The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1890-05-27
AN OPEN LETTER TO the MINIS
TER OF FINANCE.

His ExCELLENCy :. NJ. DAMON,
MINISTER on FISANCE, liuNo-
LCIr, II. |.
SIR In the interest of honesty,
fair dealing and incidentally Of the
British and American stockholders
Of the Hawaiian Pacific Cable Com
panv, permit me to address you in
this public manner. 1t is stated in
. newspaper of this city that "the
management of this company has
lately attempted TO reach the draw
ing of the first lnstallment" of the
Government subsidy of $4,000.
This statement was surprise TO
myself and led to q prompt investi-
cation. Under the Bartholomew
Act of July ., 1883, no money can
be drawn from the Hawaiian treas
ury until the telegraph lines and
cables are sin good working condi-
ton between Honolulu and Wal
luku," which has not yet been ac.
complished, although the mainland
lines across Oahu, Molokai and
Maui with about tifty-iive miles Of
auxiliary land lines are nearly COM
pleted. One type Of the cable has
proved to he defective, communica-
ton between Honolulu and Wailuliu
cannot yet he had, the Government
subsidy is of course uncarned, and
speaking strictly for the British and
American stockholders no attempt
at any time has been made to obtain
the money which to the hest of my
knowledge still remains in the Gov
ernment treasury.
On the part Of few Of the resi-
dent stockholders it is discovered
that most unsatisfactory and in
| consistent state of affairs exists. A
| local firm of merchants, on or about
| September ID, 1889, voluntarily be-
came the agents for the cable COM
pany at Honolulu, no guaranty was
asked of this Honolulu firm, an
omission on the part of the cable
| company which was overlooked by
myself in the hurry of construction
work. At II subsequent date, as
stated to myself by an official of the
Interior Department, Il prominent
member of this firm of the cable
company's agents appeared n, the
Government building armed with
power of attorney from the New
| York constructors of the rejected
cable, and claimed the first install
ment of SIS, 200, which demand was
of course properly denied. An act
of this kind, while entirely un-
authorized by myself, and carefully
guarded against on my part in the
contract, still being of the nature of
claim against the cable company,
was directly prejudicial TO our III.
terests, and it was this hostile act
| (to use 4 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 accept power of
attorney to press 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 ask
ed for under the terms Of the Gov.
ernment contract until the Minister
of the lntcrior can go to the Homo
lulu telegraph office and satisfy linn
self that he can do business satis-
factory over the lines TO Wailuku.
The newspaper structures are certain
| ~ well grounded, under the circum.
stances, and this letter is made an
open one in order to forcstall OF
remove any annoyance which might
be inflicted upon the Departments
of Finance and the Interior, should
such reports remain uncOntradictcd
by authority from absent and limo.
cent stockholders. / am, honored
sir, Your obedient servant,
j. SHERMAN BARTHOLOMEW,
President,