The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-08-13
CONTRACT FINALLY ENDORSED ny A
VOTE OF re TO 3.
To Get the Matter BEFORE Congress
Proposition OF Messrs. Fleming
and Mercer.


and Mercer.
The following gentlemen attend
ed the conference of the Chambe
of Commerce and Senate specia
cable committee this forenoon:
President Schaefer. Secretar,
Anterior, Senators Schmidt, Ly.
man, Brown, Wilcox, McCandles.
and Wright; j. I. Warehouse, L.
A. Thurston, f. S. Dodge, L. d.
Tenney, T. J. King, Ii. Il. Parme-
lee, Jas. Spencer, john Il. Hack
field, p. Z. Jores, w. Il. Allen, c.
Bolte, Geo. w. Smith. H. L.
Waity, +. w. McChesney, w. M.
Clifford, +. M. Swanzy, T. +.
Lansing, J. II. Patty, Judge Wide
mann, +. J. Lowery, Mr.. Lyman,
ID. b. Smith.
President Schaefer, after learning
that the meeting did not care to
hear the contract read, called upon
Senator Brown to introduce the
subject. That gentleman said the
Legislators wished to hear the views
OF the business men of Honolulu
OIL the cable matter. All consider
ed the feature OF the exclusive
franchise the most important. He
did not understand that this kept
out cable to land in South Ameri-
CD or from the Orient. Col. Spald-
ing had agreed to deposit forfeit TO
carry out his contract if the co-opera-
ton OF the United States is secured.
The Senators expected also that
the subsidy section would be dis
cussed.
p. G. Jones moved that the sign
ing of the contract by the Executive
with Col. Spalding be endorsed by
the Chamber of Commerce. Sec
onded by Mr.. Lyman. Mr.. Jones
aid not believe that cable could
be secured unless the exclusive
franchise was granted. 1t
was fortunate that the
proposition was offered by an
Island man. He believed the press
rate too high and that perhaps
there were other faults, but in his
opinion no company would build
cable unless it had an exclusive
franchise. He had been long con-
WINGED that Hawaii was very much
in need of cable and that it could
we'll afford to make considerable
sacrifice to secure it.
Mr.. Lowrey said he was op-
posed on principle to exclusive
franchise, such grant was not
wise under ordinary circumstances.
A line from here to the States
holds the key to the cable situation
in the Pacific. There are bound
soon to be lines from San Fran
cisco and Canada. This franchise
would bar out other lines. 1t is
desirable that the Islands have
more than one cable if possible.
But if the exclusive franchise is
granted the other concessions, in
Guiding subsidy and exemption
make total of altogether too
much. He thought the exclusive
franchise alone a sufficient subsidy.
Mr.. Jones said this would sound
very we'll if we had four or FIVE
cable companies knocking at the
door. But we haven't and will not
have.
Mr.. Anterior had always been
opposed to the exclusive franchise,
but agreed with Mr.. Jones that this
was the only way in which cable
could be secured. Mr.. Field, pro-
jector of the first Atlantic cable,
had said to the late S. N. Castle
that no cable would be put in the
Pacific except ON extraordinary in
ducements. The Pacific business
now goes via the Atlantic. The
speaker would, however, favor the
exclusive franchise, but without
the subsidy.
Mr.. Swanzy said it was unfor-
tunate that proper time had not
been given for Consideration Of the
matter. On the 9th the proposition
Of Col. Spalding had been published,
on the 18th the contract had been
signed, and on the 18th the Cham
Der is asked to give an opinion.
This is an example of railroad" le-
gislation that is distinctively repre-
hensible. The Substantial assist
ance expected from the United
States is indefinite and the matter
may be kept in allegiance until the
substantial assistance" is secured
The details of the strands read
prettily, but no one understands
them. The Senate is voting on
something it does not understand.
1t is said this is the most business
like proposition the government
has ever received. Hawaii $40, 900,
United States $3.50, 900, total $2oo,
600 OH say Va, 900, 900. With the
subsidy, even without the exclusive
franchise there would be no trouble
in getting money in the open mar
ket. The projectors figure up from
7 to g per cent and then want an
exclusive grant. Sanford Fleming
and Mr.. Mercer had said that as
many other cables could be laid as
people wished to place. Mr..
Swanzy did not see where the re-
turn from this great subsidy was to
come. He did not know if the
country could pay without en-
barrassing it. If it could, wei
and good, but at the exclusive
franchise he baked and objected tc
having the Legislature precipitate
ly place the cable privileges of the
country in the hands of one man
Gales may become cheaper il
twenty years. He would urge OF
the committee to ask the Senate t.