The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1896-11-13
ABOUT THE CABLE
Prominent Citizens Object to Elk
tending Option.
SpALDINC SHOULD BEGIN WORK
Franchise Originally OPP
posed by Merchants.
Government Should Expediate Mat
ters-Let Company Best Quail
flied Build the Line.


to have expressed the feelings OF ma
jority of the business men in the COM |
A few were willing to give
their opinions when spoken to by an |
reporter yesterday, while |
others for business and social relations
with Col. Spalding preferred not to
have their names mentioned.
j. B. Atherton, President OF the
Chamber of Commerce and managing
partner of the firm of Castle & Cooke,
said:
4 am opposed to any extension of
the franchise to Col. Spalding or Civ
ing franchise for long period to any
one Nor do l particularly advocate
franchises by the Government unless
there is forfeit clause, which pro-
vides that the person forfeit the
amount of the deposit if the work is
not completed within specified time.
1 believe, also, that there should be
clause providing that the Government
may assume control of the cable when
it can. We have enough of long fran
chises in the Tramways Company, and
l think that should be lesson not to
grant any more long ones. If l remem-
Der correctly, there was franchise
granted in 1865 to Cyrus w. Field, and
we have been ever since then trying
to get a cable through" r,
One of the largest retailers in the
city preferred not to say anything for
publication, but gave it as his opin-
ion that the line should be built as
soon as possible and preferably by an
American company. He opposed any
extension of the franchise or granting
long one to any company, unless
there was a deposit which would be
forfeited unless the cable was laid
within certain time.
William G. Irwin, than whom no
one more interested in the development
of Hawaii can be found, expressed
himself as being strongly opposed to
an extension of time.
Opposed to it? OF course, | am, but
if you say so in the Advertiser the
public will say it is for personal rea-
sons, but this is not the case. | don't
believe in giving long franchises to
any one individual or corporation
What is the use of tying up the Gov
eminent for long period? The fran
chise was given to Col. Spalding in
opposition to the wishes of the bust
ness firms who represent three-fourths
of the capital of the country. The re-
suit of Col. Spalding's effort at Wash
ington shows that these men were
right in opposing it. The oftener the
franchises are extended the longer we
will be without a cable, and the more
funny forfeit clauses inserted in them
the more pleasure it will be to the man
who gets the franchise. What does the
$4,000 deposit amount to? Col.
| Spalding went off and bought that
amount in Hawaiian bonds, and they'r
good investment, l have more than
that myself, and then tied a string
around the package and told them to
keep them in the Government vaults
where they would be safe. 1t was
cheaper than renting box in the
Safe Deposit Company, and there was
no risk. I'll wager anything he's been
laughing about that deposit ever
since. / want a cable as much as
anyone in the country, and l guess this
house will use it as much. l am so
anxious for it, in fact, that / don't
want an option given to anyone. On
the contrary, when the Government is
ready to assist by subsidy, let them
notify the different Governments and
give every one chance, and accept the
one that will do the mDst toward
building the line promptly. | am OPP
posed to giving any one man fran
chise which he can put in his vest peck
ct and then travel from one end OF
Europe to the other trying to peddle
it. It's of no consequence to me who
builds the line or the nationality OF
it; l will enjoy receiving a message
over wire laid by United States com
panies quite as well as if it was built
by English or French capital or vice
versa"
Neither Mr.. Isenberg nor Mr. Hack
field were in their Office when the re
porter called, but it was learned tina
both gentlemen oppose continuance
now as strenuously as they opposed
granting the franchise in the first place
Tom May, who does an extensive
business in groceries, buying largely
alike in England and America, said IL
response to request for his views.
Il am not very prominent here, anC
haven't really given the matter mucl
thought l would say, however. tina
l think Col Spalding received an ex
traordinary concession, and he has hat
a pretty good show. If he finds at thu
end of his time he cannot get thu
backing he anticipated, it would be ;
good thing to take the forfeit and Civ
someone else a chance. They nigh
negotiate with-who was that old chal
who came here from the Colonies? ST
Audley Coote? Yes, that's the man
let's see what he will do with it. 0ul
relations with the United States ar
such that l believe in giving com
pany over there the first chance. ther
if they don't want to take it, let som'
~ al -