The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-03-17
OPTION EXPIRES IN MAY CRAGS|E 70 Be REMOVED
COLONEL SPAULDING WILL MAKE
ANOTHER EFFORT.
He Has But Few Weeks in Which to
Gain Favorable Legislation from
United States Congress.

Though little legislation, except of
a special character, may be expected
during the extra session of Congress,
it is quite certain that a determined
effort will be made to press the Pacific
cable question % a successful termina-
ton, says a late dispatch. The sew
eral colonial conferences, notably that
recently held at Ottawa, and more re-
Gently the conference of London, de-
Gliding on the project of British cable
from Vancouver to Japan by way of
the Hawaiian Islands, make palmer
than ever the Importance of definite
and immediate action by Congress on
the question of cable communication
between the United States and Hawaii.
The question also involves, of course,
cable extension to Japan, which would
secure to the United States the meal
culable advantage of telegraphic con-
troll over the North Pacific ocean.
Early in the last session Pacific
cable propositions were submitted to
Congress by the Pacific Cable Com
pany of New Jersey. Shortly after
Senator Hale introduced bill in the
Senate, authorizing the Postmaster
| General to contract with the Pacific
Cable Company for laying a cable be-
tween the United States and the Ha-
waiian Islands. This was followed up
by the Senator with a speech, setting
forth in able and forcible language
the necessity for such communication,
politically and commercially. 1t was
emphasized by facts and figures. maps
and charts, showing the number of
ocean cables owned and operated by
Governments, facilitating business
and intercourse between one country
and another, together with statistics
of shipping promoted by their use.
Later in the session the Pacific Gable
Corporation of New York came in with
propositions, and the two companies
had hearings before the Committee on
Foreign Relations of the Senate. Sub
sequently, early in May, the commit
tee reported favorably bill "to facil-
itate the construction and mainten-
ance of telegraphic cables in the Pa
cific ocean for the use of the Govern
ment in its foreign intercourse"
which was laid before the Senate by
Senator Frye. The bill went on the
calendar, from which it may now be
taken any day, and this, with bill
before the Committee on Interstate
and Foreign Commerce of the House,
marks the present status of the Pa
cific cable question in Congress.
The propositions of the New Jersey
company are generally regarded as the
most favorable of any yet presented
to Congress. The company, which is
represented by Col. u. S. Spaulding, of
San Francisco, and Gen. Wager
Swayne, of New York, includes among
its stockholders Abram S. Hewitt, D..
o. Mills, G. NJ. Dodge and Frederick ID.
Grant, of New York; Mason w. Tyler
and John II. Browning, of New Jer-
sey, and James j. Hill, of st. Paul,
Minn.-men whose names are n suff-
cient guaranty of the character of the
company and its ability to carry out
the undertaking. The New Jersey
company has esecured the exclusive
franchise from the Republic of hawaii
to land upon the shores of the Hawaii
;,I, ,I,n
eastern terminus at or near San Fran
cisco, and its western terminus at or
near Honolulu, connecting with ,ntcr-
island cable and land lines, completing
telegraphic communication with all
these islands.
The franchise is for a peri ,I Of
twenty years, with an annual subsidy
of $4,000 from the Government of Ha-
waii. The contract based on The fran
chise depends wholly upon two condi-
tions-tirst, that the construction of
May l, 1897, and telegraphic commune
cation be established not later than
November /, 1885," second, that "the
Government of the United States shall
join in this undertaking by the grant
of substantial assistance" In Other
words the United States is tn do the
reasonable and rghtful part l'y paying
its share in the expense Of laying The
cable.
= The meaning of these conditions vii
be readily appreciated, and the first
alone makes definite and prompt ac
, ton by Congress imperative and oi
, vital Importance. With its exclusive
, franchise and subsidy grant from tn,
{ Government of Hawaii, and prepara
D tions ready for the work, the Pacifi,
5 Gable company asks of Congress al
CONTINUED on Page Fiye)