The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-12
Mackay's Company WIFE Now Proceed
TO Carry Out Its Plans without
Fear of Opposition.
NO HURRY IN THE SENATE
RESOLUTION FOR POPULAR ELEC-
TION WILL CONTINUE To SLEEP.
Motion to Discharge the Committee
Defeated 35 to 21-Bin to Amend
Passport Law Passed.

WASHINGTON, June 1.-THE House to-
day dispatched the Corliss Pacific cable bill
by the same method il adopted yesterday
In the case of the forest reserve bill. 1t
struck out the enacting clause of the meas
ure by a vote of 11S to II, thus giving no OPP
portunity 10 test the strength of the Dali
zell substitute, which authorized the Pres
ident to contract with private company
for the laying of a cable. The speakers
to-day were Messrs. Shackieford of Mis-
souri,. Mann OF Illinois, Morrell of Penn
syIvania and Tompkins of Ohio for the bill,
and Messrs. Richardson of Alabama. New
lands of Nevada. Loud of California and
Cannon of Illinois against it.
Mr. Richardson called attention to the
speech OF Mr.. Cannon yesterday, in which
the latter showed that the appropriation
for the next fiscal year exceeded the rev.
enues by s51 .000, 600. and urged this as the
reason why the government should not
enter upon the work OF building a cable.
He referred to the possibilities In the de-
velopment Of wireless telegraphy and ar
gued that ii would be unwise, on the
threshold OF the new system, for the gov
eminent TO expend Sl5.OO0.000 or 10000, 900
for a submarine cable which might be
valueless In a few years. Mr.. Richardson
then read the contract under the post
roads act OF 1866. which the Commercial
Cable Company agreed 10 make with the
secretary OF the treasury covering the sale
OF the cable in case OF necessity 10 the gov
eminent, the priority of government mes
sages the rates 10 be charged mot to ex-
coed 80 cents per word 10 Hawaii and 81
a word 10 the Philippines and China), with
half rates for government business, the
control OF the cable by the government in
time OF war. etc. He argued that these
terms were IN every way advantageous to
the government.
Mr. Richardson declared that as an eco
noInIc business proposition the government
cable was unjustifable. and he quoted from
the commerce commissions report against
a former bill of this kind 10 the effect that
a government cable would cost SIS. 200 900
and would chiefly benefit three hundred
foreigners and one hundred American citi-
zens. He read a letter from John W.
Mackay, OF the Commercial Company,
guaranteeing that the company would build
an all American cable and not touch upon
foreign soil. He produced figures to show
that only Il per cent OF the cost Of cable
was expended in wages.
The letter OF Mr.. Mackay was addressed
10 Mr.. Hepburn. chairman OF the commit
tee. and SAYS: MY cable engineer. Mr.
Cuttriss. through your kind Offices and the
courtesy OF Mr.. Moody, the secretary OF the
navy, and of Admiral Bradford, has been
allowed TO examine the charts OF SOundings
on file In the Navy Department showing
that IL Is feasible 10 land a submarine ca
bic on the Island OF Guam. in the Pacific
ocean Mr.. Cuttriss has just TELEGRAPH
me that these sOundings show that such a
landing is practicable. This removes the
only doubt as 10 the feasibility Of an ALL
American cable from San Francisco 10 Ma
Mia and / write this letter 10 YOU TO state
pOsitiVely that the submarine cable which
the Commercial Pacific Cable COMPANY ha :
agreed 10 construct. lay and operate from
san Francisco To Manila will be an all
American cable and will not touch on any
foreign island or territory whatsoever I
give Won my personal assurance 10 that
effect The first section OF this cable will
be in operation In November 1902 and we
expect 10 be able 20 arrange for the re-
naming sections 10 be completed and
opened for traffic during the year 1904
Mr. Cannon said he had ALWAYS favored
the cable but believed n private companv
would come along and lay one without
EXPENSE 10 the United States. Here was such
a company offering 10 build a cable 10 the
non said his principal objection 10 the
Dalzell substitute was that IL delayed the
cable.
Mr. Corliss declared that the building of
this cable was not n question OF money.
The people were not concerned about tn.
expense The attorney general he said.
had delivered an opinion TO the effect that
the United States had no power without
congressional action 10 enter into a con-