Evening star., 1902-03-12
PACIFIC CABLE FIGHT
WHY THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD
BUILD AND CONTROL IT.
Charges Made Against the Commercial
and Eastern Companies-Resolu-
tions Of Inquiry.

majority of the commerce committee for
the construction by the government Of
cable from the Pacific coast to Hawaii and
the Philippines.
Two Facts Forgotten.
''The gentleman from Alabama. Mr.. Rich
ardson," began Mr.. Corliss. assumed to
question my zeal and conduct by discussing
the pending measure with reference to the
construction of a Pacific cable before the
report of the committee was printed. He
seems to forget two important facts.
First, that the subject matter has been
under consideration by both branches OF
Congress for number Of years: secondly,
that the majority report was ready but
was withheld for nearly a week at the re-
quest Of the gentleman from Alabama,
(Mr. Richardson). who delayed the filing of
the same in order to Incorporate the views
Of the minority, and to attach thereto the
proposition Of the Commercial Pacific Cable
Co.. filed with the Attorney General on the
eighth day of February last after the
bill had been ordered reported to the House
by the committee and with the evident in
tention of meeting the effect thereof upon
the members of this House.
II can overlook this criticism for I ap-
preciate that the gentleman from Alabama
was not present during the discussion of
this important question in the prior ses-
sions Of Congress.
''He questions my zeal and seeks to find
the motive which prompts such action.
He should &c hack to the records Of the
Fifty-fifth and ,-fty-sixth Congresses and
note the efforts made by private interests
to secure this great public utility then op-
posing my measure, and study the schem,
Ing methods by which the Commercial
Cable interests have been transformed from
an active ally of government cable In the
Fiftyfifth and Fffty-sixth Congresses into
partnership with an English corporation
opoly Of the cable rights in the far east.
Some Questions Asked.
with the hope. no doubt, Of illustrating
his Observation-Disclosures, he placidly tells us
that in his long experience at the bar he
has never represented corporations. de-
sire to ask what prompts the gentleman
from Alabama to display upon the floor
Of this House such zeal as was mani
tested In his recent effort to defend
corporation which, in defiance Of the con-
ditlons heretofore imposed upon the cable
companies, seeks to ursurp, without per-
mission or authority, one Of the most i'm
portant privileges held by our country.
Why did not the gentleman from Alabama
wait until the consideration Of this meas
ure had been properly brought before the
House? What purpose has the gentleman
in mind object to obtain in rushing to
the defense Of this corporation? From my
long experience in the practice of the pro-
fession to which the gentleman belongs 1
am led to believe that there is a motive
back OF every act In human life whether
in private or official capacity. and / would
be glad If the gentleman would enlfghten
us upon the subject and explain his own
zeal and motive upon this measure.
HE admits that Great Britain is con-
structing a government cable down through
the Pacific in order to hold and control for
her navy and people the benefit Of cable
communication with her possessions: but
he is mistaken when he says that Great
ifoin off rod ha rixyfln 81 h1,i1 limo
this cable to a private company.
Mr.. Corliss then attacked Representa-
tive Richardson's attitude from a demo-
cratic standpoint, charging that he was
not standing by the democratic party's
declarations against trusts.
Violation Of Antitrust Law.
II also charge he said. that the Com
mercial Pacific Gable Company has COM
bined with the Eastern Company. with
whose lines 1t connects, for the purpose Of
regulating rates, and that this contract is
in direct violation Of not only the condi-
tions to which I have referred with refer
ence to landing cables but also a violation
Of the act of 1890, known as the antitrust
law
''Does the gentleman from Alabama de-
sire to stand before his people advocating
a measure that will extend the influence
and power Of the greatest trust of modern
times? Does he forget the declaration OF
the democratic party in it's national plat
form against trusts? Does he desire to be
charge that during his first session Of Con-
gress he sought to uphold the hands Of
cable mOnopoly?'
Mr. Coriiss quoted from the testimony Of
Mr. Ward before the House committee on
interstate and foreign commerce, charging
that he admitted a combination by his
company with other cable lines for the
control Of the tariff rates across the At
lantic
This should command the attention of
Congress-" said Mr.. Corliss. "rhe republi-
can and democratic parties are united in
their declarations against combines and
trusts: here is corporation. with foreign
citizen as Its principal officer, brazenly ad-
mitting before a committee OF this House
that in defiance Of the Sherman law 1t has
combined for the purpose OF regulating
tolls"
Democratic Leader Defended.
IF were the only member Of the House
affected by his untimely assault upon the
rights Of the people," continued Mr.. Cor
liss. Il might remain silent; but, unfortu-
nately. the fair fame and noble record Of
the democratic leader upon the floor has
been unjustly maligned through the jealous
defense Of this grasping corporation by his
from Alabama.
Il hold In my hand the leading democratic
paper Of Michigan In which in large head
lines the democratic leader upon this floor
is placed in the humiliating attitude of de-
Tending a cable monopoly.
There may be little in a name. but when
1T confounds us with the interests Of COM
bines. trusts and mOnopolies, we may justly
pray to be delivered from the blunders Of
our namesake and the evils of such asso-
cia ton"
Export Association Attacked.
Mr.. Corliss then directed an attack
against the United States Export Associa-
tion of New York and its president, Francis
B. Thurber. whom he characterized as "a
sinister old hypocrite'' at the head Of a
corporation with a capital Of only $500,