The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-11-11

what they now lack more than they did
several years ago, viz: quick mail com
munication from abroad.
1t will also tend to develop and event
ually establish direct steam communion
ton for b tn freight and p ssengers, to
the great advantage OF residents and
property owners on Hawaii, and Incl
denlally TO the advantage OF the whole
country.
We feel that the residents of Hawaii
are entitled to some recognition in the
way OF assistance in developing their re-
sources, aud therefore recommend that
subsidy of 500 for each monthly trip TO
HIlo be appropriated.
Although the figures show that the d.
rect STEAMER could call st Hilo and still
reach Honolulu under all ordinary cir
cumstances on the same schedule time
that she now does, we do not think it
wise to make the Hilo trip a condition
precedent to the payment OF any sub
sidy, but recommend that going to Hilo
be made optional with the company,
offering the subsidy as an inducement,
10 be paid If the steamer does go there.
One further point which tie committee
think should be covered by the terms oil
the grant Is that the subsidy should be
paid upon the condition that the time
table OF the local steamer should be
made TO conform TO the desires OF the
Government, and that the table should
not be changed except with the consent
OF the government.
This is mentioned by reason OF the
fact that the sailing schedule OF the
Australia was recently changed without
notice to date which causes all of the
other islands to he from three TO seven
days later than is necessary in getting
their foreign mail.
The committee were also instructed TO
investigate charge made by the Hon.
G.. w. Ashford that the Oceanic Com
pany was paving the Pacific Mail Com
pany a subsidy to refrain from taking
freight and passengers TO and from Ho-
nolulu.
No evidence was produced before the
committee OF anything of the kind, MIR.
J. F. Hackfeld, agent OF the Pacific
Mail Company, and Mr. W. g. Irwin
and Mr.. Claus Spreckels, representing
| the Oceanic Company appeared before
| the committee and answered all ques-
| tions put to them concerning the sub
| ject.
They all denied the existence of any
| such arrangement, and stated that the
Pacific Mail Company was taking all
freight and passengers that offered.
The committee find that no such agree
ment between the said companies ex-
lists. The only approach to it was that
when the Oceanic Company first began
business some ten years ago, there was
an understanding with the Pacific Mail
Company that the Oceanic Company
would not run their steamers on the
Mexican coast if the Pacific Mail Com
pany would not run steamers on the
Australian route. There never was any
money consideration, and the agreement
has long since lapsed.
The items recommended by the COM
mittee for insertion in the Appropriation
Bill are as follows, to-wit:
Subsidy to the Oceanic Steamship
| Company for monthly steam communi-
cation with San Francisco, upon time
table 10 be approved by the Minister of
Finance, $4,000.
Subsidy to the Oceanic Steamship
Company for each monthly trip of the
mail steamer to Honolulu which shall
call at Hilo for the purpose of landing
mail and passengers, at the rate OF $500
for each such trip, $4,000"
l.. A. THURsToN,
J. MARsDEN.