The Hawaiian gazette., 1890-06-03
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE MINISTER
OF FINANCE.
HIS ExcELLENcY S. NJ. DAMON,
MINISTER or FINANCE HOMO

Lulu, H. /.
SIR In the interest of honesty,
fair dealing and incidentally of the
British aud American stockholders
of the Hawaiian Pacific Cable Com
pany, permit me to address YOU in
this public manner. Il is stated in
newspaper of this city that sthe
management of this company has
lately attempted to reach the draw
ing Of the first installment " of the
Government subsidy of S25, 600.
This statement was 3 surprise TO
myself and led TO prompt investi-
CATION. Under the Bartholomew
Act of July ,, 1883, no money can
be drawn from the Hawaiian treas
urv until the telegraph lines and
cables are "in good working condi-
ton between Honolulu and Wal
luku." which has not yet been
accomplished, although the main
land lines across Oahu, Molokai
and Maui with shout fifty-five
miles of auxiliary land lines are
nearly completed. One type of
the cable has proved TO be defee-
tive. communication between Ho-
nelulu and Wailuku cannot vet be
had. the Government subsidy is OF
course unesrned and speaking
strictly for the British and Amer
lean stockholders no attempt at
any time has been made TO obtain
the money which TO the best of my
knowledge still remains in the
Government treasury.
On the part of S few of the resi-
dent stockholders it is discovered
that most unsatisfactory and in
consistent state Of affairs exists.
4 local firm of merchants, on or
about September Is. 1889, volunta-
rily became the agents for the
cable company st Honolulu, no
| guaranty was asked of this Homo
lulu firm. an omission on the part of
the cable company which was over
looked by myself in the hurry of
construction work. At s subse-
quent date, SIS stated 10 myself by
an official of the Interior Depart
menJ, prominent member Of this
firm Of the cable company's agents
appeared ST the Government build
ing armed with power of attor-
ney from the New York construe-
tors of the rejected cable, and
claimed the first instaIment of
$4,000. which demand was of course
properly denied. An set of this
kind. while entirely unauthorized
by myself, and carefully guarded
against on my part IN the contract,
still being of the nature of 8 claim
against the cable company, was di-
rectly prejudieisl TO our interests,
and 1t WAS this hostile act (to use
very mild term, which becoming
known and commented upon, has
undoubtedly given rise to the
newspaper criticism referred TO.
Just why the cable company's
agents should sceept q power of
attorney 10 press 3 claim against
the company remains to be ascer.
tanned. No money has been asked
for from Government by myself or
by the foreign stockholders of the
cable company, nor can any be
asked for under the terms of the
Government contract until the
Minister of the Interior can 90 to
the Honolulu telegraph Office and
satisfy himself that he can do bus
mess satisfactory over the lines to
Waikiki. The newspaper stric-
lures are certainly well grounded,
under the circumstances, and this
letter Is made an open one IN order
10 f0restsll or remove any aDnoy-
Snee which might be inflicted upon
the Departments of Finance and
the Interior, should such reports
remain uneon.radicted by autho-
uty from absent and innocent
stockholders l sm, honored sir.
Your Obedient servant.
J. SHERMAS BARTHOLOMEW,
President,
Hawaiian Pacific Cable Co.
Honolulu, May "a, 1890.