion until he is accorded that which he
earned by faithful and distinguished ser
vices during a long period of duty in the
tropics-justice, fair treatment and an hon
orable record
The resolutions passed expressed the de-
sire that Colonel Harrison be given an
early opportunity, before a proper trf-
bunal. to be heard in his defense. privi-
lege due to every soldier engaged in the
service of his country"
The resolution charged that Col Harri-
son was discharged from the volunteer
service sin such manner and under such
conditions as to reflect unfavorably upon
his services and character as soldier"
Can't Go to the Frederick Fair,
Representative Pearre, accompanied by
Col Winebrenner. Col. Calvin C. Mutt and
Judge John c. Motter. all of Frederick,
Nd. called on the President this morning
to invite him to attend the annual Freder-
ick fair. The President expressed regret
that his work here would not permit him
to attend.
Or. Rixey and Secretary Cortelyou.
DR.. P. NJ. Rixey has returned to Wash
ington from Canton and called on President
Roosevelt TODAY. Secrefarv (.orf al vo,, ha =