Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-12-10
FOR A PACIFIC GABLE
Little Doubt That the Present
Congress Will Provide For
Pacific Cable.
Ii Measure Fails, President
Roosevelt May Call Extra
Session OF Congress.
Private or Public Ownership Of
the Enterprise Most Diff.
cult Problem.

Washington, Dec 10.--The present
congress will provide for Pacific cable.
This has been made clear in the past
few days. An alternative faces the
members, if they refuse to take action,
of having special session for the pur-
pose This is what President Roosevelt
has said to member of the senate. The
president believes that the commercial
and military necessities OF the country
make the construction of a. cable an alb
solute necessity He has brought the
matter out with clearness, but not un-
due insistence in his message. To men,
bers of the senate and house he has re-
peatedly said that unless action is taken
he believes a grave mistake will be
made.
During the summer the president SER
iously considered granting permit for
the landing OF the cable on our shores
and upon those of Hawaii and the Phil
ippines. In view of the attitude OF the
president, leaders of his party are look
ing about for the best means Of making
provision for the great wire which VIII
bring the Pacific possessions IN close
touch with the government at Wash
ington. There is divergence OF views
on the subject. When the members
first began to assemble there was talk
solely of government ownership OF the
cable. Since the field has been carefully
surveyed and the treasury department.
estimates have, been considered, 1t is not
believed that the amount Of money for
the construction Of the cable can be APP
propriated. 1t is believed that the ap-
preparations for military operations will
not fall far short of s1OO.000.000. The fig
5ures given are furnished by one OF ene
Oldest members of the senate in term OF
service. Fifty million dollars VIII be
needed for the preliminary work OF the
isth;nian canal, which project, it's gem
erally conceded by both parties, will
take definite shape thru legislation at
the present term; rivers and harbors
will demand and will probably secure,
not less than 500, 600, 600, SO that with a
strong demand for the reduction OF the
war revenue taxes it does not appear
that an appropriation can be secured for
the cable.
with cable legislation determined up
on, the leaders in congress are turning
10 the question of private ownership.
Recently there have beer indications
that a private company is going ahead
with the construction Of sable without
consultation with this government. lblt
can be said on the best authority that
no such movement will be, successful.
The law officers OF the government will
see that no cable is built which is not
under the supervision and control of the
United States government. The state
ment sent from New York city that the
company which has the cable project
In hand has already let a contract to an
English concern for furnishing the big
wire rope has come to the attention of
the government. A representative Of
the company has been at the treasury
department andt has asked whether or
not the duties will be RENTED upon the
full length of cable brought to this
country and for cable purposes, or
whether the department will take the
position that it viii under the law only
remit for the length of cable under our
control, three miles from the coast. All
OF these matters have come to the at
tention OF the government. There will
be no attempt to interfere with any OF
these preliminaries, but when the cable
company tries to do actual construction
work 1t Will find that 1t has to deal with
the government direct.
There are precedents to show that the
~ hcn 10 H..
solute control by the government means
that the United States can impose any
conditions which 1t may choose upon the
cable company when 1t comes to actual
work. This does not mean necessarily
that the congress will be arbitrary, but
1t does mean that all Of the advantages
which government ownership might
give can be secured from private COM
pany which will build the cable and yet
leave fair emolument from the pri-
yate business and government contracts
which they will be given. The cable
company now figuring on an enterprise
will seek the approval Of congress. and
as Indicated, the administration wants
action at this session.
The power of the government to con-
troll cable thru control Of the landings
was established back in Garf1eld's adj
when the French Transat-
lantic Company sought to land cable
on the shores of North Carolina. st.
Louis talent was engaged in the case. as
Messrs. Eppa Hunton and JEFF Chandler
came on and appeared before the senate
committee considering the matter. They
seemed to have established the right OF
the cable company to land without gov
eminent interference or supervision,
when Senator Frye. who was then the
chairman OF the committee, sent for
Secretary James G. Blaine. and asked
that he present the case to the commit
tee. Blaine made a lengthy and able ar
gument. establishing beyond doubt that
q cable to a foreign shore was clearing
foreign commerce, and. under the pro-
visions of the constitution. congress was
authorized to regulate and control 1t
Recently the senators have been looking
the case up. They are armed with the
argument OF that time, as is the depart
ment of justice. A cable will be built,
but it will be under terms which the