The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-02-14
No Concession to Monop-
oily His Battle
Slogan.
INHERENT RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE
Proposal of Company Full of
"Rascaily Notifications.
HAS ENGLISH ALLIANCE
OMers Conditions That Are Fuu of
EMISSIONS and Disregard Express
Prohibitions of Law.

Representative Corliss of Michigan,
VINO is the author of the bill which pro-
vides for the laying of Government
cable from San Francisco to Manila, made
| his initial presentation of the case to the
| House yesterday
Mr. Corliss, who is bitterly opposed to
| the construction of cable by private
companies, has mapped out a rather orig
| inal campaign in offering his side of the
argument
He has divided the different aspects Of
the situation into six chapters. to be ar
gued upon from day to day in the battle
he will wage against Congress yielding
any concession to cable monopolies,
notably the Commercial Cable Company.
Spoke of Peoples Rights.
In his speech yesterday he spoke of the
peoples rights to lay, land and regulate
cables and the power of the President in
the premises. He also pictured the legal
phases of the matter, supporting his state
ments with number OF presidents and
decisions and dwelt emphatieally on the
Importance of the United States operating
it's own cable lines.
"The right to construct cable lines"
said Mr.. Corliss, sis public utility or
franchise held by the people.
Nation Has Inherent Control.
Its control is an inherent right of the
nation. No one has right to lay cable
without permission of Congress.
There is no law in existence under
which cable lines may be laid.
THE Executive is not, in my judgment
authorized by the Constitution or laws to
permit the establishment of cable lines
The precedents established by the acts
of our Presidents justify MY position
"FuII of RascalIy Notifications,
The history of the Commercial Cable
Company was gone into at some length by
Mr.. Corliss, who said the proposal they
had made to lay Pacific cable was full
of rascally notifications" and he could
best expose their vilIainy in the deadly
parallel.
In comparing the conditions laid down
by Grant and Blaine and those offered
by the Commercial Cable Company. Mr..
Coriiss showed the company evaded the
express stipulation that the company
should not receive from any foreign Gov
such privileges as would pre-
vent the establishment and operation of
IN American cable in alien Jurisdiction,
md by the insertion of carefully-word-
I'd clause sought to disregard the pro-
Tision expressly forbidding consolidation
With any other company for the purpose
If regulating rates.
In Behalf of English Ally.
Mr.. Corliss said such surreptitious ae-
ion was employed by the Commercial
able Company solely in behalf of its
English ally, in whose interests they made
pplication to lay a cable.
do you wonder" demanded Mr. Cor
ISIS. that the President refused to act
pom this petition?
The officers of the Commercial Cable
company evidently thought their rascally
notifications had been so ingeniously de-
Used as not to be discovered, or that
he Secretary of State and President were
90 stupid or Indifferent to the public
relfare TO detect their villainy."
Mr.. Corliss stated that Mr.. Mackay
allied upon the President and urged APP
4 ONdi VI lulo pttltiou. Dut tut
ent, following the presidents of his pre-
ecessors. refused TO grant permission
mbodying the subject in his message "a
Ongress.
Brazen and AudaciOus.
And yet in defiance of the Iw.' con-
luded Mr.. Corliss. this American ally
razenly assumes the audacity of an Eng
sh monOpolist, and proposes TO lay, land,
nd operate the Pacific cable without an
lor:ty from the Government of the
nited States.
Are the members of this House will
g to be charged with the disposition of
ero of old and sleep while this Ameri-
IN ally usurps the rights of the people
I'd steals the greatest public franchise
wv held by our country"