Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-02-17
FOR FEDERAL CABLE
HsuW Committee Favsn Tanag, Of ths
0Orlius Bill
WOULD GIVE GOVERNMENT FULL CHARGE
Advocates Ask ooHstructisp, Operation and
osatrel by Nst!SA.
cssT or BUILDING TEN SlLLloN DOLLARS
valus Of osmmunicatisn with Hawaiian
Islands Insstimsble.
SUGGESTS BUYING CALIFORNIA CONTRACT
Minority of Committee Tavors the
Proposals OF Commercial Pacific
Company for q Private
Cable.

WAEHlN6IONt
fled tomorrow by the house committee on
interstate and foreign commerce recon-
meuding the passage Of the bill providing
for government ownership Of Pacinc
cable. says that the United States, by the
annexation Of Hawaii and the acquisition
of the Philippines and other islands through
the ratification OF the Paris treaty, as
sumed the responsibility Of maintaining
peace In the Pacific ocean. This Obligation
the report, which was prepared by repre-
sentative Corliss, the author OF the bill
says was deliberately undertaken by this
country and approved by the united voice
Of the people. II adds
"The future peace and prosperity oil
these islands will largely depend upon the
facilities extended by our government Tor
the advancement and enlightenment OF the
people there. II we are to continue In con-
troll of these islands the people must be
made to understand the character and pur-
nose Of our government and to feel the
benefits Of the enlightenment OF civilization.
This can be accomplished through the
mediation Of cable communications. The
advancement of our own people and the
benefit Of rapid communication through the
| telephone, telegraph and railway lines IL
| lustrate the advantages and the progress
that may be achieved through cable mes
sases.'
Government Cables Popular.
Regarding government ownership OF
| cables Mr.. Corliss says England for fifty
years has been constantly acquiring by
! purchase and construction cable communi-
cation with her vast possessions, until she
has expended upward Of S1oo,ono,0oo for this
purpose and operates her own cables con-
Meeting her colonies, England is now con-
| structing a Pacific cable from Vancouver
to Australia at a cost OF nearly s9.0oo,oo0
and in order to give her tradesmen and
manufacturers the benefit of this COM
munication at the least possible expense
tbhs .fxed-a rate OF 2athiflingss or so cents,
per word for cable messages from Van
couver to New Zealand.
France, Germany and other nations are
not sleeping upon their rights as the peo-
pie of the United States have been" COM
ments Mr.. Corliss, but are establishing
government telegraphic communication
with their respective possessions.
II therefore contend that the Pacific
cable should be owned. controlled and oper-
: ated by the government OF the United
: States. 1t should be made by an American
manufacturer. laid by an American ship
: under an American flag and operated at ac-
, tual cost for the dissemination OF knowl-
edge, the proper direction OF our army and
navy and the advancement of our trade and
commerce In the Pacific The transmission
+ of communication should be held by the
state"
Control an Inherent Right.
) The right to construct and operate the
Pacific cable is a public utility or franchise
I held by the people. It's control is an In
| - tI,a "a nafr ian
and operation necessarily will become for a
| great many years a monopoly and should
not lie transferred from the control Of the
r people,"
General Greeley, chief OF the signal serv-
ice OF the War department. who has charge
of the telegraphic lines owned by the gov
ernment and who has given the subject
careful consideration and constructed sew
| eral hundred miles OF cable under the con-
troll Of the War department, the report
says, estimates the entire cost Of a Pacific
cable. including ships and all possible con-
tingencies, at $40, ,000. 900. and places the an
, nual expenses at s525.OOo, His judgment e
d confirmed by the opinion Of Rear Admiral
v R. B. Bradford. chief of the bureau oi
!. equipment Of the navy.
!, A complete survey has been made by tbs
t navy at the expense Of at least $500, ,0OC
California to Hawaii. Guam, Wake or Mid
s way and the Philippine islands. There II
y no doubt OF the practibility OF this plar
9 from the engineering point OF view
Pacinc the Dark spot of Earth.
r In conclusion he report says:
Every part of the world has been en-
i lightened by cable lines except the Paeih,
ocean. This vast body Of water. under tn
control OF our own government. seems !
be the one dark spot on the face of tn
earth, and for want OF a cable the gem o
4 the Pacific, the Hawaiian islands, part o
n our Pacific country. are left in darknes
IT seven days behind the rest OF the world"
a The vote authorizing a favorable repor
8. OF the bill stood 8 for and against. Tw
1t members. Mann and Davis, favorable to tn
,r BILL were absent and since then two OF tn
ID members. Lowering and Wanger, who vote
X against the bill in the committee, hav
signed the report in favor Of the passag
of the bill. suggesting an amendment au
Y thorizing the purchase OF the cable con
y tracted for between California and Hawai-
r, The minority OF the committee oppose
government ownership and favors the pro
posals Of the Commercial Pacific compan
IN Law a nrivata "a bie