The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1898-05-06
Committee Recommends Exclusive
Franchise to Japan.
MORE MONEY FOR THIS SESSION
Legislative Funds Running Low.
House Committee Reports
on Rapid Transit.
SENATE.


The special committee considering
the cable bill reported recommending
the passage of the bill with an amend
ment giving an exclusive franchise fol
20 years for a cable between Homo.
lulu and Japan. The committee be-
lieved that the franchise affecting the
Islands in the South Pacific should moi
be exclusive. The report was received
to be considered with the bill. The
recommendation of the committee is
rs follows:
In the opinion of this committee
the matter of cable communication OF
these Islands with the outside world
comes next to annexation, and if OBJ
tanned, will build up this port, so that
il will be known as the Queenstown
of the Pacific" and will confer on Ho-
nolulu relatively the same advantages
and prosperity that the Reciprocity
Treaty gave to the Islands as a whole.
The bill introduced gave the Pacific
Cable Co an exclusive franchise for
20 years from and beyond the Hawai-
ian Islands to any other Islands in the
Pacific Ocean and to Japan; the com
mittee is willing to recommend an
exclusive franchise for 20 years be-
tween these Islands and Japan, but
not to any other Islands in the Pacific
Ocean, and have therefore amended
Section 1, so that the exclusive fran
chise to Japan will not cover any ISL
ands or places between these Islands
and Japan, that lie south of the tenth
degree or parallel of north latitude,
thus leaving all other Islands that
may or might be necessary for the pur-
pose of laying a cable from here to
Australia or New Zealand open and
untrammeled with any exclusive fran
chise from these Islands.
The company now seeking the bene-
fit of the Act and the exclusive fran
chise to Japan is about the only one
that has ever applied without asking
for subsidy, and from what your
committee can learn mean business
and we may confidently expect within
two years to be connected with the
United States by cable.
The right of laying a cable between
here and the Pacific Coast of the Unit
ed States is not exclusive nor was
an exclusive right asked for that por-
ton of the line. The principal reason
of granting an exclusive right between
here and Japan, is that the cost OF
laying is great ESTIMATED at S10,00O,-
000), and if that amount of money
should be spent, the projectors would
naturally want some assurance that
they would not have opposition be-
tween here and Japan for some time.
This committee think as long as no
exclusive franchise is granted between
these Islands, the north west coast of
America and the Islands of the Pacific
Ocean that lie south of the 10th degree
of north latitude, no objection can be
made by any foreign power whose in
terests are paramount or controlling
in this part of the world.
The report concludes by incorpora-
ting its recommendations relative to
the Islands of the North Pacific.
The Committee on Passed Bills an
nounced that the bill to appoint an
additional temporary Circuit Judge
and a bill accepting the Penal Laws
compiled by S. NJ. Ballou, had been
presented to the President for his ap-
proval
The bill authorizing the Govern
ment to acquire and preserve ancient
heiaus and puuhonuas or the sites OF
remains thereof passed second read
ing.
The bill defining the eligibility OF
persons to hold public Office passed
second reading and went to the Judi
ciary Committee
The Public Lands Committee recon-
mended that $4,000 be appropriated
for new road from Kailua to Nahiku
Maui. After some discussion and ex-
animation of the surveyors map, the
item passed.
An item of $500 for Court house
at Kailua, Hawaii. was also passed.
On motion of Senator Holstein an
item of $4,000 for new road at Hoo
kena North Kona, and $4,000 for roat
crusher, was inserted in the appropri.
alton bill.
Minister Damons appropriation bill
for $4,000 additional for expenses OF
the present session of the Legislature
passed first reading.
Senator Holstein asked for an item.
lied account of the expenses of the
President and suite to the United
States.
The light wine and beer license bill
was made the special order for Wed.
nesday.
Special appropriation bill %, passed
second reading as a whole and went
to the Revision Committee.
Upon recommendation of the Judi
ciary Committee the bill, relating tC
notice of increased assessment of take.
and property, passed second reading.
The judiciary Committee reported
recommending the passage of tn,
House bill abolishing the payment o
one-half the fines for opium convic
tion to the informant. The report wa.
accepted to be taken up with the bill
The Public Lands Committee recon
mended the passage of the Land Ac
framed by the President The repor
of the committee and the amendment