New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-10-03
CORLISS OPPOSES MACKAY.
THE MICHIGAN REPRESENTATIVE BE-
LIEVES PACIFIC CABLE SHOULD BE
LAID BY THE GOVERNMENT.
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE TnrsrsFI

lBY TELEGRAPH TRIsUNE.I
Washington. Oct. 2.-Attorney-G General Knox, to
whom was referred by the President the Cabine.
meeting yesterday the proposition Of John w.
Mackay and his associates to lay a cable from San
Francisco Manila touching at Honolulu and
Guam, refuses TO discuss that subject at present.
and, although he is endeavoring to prepare a re-
port for consideration at the Cabinet meeting on
Friday, he has not had time to-day to give the
matter any attention In detail The belief is grow
ing. however. that the Mackay proposition will
with such favor official circles as at first
seemed probable In point Of fact considera BILE op-
position to II among persons in authority is known
already to exist and when the is fully made up
II be that the promoters Of the enterprise will
have 10 appeal directly to Congress for the aid they
are now seeking from the executive department Of
the government
At this early stage President Roosevelt has had
presented him a strong protest against granting
the privilege sought. this morning Representa-
tive John B. Corliss of Michigan. called upon the
President and urged objection the scheme on the
part Of Congress. Mr.. Coriss left with the Presi-
dent a copy Of minority report made by the Com
nittee Interstate and Foreign Commerce of the
last House in favor Of bill for the government
construct cable line to the Philippines. The ma
3ortty report which opposed the bill, made by
Representative James S. Sherman, of New-York as
chairman OF the committee Mr.. Corliss declared
that If the matter had been pushed at the time
Congress would have adopted the minority report
by an overwhelming majority, and work upon a
government cable TO the philippines by way of Ha-
wall and Guam would be under way.
Congress Will pass such bill this winter. pro-
Tded the permit sought by Mr.. Mackay and his as
socates is not granted said Mr. Corliss In fact
believe the last House would have passed the bill
II powerful influences had not been employed
against it, The right TO construct a cable connect
Ing this country with its possessions in the
Pacific is privilege that belongs exclusively the
people. and can be conferred upon individuals
corporation only by act of Congress-
In our report to the last House committee
opposed the majority report Tor these reasons: 1t
granted an exclusive privilege. which will become
a monopoly, and fostered the same by a subsidy
amounting TO s6oo0.ooo. more than half Of the
entire estimated Of the proposed cable. 1t made
no provision for the reduction of the tariff tolls
from time 10 time that would be justified by the
increasing cable communication arising from the
inevitable expansion of our trade and COM
merce- The bill amended authorized the pay
rnent OF the subsidy upon the completion Of the
cable 70 Manila, and thereby failed TO secure the
extension OF cable communication to Japan and
China upon reasona BILE terms. which is necessary
for the development of our trade with those coun-
tries.
81 believe that the line can be built by the gov
eminent a cost of sS.GO00oo General Greedy, of
65o,0o0. Rear Admiral Bradford makes q similar
estimate. The company now seeking the right of
landing viii secure rates that will to much
than the subsidy of S6,00000 which It pro-
posed TO pay private company"
Representative Coriiss spent two hours with At
torney-General Knox after leaving the White
House and laid before that official in detail his
Jections 10 the Mackay proposition.