The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-08-13
Committee Of Five Appointed to
Confer With Business Men.
HOUSE SANCTIONS HIGH SCHOOL
Communication From President Dole
Notifying the House of the Negoti-
ations and Conclusion OF n Cable
Contract With Colonel Spalding.
F'IFTIETH DAY, AUGUST 18th

Il
Minister Hatch announced that the
President had signed the following
Acts: Relating to Labor Commission,
extra appropriation for expenses OF
Legislature, repeating former cable
franchises, Cable Enabling Act and
Act exempting public libraries from
taxation.
A communication from the House
was read notifying Senate of the ap-
pointment of various committees to
confer on joint resolutions.
President Wilder named Senators
Lyman, Schmidt and McCandless as
members of the Joint Committee to
confer on the Tramways Electric bill.
The Senate concurred in House
amendment to Act 13, relating to mo-
tions for new trials.
Minister Hatch presented message
from the President relating to the
Spalding cable contract, a copy of
which accompanied the message.
The contract was read to the Senate.
[Full account published elsewhere
this morning.
Minister Hatch offered a joint reso =
luton which, if passed, would ratify
the contract. Senator Brown moved
its, adoption in a strong speech. He
said Colonel Spalding's proposition
was the most business like that has
ever been presented to the Government.
The subsidy had been cut down to
SD, 200, which was not an excessive
amount. The speaker said Messrs.
Fleming and Mercier wanted $4,000
a year for their line, and no mention
was made about an inter island cable !;
for $4,000 additional we would have
the other islands connected, which
completion of Colonel Spalding's line
depends on the action of the United
States, as he must obtain aid from
that government. To show his good
faith, that gentleman has agreed to
put up $25, 900 in bonds as a guarantee
that he will carry out his end of the
contract if he secures such aid from
the United States. Every Act passed
by this Government up to the present
time gave exclusive grants, and
though an outcry might be made if
this company was granted an exclu-
sive franchise, the Senate had many
precedents in it's favor. The COM
pany must have the exclusive right
in order to obtain money enough to
carry the work to completion. The
subsidy could be paid without taking
money from current receipts if the
Government would place duty of S6
a pound on opium or else license the
sale of the drug. He favored either
means of obtaining the money.
Senator Hooking was not in favor
of signing any contract that gave an
exclusive franchise. Any company
subsidized is guaranteed success and
ought to be able to compete with
others. He thought the United
States should have been approached
regarding the matter before Hawaii,
and believed that if Congress gives
500, 900 a year or more, the cable
would be laid, whether this country
contributed a dollar or not. If the
United States appropriates money,
different companies will fight for the
privilege of building the line. He
favored a graduating subsidy only;
one that would cease when the line
commenced to make money. The
speaker did not favor the exclusive
clause and said it should be stricken
out.
Senator Schmidt favored the con-
lIdClg OuJ DSllSNSO IL " OC VI oOSh
Importance that the Chamber of
Commerce should have an opportunity
of passing on it before it was ratified.
He moved that committee of five be
to confer with the business
men and report to the Senate.
Senator Brown opposed the motion,
saying the committee was not neces-
sary. The matter had been before the
public for some days. 1t was gener-
ally known that the Government was
to make a contract with Colonel
and if the Chamber of
Commerce did not like the PROPOSE
tion the members could have met and
expressed their disapproval in the
Senator McCandless thought the
appointment of a committee was a
good idea. He said the public should
be given an opportunity to consider
the matter.
Senator Horner spoke in the same
strain.
Senator Schmidt's motion carried,
and Senators Schmidt, Brown, Nc
Candless, Lyman and Wilcox were
named to serve.
At 1855 o'clock the Senate ad-
journed until 10 o'clock tuesday
morning.
House of Representatives.