The morning call., 1891-02-14
In GREAT FAVOR.
A Bright Prospect for The Passage Of The
Pacific Gable Bill.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13.-The President Of
the Pacific Cable Company, General Hart
we'll, said tonight to your correspondent
that he believed the bill as reported by the
committee would pass Congress. "There is
one thing about it, you will obs erye," he
said, 1.-THE special committee, appointed to
make report, were practically Eastern
men, and they have considered the matter
from purely a national standpoint. The
Chairman of the subcommittee is Miehi-
gan Democrat. and he is in favor of the bill
with its subsidy feature. He wisely con-
cludeS, as you have heard him say, that this
Is not subsidy in its noXi0us sense, not
subsidy in the usual sense which is opposed
by Democrats on general principles. But
you will see that the members from whom
we had feared opposition are broad enough
to grasp the Importance of the question, and
are far enough above party prejudice to give
us their support. now refer to number
of leading Democrats in the House who have
expressed themselves as favorable to the
bill. Some of the rank and file of the Dem
ocratic members will no doubt appear in
opposition to il, but the Republicans will
vote in the affirmative almost solidly."
1t is learned that letter was presented to
McCreary yesterday morning from his
friend, Norvin Green Of the Western Union.
The letter was to the effect that the Western
OutOH Hdu uO OUJtCllOH 10 tilb Dlil, anu
rather favored it. Green had no financial
interest in the matter, nor did he expect to
have, but stated that English and Canadian
capital contemplated a similar enterprise,
and it would be much better for the United
States, commercially, to have control of the
Pacific cable. 1t would in this way gain a
stronger hold on the trade of the Pacific
Ocean, and in addition to its commercial in
fluence, would enable the United States to
increase its political standing with the Sand
wich Islands Green urged McCreary to
consider the matter carefully, and, if pos
slble offer no opposition.
1t is now thought McCreary will not make
a bitter fight against it. The fact that the
Western Union Company will not ight the
bill is quite point in its favor. 1t is also
thought that john Mackay will at least re-
main quiet, for the reason that Pacific
cable, backed by American capitalists, will
be OF general benefit to the country, and in
this way benefit all the telegraph companies,
as they Will share in the trans-Pacific bust
ness.
Hartwell said that if tho bill was passed
the company would lose no time in getting
TO work. Lieutenant Clover, U. S. n, has
assured him that soundings can be made,
giving all the information desired within
three months after commencing the work
The Secretary of the Navy has promised
to do this work without delay. It is calcu-
lated that within eight months after award
ing the contract to the construction COM
pany the cable will be completed to Homo
lulu, and in General HartwelPs language,
You can just tell your people in the morn
ing that, if the bill goes through. we Will be
ready for business by New Years morning.
and on that occasion we will send Happy
New Years message from the Chamber Of
Commerce of San Francisco to the same
organization at Honolulu"
Cecil Brown, member of the Hawaiian
Legislature, says there is no truth in the
statement that his Government is under
contract with England to give subsidy of
| to that effect had been passed. in 1887, con-
tanning a provision to continue until the
first day of the present year. The English
Government had been notified that the tim
had expired. but the Hawaiians had made
! no attempt to renew it He had no doubt
but that the English people would like very
| much to have the proposition extended, but
| his Government was now dealing with the
| United States only.