The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-04-17
THE CABLE FRANCHISE
COLONEL SPAULDING'S VIEWS ON
THE IMPORTANT QUESTION.
Does Not Think Congress Will Act
During Extra Session-Enormous
Opposition Against the Project

81 come back to Hawaii with very
little information regarding the cable
situation which you do not already
know. My efforts are still directed to-
Pacific and touching the Hawaiian
islands. My contract for an exclusive
franchise with this Government will
expire the first of May if the Govern
ment wishes it to-
Thus spoke Col. u. s. Spaulding, the
owner of the Makee sugar plantation,
in his room at the Hawaiian hotel this
morning. Col. Spaulding arrived on
the Rio de Janeiro and he will remain
in Hawaii for some little time. 1t has
been over two years since he visited
his plantation on Kauai.
Il passed through Washington while
en- route to Honolulu" continued Col.
Spaulding, "and while there learned,
to my own satisfaction that the pres
ent session of Congress is purely a ses-
sion for tariff. | was told that neither
the cable or other questions will re-
ceive any considerations at this Con-
gress. However. have introduced
two cable bills, one in each branch of
Congress, the others having elapsed
by reason of the expiration of the last
Congress. My bills were brought in
early, they being among the first hun
dred measures % be introduced. |
think that this is pretty good consid-
ering the fact that between 5000 and
5000 bills will be placed on the files"
Have you any encouraging informa-
ton to reveal to this Government per-
tanning to the cable?" was inquired of
Col. Spaulding.
II am afraid not. | shall meet Pres
ident Dole and his Cabinet should an
invitation he extended me and give
out what information l have at hand"
"Will you maze application for re-
newal of your contract with this Gov
ernment?'
The term of my contract will eX-
pire providing this Government
chooses it to. / have already notified
the President that if my efforts have
not been satisfactory, that | would be
perfectly willing to acquiesce.
This is a small country" the Col
onel continued, ''and the success of
the cable measure depends almost en-
tirely upon what action the United
States will take in the matter. What
is asked of this Government in re-
stricting competition in cable lines is
Legitimate and proper. Half of the
lines at present in the Atlantic are
losing money and when a cable line
ceases to pay it ceases to be business
proposition. Undue competition is
worse than no competition at all.
There is enormous opposition to
the laying of a cable across the Pacific
ocean. This opposition is made up of
Atlantic and other corporations and
trusts which do not want to have the
Pacific cable laid until absolutely nee
essary and then they want the priv
ilege of laying the cable themselves
About the other companies desir-
ing to lay the Pacific cable | have very
little to say. When Mr.. Scrimegeour,
who has a 99-years' contract with the
Western Union Telegraph company,
says that his company will lay the
cable for the public good, some dis
trust must be placed on this statement
because of the corporations with
which he is allied.
Il would also add that some of the
reports sent cut from the Hawaiian
Islands regarding the cable and
published in the press of the United
States has been very harmful. The
people down here in Hawaii who want
cable had better do more work and
less talking"