The Washington times., 1902-03-13
Warm Debate Over Pending
Pacific Cable Bill.
CARTOON AFFORDS MUCH FUN.
Commercial Telegraph Company Pictured
as An Anaconda, and the Michigan
Representative as a Modern David
Trying to Kill.

| SOTiiSS-tnuS the House WAS entertainer
aud instructed by the delivery of two
speeches upon the proposed Pacific cable
| bill yesterday, while the postoffice ap-
preparation measure was under consid-
GRAFTON.
1t has not yet been brought before the
House for consideration. but already four
! speeches have been. delivered upon 1t
two by Mr.. Corliss (Rep.. Mich.) in favor
of a Government cable. and two by Slr.
Richardson Oem.. Aia.) against Govern
ment ownership.
Mr.. Corliss took the floor yesterday to
reply to Mr.. Richardson's speech deliv-
cred about two weeks ago.
Points to Records.
''He questions my ZEAL" said Mr.. Cor
| liss, "and seeks to find the motive which
prompts such action. He should go back
to the records of the Fifty-ffth and Fifty
sixth Congresses and note the scheming
methods by which the commercial cable
| interests have been transformed from an
active ally of a Government cable into a
! partnership now with an English cor
poration holding exclusive privileges and
far East.
Il repeat that the Commercial Cable
| Company. by the admissions of Mr.. Ward,
has become a partner for the purpose of
| extending tile monopoly held by the East
ern Extension Gable Company in the Pa
cifc OceanK e,
Il insist that before the Commercial
| Cable Company. can land its cable upon
our islands in the Pacific, the exclusive
privileges held by its partner must be
abrogated and set aside"
Mr.. Corliss then attacked Mr.. Richard
sons attitude from a Democratic stand
point, charging that he was not standing
by the Democratic party's declarations
against trusts,
Violates the Law.
Il also charge. he said, that the
| Commercial Pacific Cable Company has
combined with the Eastern Company with
whose lines it connects. for the purpose
I of regulating rates, and that this con-
tract is in direct violation of not only
the conditions to which l have referred
with reference to landing OF cables. but
! also a violation of the act of 1890. known
] as the antitrust law
| Mr.. Corliss then directed his attention
to the United States Export Association,
of New York, and its president Mr.. F. B.
| Thurber, whom he characterized as
| sinister old hypocrite" at the head of
| corporation of only s500,C00 capital.
hardly enough to pay for office fur
niture.'
Mr. Corliss paid his respects to the
7
| broker and Erastus n. Root, publisher.
MIR. Corliss said the company was com
| bination for the circulation of misinfor-
| nation under the auspices of petty
foggying shyster. curbstone jobber. and
a printing press.
My friend from Alabama has another
associate in the cause of the cable mon
opoly which must not overiook-Mr.
John Poord'' pursued Mr. Corliss who
describes himself as the secretary of the
American Asiatic Association OF China.
He comes in company with and in the
same sanity demeanor as his companion
Thurber, and assumed to speak for large
foreign interest
Shows An Admission.
Mr.. Corliss quoted from the testimony
OF Mr.. Ward before the House Committee
on Interstate and Foreign Commerce,
charging that lie admitted combination
by his company with other cable lines for
the control of the tariff rates across the
Atlantic.
This should command the attention of
Congress-" said Mr.. Corliss. The Repub-
lican and Democratic parties are united
in their declarations against combines
and trusts; here is a corporation with
foreign citizen as its principal officer,
braZenly admitting before a committee of
this House that in defiance of the Sher-
man law 1t has combined for the purpose
OF regulating tolls"
Mr. Corliss read resolution of enquiry,
which he later introduced in the House
directing the Attorney General to COM
mence proceedings against the CONNER
cial Gable Company.
Shortly after Mr.. Corliss had concluded
Mr.. Richardson secured recognition and
replied to the Michigan member at some
length. In opening he introduced as an
exhibit cartoon which he said Mr.. Cor
liss had distributed, representing the al
legged cable monopoly as tremendous an
aconda feeding upon the vitals OF the Gov
ernment, ana Corliss, with little sling
as a modern David trying to kill it. He
ridiculed this iiaethod of conducting the
discussion of great public question.
Cartoon Passed Around.
The cartoon went the rounds of the
members and created much interest and
amusement. "l
MIR Richardson said that the PROPOSE
tion OF the Commercial Pacific Cable
Company to buiid a cable from San Fran
cisco to Manila without Il dollar of sub
sidy from the Government, to reduce the
cable rate from, Sl.66 a word to 81 a
word. to allow the Postmaster General
to fix the Government rates. to give
precedence 20 Government messages, to
submit to censorship whenever desired
by the Government. and to allow the
Government TO take the cable at its ap-
praised value If this should at any time
seem conducive to public interests
He referred to Corliss' taking him to
task for too early entering the discus
sion, although Corliss had made two
speeches containing erroneous statements
which made reply necessary. He twitted
Corliss with the desire to monopolize the
whole discussion. and exclaimed:
Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed
That he hath grown great!
Referring to the question of motives,
which he said Mr.. Corliss had unwsely
injected into the controversy. Mr.. Rich
ardson said that the opposition of the
Western Union TO the Commercial Cable
Company was at the bottom Of the situa-
tion SO far as motives were concerned.
Contrasts Sections.
He then contrasted section S of the ca
BILE bill as originally introduced and as
afterward amended The first authorized