Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-12

proposed Commercial Pacific cable had
yet been laid.
| Richardson, Ala, then took the floor
in opposition to the bill He called. at
| tention to the speech of Cannon. YES
| terday, in which the latter showed that
the approximations for the next fiscal
year already exceeded estimated reve-
nues by $51 100000 and urged this as the
| first reason why the government should
not enter upon the expensive work of
building a cable to the Philippines.
He referred at some length TO the
possibilities in the development of wire
less biography and argued that II
would be unwise, on the threshold of
| the department of the new system. for
the government to eXpend $4,000. OOO or
S20,O0O,OO0 for a submarine cable which
might be valueless in few years.
Corliss asked if the attorney general
mad not refused to consider the con-
tract which the Commercial Cable Co.
had offered to make.
Richardson replied that the attorney
general and other government officials
had declined to interfere in the matter
and that the company was proceeding
to lay the cable under the postroads
act. In explanation Of the reason the
cable was being built in England he
said that the English company guaran-
teed the cable for two years. No other
company would guarantee a cable for
80 DAYS, he said.
Richardson declared that as an
economic business proposition the gov
eminent cable was unjustifiab BILE and he
quoted from the commerce committees
report against q former bill of this kind
TO the effect that the government cable
would cost $l5,000,000 and would chiefly
benefit 800 foreigners and 100 American
citizens. He read 4 letter from John
w. Mackay Of the Commercial Gable
Co, guaranteeing that the company
would build an aIl-AmericHn cable ANA
not touch upon foreign soil. The OBJ
lection to the project of the CONNER
cial Company because the cable was
not built by Americans, he said, would
not stand investigation. He produced
figures to show that only T. per cent
Of the COST Of 4 cable was expended for
wages.
Shackelford, Mo, argued thai u gov
eminent cable was necessary 10 pro-
tect the public from private monopoly.
Ncwands. Nev., defended John W.
Maclay. president Of the Commercial
Cable 20, from the aspersionS cast on
him, yesterday.
Loud. Cal. opposed the bill on the
ground that government operation of
telegraph systems in Europe was not Il
success. Since 1872 England had lost
about $50, 0O0, 600 in The operation OF her
telegraph system.
Morrell. Pa. spoke against the bill
and Mann, Ill, closed the debate with
speech in favor Of the measure.
AGamson, Ga, moved to strike out
the&enactinS clause Of the bill. TO prove
that the Commercial Gable Co, was
proceeding with the worl, Of construct
ing the cable it proposed to lay, H.
read 4 cable from c. +. Ward, vice
president, certifying that 1865 nautical
miles 20 he laid between san Francisco
ana Honolulu had been completed and
that the work was proceeding at the
rate of 26 miles i day.
Cannon. ILL.,, chairman Of the appro-
priations committee then threw the
weight of his influence against the bill.
He had always favored Il cable but al
WAYS had believed that Il private com
pany would come along and lay one
without expense to the United States.
Here was such Il company Offering to
build cable to the Philippines by way
of Honolulu.
Corliss declared that the building Of
this cable was not 4 question Of money.
The people are not concerned about the
expense. The attorney general. he
said had delivered an opinion to tn
effect that the United States had tn"