The record-union., 1895-08-22
HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS.
IMPORTANT ACTION REGARDING
THE TELEGRAPH CABLE.
Island Authorities Anxious for Line
Connecting Them With the
United States.

ton was introduced in the Senate on the
18th, which, if passed, would ratify the
cable contract made by President Dole
with Il. S. Spaulding. 1t was decided to
give the Cham ber of Commerce an oppor-
tunity to be heard regarding the matter,
SO no action was taken on the resolution.
The next morning the chamber held a
spirited meeting and indorsed the action
of the Executive. Some mem mbers did
not favor an exclusive franchise, but the
majority agreed that both an exclusive
franchise and subsidy would have to be
granted if Hawaii wanted a cable. The
same afternoon the Senate and the House
both ratified the contract. Mr.. Spaulding
will make proposition to the next Con-
gress asking for subsidy of about $780,
| 900 per annum.
The contract signed by this Govern
ment grants an exclusive franchise for
| twenty years, but provides that the grant
| shall not prevent any foreign Govern
ment having existing treaty rights with
the Republ of Hawaii allowing any
such Government so to do, to land a cable
| upon the Hawaiian group for other than
commercial purposes, from any point on
| the North American Continent. The
| Government agrees To pay the contractor
an annual subsidy of $4,000 for twenty
years from the date OF the establishment
of telegraphic communication between
Honolulu and a point at or near San
| Francisco and the islands of Hawaii,
| Molokai, Maui and Kauai. The subsidy
to be paid IN quarterly lnStailments OF
| $4,000 each.
Work on the cable must begin on or
before the lst of May, 1897, and the line
must be completed by November l. 1898.
otherwise the contract is void. If Spauld-
| ing fails to obtain assistance from the
| United States the Hawaiian Government
may cancel the contract The company
| will be exempt from duty on material,
taxes and port charges in addition to
| other privileges.
The maximum rates for messages other
| than Government messages, over the
cable between Honolulu and San Fran
| cisco shall be such as shall be agreed
upon in any contract which shall be
made between the contractor and the
United States Government, not exceed
ing 81 per word, and any contract with
such Government shall prescribe a maxi
mum scale of rates. If Geographic COM
| munication shall be hereafter established
between tho Hawaiian Islands and AUS
tralia or Japan, the rate TO be charged for
any message transmitted from Honolulu
| to San Francisco, or from san Francisco
to- Honolulu, shall not exceed pro rata
proportion, based on distance, OF the regu-
| lar rate for transmitting q similar mes
! sage to or from San Francisco and Aus
tralia or Japan. Messages from Homo
| lulu to points beyond san Francisco
shall not be charged higher rates beyond
| San Francisco than the rates which the
contractor may be charged for the trans
mission of the same.
! Press messages shall not exceed enc
! half the regular rates which shall be
charged for other messages, excepting
Government messages. 1t shall not be
| obligatory upon the contractor to Sond
any press message for less than 81. Dur
! ing twenty years all messages concerning
the official business OF the Hawaiian Gov
| ernment shall be transmitted free up to
| the amount of the annual subsidy paid
| by the Government TO the contractor.
The specifications cover seven pages of
/ typewriter legal cap, giving technical
| description OF materials, method of con-
struction and laying. The California
cable will contain 400 pounds OF copper
and 800 pounds of gutta percha per mile,
and will be 800 miles long. The Inter
Island will have 100 pounds each OF cop
per and gutta percha aud be Ia miles
long.
The cable will be landed at Monterey
! at the American END and on WAIKIKI
beach at this end. The survey made sew
eral years ago by the Albatross, under
| Captain Tanner, is the one to be used by
Spaulding.
People representing British interests
here object to the hasty manner in which
| the contract was awarded. Colonel
| Spaulding explains, saying it was neces-
sary to have the matter settled at this
! end before Congress meets.
HAwAIfs NEW MINISTER.
CHICAGO, Aug. N.-William Il. Castle,
/ the new Hawaiian Minister to the L nited
/ States, arrived here to-day on his way to
| Washington, accompanied by his wife
and young son. He said: "Everthing is
! quiet IN the islands now. The policy of
| the Government is to make improve
ments n the islands and 10 induce Amer
1 leans to emigrate and establish industries
there. A land system has recently been
inaugurated for the purpose of fostering
/ the occu patton of land by foreigners. My
chief aim while here will be to get farm
! ers to 60 TO Hawaii. as they are much
needed. Chicago will be our emig grafton
headquarters"