Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-03-06
PROCUREMENT CABLE
COMMITTEE REPORT
IS STRONG ARGUMENT
Possessions Of Pacific Should Be Con-
neCted By Government Owned
Line So Close
Voc.

Washington. Feb. 16.-The report Ia
be filed tomorrow by the House Com
mittee on Interstate and Foreign Com,
merce recommending the passage OF
the bill introduced by Representative
Corliss providing for Government own.
ership of Pacific cable, says that
the United States, by the annexation
Of Hawaii and the acquisition of the
Philippines and other Islands through
the ratification of the Paris treaty, as.
sumed the responsibility of maintain.
ing peace in the Pacific ocean. This
obligation, the report which was pre-.
pared by Representative Corliss, the
author of the bill, says was deliberate.
ly undertaken by this country and ap.
proved by the united voice OF the
people. II adds
THE future peace and prosperity of
these islands will largely depend upon
the facilities extended by our Govern.
ment for the advancement and en-.
lightenment Of the people there. II
we are to continue in control of these
islands, the people must be made TO
understand the character and purpose
of our Government and to feel the
benefits of enlightened civilization and
American liberty. This can be accom-.
plished through Che medium of cable
communications. The advancement OF
our'own people and the benefit of rap.
i'd communication through the tele.
phone, telegraph and railway lines
illustrates the advantages and prog.
ress that may be achieved through
cable messages"
Regarding Government ownership
of cables Corliss says England for ff.
ty years has been constantly acquir.
ing, by purchase and construction, ca.
BILE communication with her vast pos.
sessions, until she has expended up.
ward of 500. 900, 900 for this purpose,
and operates her own cables connect.
ing her colonies. England is now con,
structing a Pacific cable from Vancou,
yer to Australia at a cost of nearly
$y,OOO,0O0, and in order to give her
tradesmen and manufacturers the ben
eft of this communication at the least
possible expense has fixed a rate OF
shillings, or so cents per word for cable
messages from Vancouver to New
Zealand.
France, Germany and other ma
tons are not sleeping upon their
rights, as the people in the United
States have been" comments Corliss
but are establishing Government tel
egraphic communication with theil
respective possessions. therefore
contend that the Pacific cable SHOULD
be owned, controlled and operated by
the Government of the United States
It should be made by an American
manufacturer, laid by an American
ship under the American flag and oper
ated at the actual cost for the dissent
nation Of knowledge, the proper direc
ton Of our Army and Navy, and the
advancement of our trade and com
merce in the Pacific. The transmits
sion of communication should be helC
by the state.
"The right to construct and operate
the Pacific cable is public utility. Of
franchise, held by the people. Its con
troll is an inherent right of the Ma
ton; its construction and operation
necessarily will become. for a grea
many years, n monopoly. and SHOULD
not be transferred from the control o
the people"
General Greedy, chief of the sigma
Service of the War Department, whit
has charge of the telegraphic line
owned by the Government, and whit
has given the subject careful consid
Grafton and constructed severla hun
dred miles Of cable under the Contro
Of the War Department, the repor
says, estimates the entire cost of |
Pacific cable. including ships and al
possible contingencies, at 10000, 600
and places the annual expense at $685.
900. His judgment Is confirmed by tn,
opinion of Rear Admiral X. B. Brad
ford, chief Of the Bureau Of Equipmen
OF the Navy. A complete survey ha
been made by our Navy, at the eS
pense Of at least half a million dollar
to our people. and a route establishe,
extending from California to Hawaii
Guam, Wake or Midway and the Phi
ippine Islands. There Is no longe
any doubt as to the practicability O
this project from a technical and eI
cheering point of view.
In conclusion the report says: "EN
cry part Of the world has been enlight
ened by cable lines except the Pacifi
ocean. This vast body of water, unde
the control of our Government, seem
to be the one dark spot upon the fac
oft the earth, and for the want of a CT
BILE the gem of the Pacific, the Hawai-
an Islands, part OF our own countr!
are left In darkness seven days benin
the rest of the world"
The vote authorizing a favorable r.
port on the bill stood eight for and SCI
en- against. Two members, Mann an
Davis, favorable to the bill, were al
sent, and since then two OF the men
bers, Lowering and Wagner. who vote
against the bill in the committee. hay
signed the report in favor of the pa
sage Of the bill, suggesting an amen,
ment authorizing the purchase OF tn
cable contracted for, between Califo
MIA and Hawaii. The minority of tn
committee oppose Government owne
ship and favor the proposals OF II
Commercial Pacific Gable Company
lay a private cable.
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