The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-02-20
Representative CorlisS De-
clareS for Government
Ownership.
TO CROSS THE PACIFIC OCEAN
Lays Bare Source of Great
Brltain'S Power.
MUST ACT IMMEDIATELY
Charges That the Monopoly Is the
Eastern Extension Corporation,
With Its Arms CircIing the Globe
Our Tradesmca Need Protection.

While the House was in Committee
or the Whole yesterday on the Indian ap-
| preparation bill, Representative Corliss.
author of the CorIiss bill for the con-
struction OF a Pacific cable by the United
States Government, took occasion to
make a few additional remarks on Gov
| ernment ownership of a Pacific cable.
During the course of his brec1y speech
he paid his respects to the Commercial
| Cable Company, which he denounced as
| an ally of the Eastern Extension Cable
Company. He referred in strong terms
to the peculiar monopolistic teIer,rapbjc
situation in the East. Continuing on this
| line. he said
Inc Eastern and the Eastern Exten-
sion cable companies. with their allied
INES embrace a system which aggre-
gates nearly 10000 nautical miles of ca
bic, covering the most extensive and now
erful cable and telegraph monopoly in the
world.
Fer World Wide Monopoly.
Their lines reach every continent ex-
cept North America, and the purpose of
the union, with its American ally. the
Commercial Pacific Cable Company. is to
encircle the globe and extend the in
huence and advantage of its present
monopoly in the Pacific Ocean and the
Far East
IN March. 1898. the Eastern Extension
Company obtained from the Government
OF Spain a prolongaticn of its monopoly
for twenty years. ending in May, 1910. 1t
will be interesting to examine two para
graphs of this contract:
Concessions From Spain.
Article 3. The laying of the cable.
the landing at Manila, and the working
of the same, will be undertaken by the
company at its own risk in return for the
following privileges:
" First. The granting of a prolonga-
ton of twenty years of the monopoly by
the said company of the cable between
Hongkons and Manila, so that no other
teiegraphic communication can be estab-
lished between The two places.
Second. Extension of the landing
right during the period of twenty years
Of the cables which may be established to
connect all the Spanish possessions in
he Pacific Ocean, or to connect them with
my other country, the period to start
rom the date in which the cable is
opened
This concession covers not only the
Philippine Islands but Guam and other
Spanish Islands in the Pacific Ocean"
Treaty Makes Provisions
Mr.. Corliss remarked that the Treat.
VI Peace provided for the recognition of
uch contracts by the United States. but
whether this particular one was binding
must be determined by higher tribunal
tut that there was no question of the
able company making fight for these
Exclusive rights.
Must BE British Subjects.
Mr.. Corliss announced that under the
resent plans OF the Commercial Cable
company the naval station at Guam would
e without cable communication.
"0f what use will the American naval
tation be to the American navy at the
sland of Guam with cable held and
ontrolled by a foreign cable company
sked the speaker. Il charge that the
Cable is in fact the Eastern
monopoly: this is shown by the
act that Mackay made his contract with
hem il August last before he appIi-I for
he privilege of extending the cable.
Two important facts should be remem-
cred" concluded Mr. Corliss. First,
nat Great Britain provided in her con-
ract with the Eastern Extension Com
any that the employees in her cable Of
ces in China shall be British subjects:
econdly, that for the protection Of her
Iilitary power and the expansion OF her
'ade and commerce. she builds and pro-
oses to own and control Government
ible through the Pacific Ocean, and has
established rate of only 50 cents per
ord for the benefit of her people.
How can we maintain peace in the Pa
fic and properly direct our army and
IVY through a foreign cable company, of
erred and manned with British subjects?
ow can our tradesmen compete with
BILE rate twice the amount charged by
c English Government cable?"