The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-09
A SUBMARINE PACIFIC CABLE.

One OF the best points touched upon by
Governor Taft in his long and interesting
statement before the congressional COM
mittee was the desirability of a Pacific
cable. Speaking for the Philippine islands
alone he said that such a cable would prove
strong bond between the islands and the
United States and would serve a great
business need. Although he had not ex-
amined the merits of various plans he said
he was inclined TO favor a government
cable. but that above all was the need Of a
cable Of some kind without reference to the
manner of its establishment. The argument
from the Philippines point of view is
strengthened by the fact that the cable
would include the Hawaiian islands, where
the need is fully as great as in the Philip
pines. Submarine cable connection with
Hawaii had become important even before
the annexation of the islands 20 the United
States. President Harrison said in his
message of 1892: 81 deem it of great i'm
portance that the projected submarine
cable should be promoted. Both for naval
and commercial uses we should have quick
communication with Honolulu" The rea-
sons are much stronger now than they
were then. Shortly after we acquired the
Philippines President Mckinley sent a spe-
ciaI message to Congress relating to this
subject exclusively. He said:
AS a consequence of the ratification of
States and Spain the United States will
come into possession of the Philippine
islands on the farther shores of the Pacific.
The Hawaiian islands and Guam becoming
United States territory and forming con-
VCntent stopping places the way across
the sea, the necessity for speedy cable COM
munication between the United States and
/ all these Pacific islands has become i'm
| perative. Such communication should be
established in such a way TO be wholly
/ under the control or the United States
whether in time of peace or of war. Two
methods Of establishing this cable COM
munlcation at once suggest themselves:
/ First, construction and maintenance OF
such cable by and at the expense of the
United States government and. second,
construction and maintenance of such a
cable by private United States corpora
ton. under such safeguards as Congress
shall impose.
1t is not greatly to the credit Of Congress
that more than three years have been
allowed to pass after President Mckinley
declared that speedy cable communication
between this country and its Pacific islands
was imperative" without any practical
steps being taken in that direction. In the
meantime a private corporation known as
the Commercial Pacific Cable Company has
commenced laying a cable from California
to the Philippines. by way of Honolulu,
without asking a government subsidy or
guarantee of any kind. This is purely a
private enterprise and the company has
agreed in writing to sell it's cable to the
government at any time at the cables APP
/ praised valuation. In this situation it is for
! Congress to decide whether it would not be
/ wiser to await the completion of the line
now in process of construction, with the
/ privilege of buying it. than to parallel ii
/ with government line The two importan;
points are that the cable should be laid as
soon as possible. and that when completed
/ the line should be virtually under govern
ment control for all national purposes.