The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-02-18

The lOng-discussed Hawaiian cable
proposition will assume practical
shape today, when the names of
twenty gentlemen who will compose
the board of directors of the Pacific
Ocean Cable Company will be teIe-
graphed to Washington, to be there
inserted in the bill authorizing the
Incorporation of the company under
the laws Of the United States, says
the Chronicle of the 9Th inst. Ten of
the incorporators are well-known
merchants and business men of San
Francisco, Portland, Humboldt and
other towns on the Coast.
Briefly stated, the object of the pro-
posed corporation is to lay a submar-
inc cable connecting San Francisco
with Honolulu, Tahiti and the South
Pacific islands, Asia and Australia. It
is proposed to connect with the
French cable at New Caledonia,
which stretches to Australia, and
thus make complete line from this
podes.
WASHINGTON, Feb. Tt is prob
able that tomorrow there will be in
troduced simultaneously in both
houses of Congress bill to grant a
charter to the International Pacific
Cable Company for the construction
OF a telegraphic cable between the
United States and Japan by way of
Honolulu. Senator Perkins of Cali
fornia will introduce the bill in the
Senate and Representative Charles
Wilson Of Pennsylvania in the House.
Admiral Irwin is the moving spirit in
the matter. Others who will probably
be named as incorporators are g. r.
Bishop of Honolulu, General Dimond
is also largely interested, as well as
Hugh Craig of San Francisco, William
Alvord, president of the Bank of
California, Louis Parrott, George w.
MeNear, as well as II. f. Allen,
another San Francisco banker, and
Herman Oelrichs, the late Senator
Fairs son-in-laW.
WASHINGTON, Feb. S.-The bills to
charter the international Pacific Cable
Company were not introduced in
either branch of Congress today, for
the reason that it is expected that the
Senate will tomorrow vote on the pro-
position for q route for an American
cable to Hawaii.
Senator Perkins said this evening
that the bill would probably be with
held from either branch of Congress
until it is ascertained what may be
done with the proposition now pend
ing before the Senate. He said, how
ever, that everything was in readiness
and waiting the favorable opportunity
to come.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-The Hawai-
ian question in general and the Ha-
waiian cable in particular were the
main themes before the Senate today.
The Diplomatic Consular Appropria-
tiOn bill was taken up and would have
been quickly disposed of except for
the item of $500,000 for Immediately
beginning cable construction between
the United States and Hawaii. Mills
OF Texas made point of order against
the cable proposition which is likely
to rule it out, but the decision was
further debate Hawaii. Hale ad-
dressed the Senate in favor of cable
with Hawaii.
1.-The annexation of Hawaii is sure
to come, cable or no CABLE" said Hale.
The Senator spoke of the efforts of
Great Britain to build the Hawaiian
cable, and said we should not permit a
foreign power to get this advantage.
Vest and Palmer asked the cost of the
entire cable. Hale said he had care
full estimates made by cable experts.
The distance along the surveyed
route was about 2, 100 miles. The es-
timates showed the cost to be about
$4,000 to $4,000 per mile. This
would make a total cost of 81, 500, 900 or
81, ,600,0 900 for the entire cable. Hale
said the recent unfortunate events on
the islands and the debates in Con-
gress emphasized the need of a cable,
and he considered the time opportune
to commit the Government to the
simple plan.
Allen suggested an amendment that
the Hawaiian cable should always re-
main under Government ownership
and control. Allen asked what differ
ence there was between This PROPOSE
tiOn to construct and own n cable and
Government ownership of - railroad.
Platt read from President Cleve-
lands message in 1883 urging the inn
portance of close relations with Ha-
waii, and saying the Importance of
cable should not be overlooked. In
1888 Mr.. Cleveland again urged on
Congress the desira bility of establish
ing a submarine cable to Hawaii.
President Harrison had recommended |
similar action.
Butler asked if Hawaii was willing
the United States should build the
cable.
Perkins said he happened to be able