The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-06-01
THE CABLE AGAIN.

striven very hard to show to this
community the ACCESSIBILITY of passing
the bill. 1t is fortunately in the posi-
ton of having no strings upon it, and
only asks that people should consider
the bill upon its merits.
Yesterday The Star showed the adj
vantages that would accrue from pass
ing the bill in its entirety. Even af-
ter the arguments of the able gentle
men who ranged themselves against
the bill, The Star must still main
tain its position. The offer to lay
cable bv the Pacific Cable Company,
is to The Stars comprehension,
thoroughly honest and business-like
proposition. If the bill is carried, for
there is a threat of the use of the We
TO power upon the bill-but bills can
go over veto-there will be a telegraph
cable between these Islands and the
Coast within eighteen months and
probably sooner.
What troubles a number of the
minds in the Legislature is that the
company may possibly make some
money upon the deal. This is very
heinous offence in the company that
proposes to give us cable, and per-
haps the heads of the company should
be burned But. joking apart, what
set of men go into business without
intending to make money out OF 1t
The men who intend to lay this ca
BILE do not pretend that they are phi
lanthropists. They have their reasons
for what they propose to do and the
price they wish to be paid. These are
clear to anyone who has made study
of the worlds telegraph business But
as far as Hawaii is concerned no such
liberal offer has been proposed in all
the abortive deals that have been made
during the past twenty years. And
with such an offer we should close,
and not look the gift horse in the
mouth.
The case stands very much as fol-
lows. The gentlemen who propose to
build this cable are largely interest
ed. in point of fact, control the lines
across the Atlantic which tap the Eu-
ropean and Asiatic system. OF the
business in this direction they wish
to keep control Whenever line has
been proposed across the Pacific, this
combination has thwarted it, and Will
thwart it again. But these constant
proposals for lines across the Pacific
are annoying and affect the sale OF
stocks. They are willing therefore
to pay a price for peace and security.
Therefore they make the proposition
which is now before the Legislature.
The price they offer to pay is cable
line between these Islands and the
Coast. There is very grave doubt
whether such a line would be remun-
erative. Certainly it would not be re-
munerative for some years to come.
The volume of business from a popu-
lation of 100000 people is not going
to be very large, but the business
would increase when the Islands be-
come a port of call and vessels put in
here to receive Geographic orders.
The quid pro quo which they require
is the exclusive right of laying a ca
BILE from these Islands to Japan. This
puts them in control of the field. They
are under penalties to build the line
from the Coast to these Islands with
in limited time. They are free to
do as they like about building the
line to Japan.
AS was pointed out yesterday what
do these Islands care about a direct
cable to Japan. We want to be in
touch with the world, not with the
Far East. we have as much of that
and more than enough of that alrea-
dy. What we want is the line to the
Coast, and that is within our grasp
if we are only allowed to take it. The
proposition of the Pacific Gable Com
pany is no unselfish one, but for that
very reason there is a greater chance
of its being carried out One is apt
to look somewhat askance at phiIan-
thropic business methods. The oo-
ject of the Pacific Cable Company is
clear to all who will consider the mat
ter.
OF this we may be sure, however,
that if the Pacific Gable Company fails
in carrying out its plans as laid down
in the bill now before the House, il
will take very good care that no me
else has the opportunity, no matter
how many charters or bills may be
passed through our Legislature, or az
proved by our Executive. 1t is a case
where we have a chance, we can take