The St. Louis Republic., 1902-02-17
Representative Corliss's Bill Pro-
vides for Government Owner
ship of Manila Wire.
ESTIMATED COST, S1O,000,00o.
Committee Points Out England's
Enterprise in Laying Cables to
Her Colonies and Says Only
America Sleeps.

Washington Feb. 1s.-The report to be
filed tomorrow by the House Committee on
Interstate and Foreign Commerce recon-
mending the passage OF the bill introduced
by Representative Corliss, providing for
Government ownership of 4 Pacific cable.
says that the United States, by the annex
alton of Hawaii and the acquisition Of the
Philippines and other islands through the
ratification of the Paris treaty. assumed the
responsibility of maintaining peace in the
Pacific Ocean.
This obligation. the report-which was
prepared by Representative Corliss, the
author of the bilI-says, was deliberately
undertaken by this country and approved by
the united voice of the people. 1t adds:
"The future peace and prosperity of these
islands will largely depend upon the facil-
tiles extended by our Government for the
advancement and enlightenment Of the peo-
pie there. If we are to continue in control of
these islands, the people must be made to
understand the character and purpose of
our Government and to feel the benefits of
enlightenment and civilization and American
liberty.
England Owns Her Own Cables.
This can be accomplished through the
the medium 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
sages."
Regarding the 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 upwards of a hundred million
20. tic a,,l raft h.,r
own cables connecting her colonies. Eng
land 10 now constructing Pacific cable
from Vancouver to Australia at a cost of
nearly 100000 and in order to give her
tradesmen and manufacturers the benefit
of this communication at the least possible
expense. has fixed rate of two shillings or
fifty cents per word for cable messages
from Vancouver to New Zealand
other Nations Are Alert.
France. Germany and other nations are
not sleeping on their rights as the people
of the United States have been" comments
Mr.. Corliss ''but are establishing Govern
ment teIegraphic 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 the American flag and operated at
actual cost for the dissemination of know
ledge. the proper direction of our army and
navy and the advancement of our trade
and commerce in the Pacific. The trans
mis- son of communications should be held
by the State.
THE right to construct and operate the
Pacific cable is a public utility or fran
chise held by the people. Its control is an
inherent right of the nation: its construc-
tion and operation necessarily will be-
come for a great many years a monopoly
and should not be transferred from the
control of the people"
Estimates Total Cost at 100000. 900.
General Greey. Chief of the Signal Serv-
ice of the War Department. who has
charge Of the telegraphic lines owned by
the Government. and who has given the
subject careful consideration and construct
ed several hundred miles of cable under
the control of the War Department. the
report says. estimates the entire cost of
a Pacific cable, including ships and all pos
stble contingencies at SO. COO. .OOO, and places
the annual expenses at $5250O0.