Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-01-23
MACKAY PROPOSITION
HIS PLANS OUTLINED
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE
Has Long Had The Pacific Scheme in
Mind Senator Perkins Con-
Verted to New
Plan.

Washington. Jan. li.--kemarkable
proposals Tor laying the PaClnC cable
were made to the senate Committee
on Naval Aftairs today by George q.
ward, representing the Pacific Com
merClal Cable Company OF New York.
lie explained that JOnn w. MaCkay
has Tor years been interested in the
Pacific cable as a matter OF pride
through his residence on the Pacific
Coast, and now proposes. provided the
Government would not undertake to
construct a cable, to lay one without
subsidy or grant. asking no assistance
Whatever from the Government, and
agreeing to sell the cable to the Gov.
eminent at the cost OF construction, to
be determined by arbitration, IL de.
sired. The offer is considered espe.
Cially advantageous by several Sena.
tors who have been ardent advocates
OF a Government cable.
When the committee met, George
&. Ward OF New York, president OF
the Pacific Cable Company and vii.
liam NJ. Cook. general counsel, were
present Hale, the chairman, explain.
ed the efforts that previously had been
made to secure Legislation authorizing
the construction OF a cable to the Ha.
waiian Islands. He also impressed
upon the committee the importance OF
early action in the matter II anything
was to be accomplished Speaking for
his company, Ward said that for a
great many years John W. MaCkay
had had great desire to see a Pacific
cable laid because OF his being identi.
! fed largely with the Pacific Coast, and
then went over the ground covered in
the hearing before the House Commit.
tee.
/ In opposing the proposition that the
| Government lay the cable. Ward asked
| II II were fair or just for the Govern.
ment to lay cable in competition with
| private enterprise and was II good bus.
/ mess policy for the United States TO
spend probably $l5,OOO,0OO when It
could get everything desired from a
private cable without the outlay OF a
dollar.
Senator Perkins. who sat in the
Senate Committee on Naval Affairs in
hearing cable propositions tOuay, eX.
pressed himself as greatly pleased
with the proposition outlined by Geo.
G. Ward and William NJ Cook, vice
president and general counsel OF the
Pacific Commercial Gable Company
! He said:
Though my bill proposes to lay the
cable at Government expense, through
the Navy Department. | confess that
the proposition laid down by the
Pacific Commercial Gable Company,
pleases me. don't see how the Gov,
eminent can 40 better than to let
these men go ahead and lay their ca.
BILE. They do not ask for any subsidy
or special privileges. nor for any mo
nopoly. They agree to cut cable rates
in half and to send Government mes.
sages for half of the cut rate. There
would be no responsibility on the part
OF the Government. no charge for
maintenance or repairs. The compa.
ny is headed by John W. Mackay, VIVA
Is good Californian, and who is NOV.
ed by patriotic as well as business mo.
tives in getting this cable laid.
We are informed by Messrs. Ward
and Cook that a cable is now being
constructed at the rate of $40 miles a
week. and that within a few days this
VIII be increased to $50 miles a week.
The company agrees to have the cable
laid from San Francisco to Honolulu
by the list of November barring acct.
dents. and by the end Of December in
any event. The route from Honolulu
would be via Wake Island and Guam.
Now that is all that the United States
wants. and ii private corporation
sands ready to do this without a sub
sidy and without asking for any spe
cipl privileges or monopoly, be
licv, 1t should be permitted to &c
ahead. All these gentlemen ask is
that the Government take no action al
all, that Congress pass no bill. Know
ing John w. Mackay's ability and
Americanism, am willing to have the
company go ahead"