The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1895-08-09

that it is exactly the right time now
to ask all possible questions al find
out what the patriotic colouel-that
excellent type Of the absentee land
lords up to. After the Senate has
been talked, or bulldossd into,
accepting his proposition aud grant
ing him an exclusive franchise it
will be too late to ask questions.
81 am therefore provided with all
of the necessary preliminary inform
alton, both technical and financial,
necessary to proceed Immediately
with the work, except the knowledge
OF what subsidy can be depended
upon from the governments inter
ested."
So says the colonel May we ask
why an appropriation has been
passed few days ago to the amount
OF $4,000 to enable the Government
to gain the "technical and financial
information which now is in posses
sion OF the colopeli Is he to sell
said information at that modest
.fgure7 or is the money to be spent
in finding out if the colonel's techni-
Gle, etc, information is reliable and
correct2 II for the latter purpose
the appropriation will be proper
and the money well.spent indeed.
At first glance the colonel's pro-
position looks very tempting and
reasonable. He states in ten para
graphs what he--the great will
do, and in five what he wants the
Hawaiian Government to do for
him. He promises that he will bear
all expenses already incurred by
him. Who is going to help that if
the Government ignores his propo-
sitions7 He will also bear all ex-
penses in the future in regard to
negotiations with foreign govern
ments, engineers, raising of capital,
etc. Why shouldn't he2 If he is
to be the owner, constructor, and
beneficiary of the cable--also prob.
ably the whole government-he will,
without expense to the Govern 'nent,
build the cable aud maintain 1t for
twenty years. Without expense in
deed The Hawaiian Government
is asked to pay him $4,000 year
for twenty years; to furnish him
with land for the necessary st .tions
and buildings; to grant him the ex-
elusive right to land cables Oh Ha-
waiian territory for twenty years,
and to allow all material imported
free of duty and taxes.
And such an exclusive franchise
is placed before the public by the
colonel as if he was the benevolent
and virtuous giyer, and the people
OF Hawaii the meek and ought-to-be-
truly-grateful receivers. Colonel
Spalding is not the kind of maa who
gives anything for nothing His
scheme bears close investigation Cor
ought to) and the Senate will be
wise in postponing the considers
tion of this project till next term.
If the Government really wants and
desires annexation to the United
States it will be just as we'll to have
a little patience in regard to cables
and wait until their alleged OBJ
ject is accomplished. To grant an
exclusive franchise for twenty years
to speculative corporation is
most serious matter Especially in
view of annexation plans), and every
question connected with it should
be weighed with the greatest care.
If the plan of the official organ, to
ask no questions, is adopted we may
wake up some day and fnd the
country saddled with obligations
which will prove disastrous t. the
welfare of the nation-and annexa-
tion further up the spout than it
was when Castle, Thurston, Mars
den and Co. tried to get it through
in 1898.
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