The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-02-19
CONCESSIONS GIVEN BY SPAIN
Wants to FaSten Clutch on
Our Western Progress.
ENGLAND OPPOSED TO 1T
All Our Gable Communications with
Philippines and Guam Would
Bc i'm Its Grasp.

Representative Corl:ss Of Michigan in
forcible manner presented to the House
This afternoon many strong reasons for
Government ownership Of a Pacific cable
as provided for in the bill framed by Mr..
Corliss, and favorabIy reported by the
Interstate and Foreign Commerce Com
mittee.
During his speech Mr.. Corliss bitterly
resented any consideration Of the Com
mereial Cable Company's oner to lay a
cable from san Francisco TO Manila, de
nouncing the corporation as an ally OF
the Eastern Extension Cable Company.
IN speaking of the latter company, Mr.
Corliss said:
The Eastern and the Eastern Exten-
sion cable companies. swith their alice
lines, embrace a system which aggre-
gates nearly 10000 nautical miles Of ca
bic. covering the most extensive and pow
erful cable and telegraph monopoly in the
world.
Tor Worldwide Monopoly
Their lines reach every continent ex-
cept North America. and The purpose OF
the union. with its American ally. the
Commercial Pacific Cable Company. is to
encircie the globe and extend the in
fuenee and advantage of its present
monopoly iu the Pacific Ocean and the
Far East.
In March, 1898 the Eastern Extension
Company obtained from the Government
Of Spain q pr)longation Of its monopoly
for twenty years, ending in May 1870. It
will be interesting TO examine TWO para
graphs Of this contract:
Concessions From Spain.
Article 9. The laying of the cable,
the landing at Manila. and the working
CT the same. viii be undertaken by the
company at its own risk in return for the
following privileges:
First. The granting OF a prolonga-
tion Of twenty years Of the monopoly by
the said company Of the cable between
Hongkong and Manila so that 10 other
teIegraphic communication can be estab-
Iished between The two places.
Second. Extension OF the landing
right during the period Of twenty years
Of the cables which may be established 10
connect all the Spanish possessions in
The Pacific Ocean, or 70 connect them with
any other country, the period 10 start
from the date iu which the cable is
opened
This concession covers not only the
Philippine Islands but Guam and other
Spanish Islands in the Pacific Ocean"
Mr. Corllss remarked that the Treaty
OF Peace provided for the recognition OF
such contracts by the United States. but
whether this particular one was binding
must be determined by higher tribunal
but that there was no question Of the
cable company making a fight for these
exclusive rights.
.sAudacf-y of This Octopus"
"The audacity Of This octopus" he said
"and the viuaiuous ingenuity with which
it seeks 10 cvade the conditions imposed
upon other cable companies and extend
its tentacles ever our islands In the Pa
cinc and fasten it's grasping clutch upon
the wheels Of our progress so rapidly
moving from our country toward the Pa
c.fe ocean is marvelousIy ingenious and
the most audacious usurper Of public
rights Of the present age
How any one. representing the in
terests Of the people. can sanction such
a scheme by their silence and COuntenance