Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-09
TIE GABLE QUESTION
Senate Committee on Naval All.
fairs to Take Up Subject
Next Week.
Hearings will Be Given to Cor.
porations Desiring to Con.
struct a Cable.
Senator's Divided as to Whether
the Government Shall
Do the Work.

the senate cQTn1lllllee on slldNd al Stl IAN >
was held yesterday morning, at which
it was decided to take up the question
of Pacific cable. Tuesday morning
next is the time set at which a series of
exhaustive hearings are to be held.
Senator Hale has given much study to
the question, as have a number of other
members of the senate The general
propositions involved in the construc-
ton of Pacific cable are familiar to
ali members of the committee. They
will insist upon definite statements
from representatives of large corpora
tons which propose to construct ca
bic as to the cost, methods of operation
and rates at which business will be re-
ceived. The talk of granting a subsidy
to any company for the building of a
cable seems to have been effectually 81
fenced by the failure to secure cable
legislation at the last session OF con-
gress.
1t seems to be an assured fact that
there will be provision made for a Pa
cific cable at this session. Leading SEN
ators and members of the house have
expressed themselves in favor of ca
BILE The president has declared en-
phatically for such project. Both the
war and navy departments have point
ed out the necessity for cable commun-
lea ton with our possessions in the far
east The government has been paying
in cables rates alone 1925. 900 per annum.
With this sentiment in mind, Senator
Hale has introduced two cable bills at
the present session. Senator Perkins
has offered another.
The division of opinion among sena-
tors is not over a question OF subsidiz-
ing q cable 1t turns solely on the
question as to whether or not the cable
shall be built by the government or by
private corporation under the regula-
tons which congress may prescribe. 1t
is believed that Senator Hale favors
private constructions and that this is
shared by leading republican senators.
Such conservatives as Senator Cockrell,
of Missouri, on the democratic side. fa-
vor construction by private corpora
ton under government supervision.
The principle was long ago estab-
lished that the United States govern
ment thru the constitutional power to
regulate foreign commerce can control
absolutely all cables. As broad. gen
eral proposition, senators believe, N the
light of past experience, that no large
undertaking involving purchase of ma
terial. the Employment of scores of men
and the requirement of machinery and
supplies. can be carried forward as eco
nomically by the government as 1t can
by a private corporation. There is a
growing inclination to limit the au-
thority Of executive officers of the gov
eminent In carrying forward public
work This grows out or the abuse of
trusts by governmental officers IN the
past.
Limited as the administrative officers
Of the government would be by a bill
which would provide for governmental
construction of cable, 1t would be inn
possible to enter the market and make
purchases and do constructive work on
anything like the basis which 1t is pos
sible for a private corporation to work
One OF Senator Hale's cable bills pro-
vides for private construction and the
other for governmental construction.
All of the bills contemplate section of
the cable connecting Honolulu and San
Francisco They all contemplate join
ing Honolulu and Manila, Philippine
Islands, but they vary as to other ter
mdnal points in the Philippines.
Senator Perkins bill provides for a
cable built by the government thru the
resources of both the army and the
navy His bill proposes that the gov
eminent shall permit a cable under
nj a ~ ha pcJt n q C a
general, the secretary of war and the
secretary of navy. All of the bills pro-
pose that the cable must be built out of
materials secured in the United States
and laid by ships flying the American
flag. Senator Perkins bill appropriates
s50oO0 Immediately, and places limit
of $4,000, 600 upon the total cost
The bill of Senator Hale, which pro-
vides for government construction, per-
mits the navy departments to use
available ships now in the possession
of the government after they have been
reconstructed and adapted to the spe-
cial work Senator Hale's bill provides
that American materials shall be used
where 1t does not exceed in cost foreign
material by more than IL per cent. This
bill carries an appropriation of $1,000
600.
The hearing of Tuesday next will
probably bear more directly upon the
other bill of Senator Hale, which pro-
vides that the president may permit a
private corporation to construct the
private cable on terms which he deems
proper The Commercial Gable Com
pany is TO be represented at the hearing
by Mr. George G. Ward, of that COM
rany The bill for private construction
names as conditions that the govern
ment shall have priority for sending of
it's cabegrams. and at rates which the
postmaster general shall fixe annually.
1t also provides that the United States
may purchase the cable line at any
time after 1t has been appraised.
The opening of the cable matter by
the committee is expected to precipitate
lively contest between the two rival
telegraph interests of the country. The
Commercial company has already ere
ated much feeling by it's attempt dur
ing the summer to procure permission
from President Roosevelt for the laying
Of cable. While the efforts of the ca :
BILE companies in the past have been d.
rected toward convincing senators and
members that the cost of a Pacific cable
would be s25, 0000, 600, or more, and that
the cost of maintenance and repairs
will be enormous 1t is not expected that
these efforts will be renewed at the
present session. They We're designed
during the last session to force a sub