The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-06-06

Niihau, would vote against placing this sum OF money
at the disposal of this company. Therefore l cannot
allow the consideration of this bill TO pass without
putting in my protest l could not return to my con-
stituents and justify myselfif | were tn let any consid-
Grafton turn me aside from an honest representation
OF what i know 10 be their feeling.
These are but n few of the many reasons why We
should not pass the bill. | vote against the bill.
Mr.. Kalu was opposed to the steam line, as for a
long lapse Of Years all our benefits have been de-
rived from sailing vessels, and is 1t evident that we
are sure to receive these same BENEFITS from this
steam line? u appears that the principal part
of our revenue is derived from sailing vessels, and
so far there has been no complaint against them
Mr.. Bishop had some amendments 10 propose To
the first section, by striking out the words !. staple
products Of the Hawaiian Islands, so as to read
. and ordinary merchandise from either port, and D
per cent. p%rimage," and ut the end of the section
d" mails TO be brought to Honolulu free of charge TO
the Hawaiian Government" This matter is one in
which the public has taken a deep interest, and
is the subject of much conversation. The petitions
for and against the bill, and the names on either pc
tition, entitle them 10 respect and consideration.
There is one point upon which all agree. and that Is
the benefit of steam communication. The question Is,
II We are likely TO have 1t without subsidy, whether
it would be best for us TO give the subsidy asked for?
We have one steamer now, but We have no regular
communication,-regularity is a matter of great
Importance, and it ought to be so arranged as to be
known abroad. The effect of steamers will be to
run off the packets, whether the former are subsid-
lied or not. While it is admitted we are in want of
steamers, many of the strong arguments against sub
cANN CIV NN StAAt a. SoAb0N oNSNh- 1"N SN>Nf A'S
cannot have the whole business unless they have two
steamers, and if two steamers are running, the pack
cts must give way. l believe the act passed with the
amendments would be a wise measure, but the Min
istry should not enter into the contract until they
hear from the Reciprocity Treaty. If that passed,
they should not enter into any contracts whatever
with the Company. If tine Treaty did not pass, then
they should do what was best for the Islands.
His Highness W. C.. Lunahlo was opposed to the
subsidy of so, 900, as the steam line was already
provided for by the United States Government, Civ
ing US a steamer for ten years, and he did not be
lieve in throwing away this large sum of money fool
ishly. He could not see why it should be thrown
away before considering the wants of the country
Charity, in his opinion, began at home, and the
money the Government nov had should be handled
carefully. He thought Mr.. Hitchcock's and Lyons
arguments very sound. His Highness spoke at some
length against the subsidy. but for want of space We
are obliged to condense his remarks
Mr.. Hitchcock moved to indefinitely postpone the
first section of the bill, together with the amendments.
Mr.. Rhodes said the case now was narrowed down
to a simple issue-both sides had agreed to the adj
vantage of steam between this port and San Fran
cisco. The gentlemen who are opposed to This meas
ure agree that steam is desirable, and their only fear
is the monopoly that will come from this company,
and the amount this Government is to sink IN aid OF
the line. Every investment is accompanied with
some uncertainty; so with the subsidy to this line;
but the benefits derived from steam communication
in all parts of the world are undeniable.
Mr.. Knudsen was opposed to the bill, as it was un-
fair, and was for the benefit of a few and not for the
many. Steam was a benefit to some of the merchants
of Honolulu, but not to the whole people. The pc
titiOners from Honolulu, together with the Ministry
in favor of subsidy, were well off, and if they were
TO be so much benefited by this steam line, let them
subscribe a few hundred dollars each and they can
have their steam, as much of it as they want, and
not feel the outlay In his mind there were a
great many points in the bill which made 1t ObnOx-
ious, and all lovers of the nation should oppose it;
those who voted for it were blinded from self-interest
or something that he could not fathom. Mr. knud-
sen was very strongly opposed TO the bill, and thought
it a simple bill that could be easily seen through by
any one without the assistance of Ministers and an
array of lawyers.
Mr.. de Varigny was opposed to the remarks made
by the last speaker, and thought that appeals to the
feelings of certain classes, and working upon their
feelings, were more damaging than convincing, and
he could not understand how this steam line would
benefit one class and not another. when it would
make this city the great centre of all the productions
from the outside districts, and tend to increase them
largely. In regard to the last speakers illusions to
the aid of merchants in regard to substituting the
California steam line, he cited the case of the steamer
Riiduea, when all took stock in her merely for the
sake of shortening time between the Islands
Mr.. Keawehunahala called the attention Of the As
sembly to that part of His Majesty's speech in regard
to the steam line between here and San Francisco,
and considered it the duty Of the representatives to
aid the King in assisting the steam line 1t had been
argued that the granting of this subsidy would be the
same as throwing money away. The speaker remind
ed the House of the old adage Of cast your bread
upon the waters,'' &C., and the expenditure of $780,
600 by this Government in aid to the steam line,
ought to be looked upon in the same light, and argu-
ed further in MD of the bill, by frequent allusion to
the report of the Minister of Finance, and the capa-
biity of this Govt to assist in the new steam project.
Mr.. A. +. Judd said he was surprised to hear the
member from Waialua read His Majesty's views from
the Royal Message, as if those who opposed the CIV
ing of this $4,000 of the peoples money should be
reminded of this, and n want of loyalty attributed to
them. L represent the people of s. Kona, and l
should be false to my obligations to the King, the no
bles and the people of that district, as well as to the
entire population of the group, if L did not vote &C
co,}iuU n INV conscience and keen this money in the
country, where it is needed. The resolutions, Tor ap-
preparations for Internal improvements lying on the
Secretary's desk, are the voices of the people, and We
should regard them.
Mr.. PhnIips-at this stage of the debate l propose
to confine myself to the subject before the Commit
tee. 1t seems to me the duty of his Majesty's gov
eminent to bring in an Act to encourage ocean
steem navigation. To the first section quite a NUM-
Der of amendments have been offered. lie doubted
not that when the time came the House would give
them their consideration. In regard to the motion
of Mr.. Hitchcock, it was to overthrow the whole Dill
and thus Danish all aid to the steam line. When
the question was put he should. empbatically say no,
and he hoped the rest of the Assembly would say
no. The motion as much as refuses 10 ad steam In
any way. but the House will probably not think so.
"a the bill authorizes the contract to be entered by
and with the consent of His Majesty IN Prlvy Coun-
Gil, approved that the bill was not by any means
the contract. The bill was really this. that whereas
this Assembly would not again meet for two years,
power is given to enter into a contract with a steam
navigation company. with the consent of the King
and his Privy council, at the head ofwhich was the
venerable Father of the King, who has taken upon
himself To address the Assembly III a manner in
keeping with enterprise. together with some OF the
judicious merchants of this city, and many of the.
chiefs. aud it seemed to him that il this Assembly
adjourned for two long years without leaving any
provision of this kind, they Wee not doing their
this golden opportunity slips by it will be no fault
of theirs they have done all in their power. and
in u cautious way and if the power is given the
ministers. it will be their duty to see that the con-
tract il drawn m m with much care and when refer /
red to the Privy Council. they will in every way be
rs cautious. Ii we vote for the motion of Mr.. Hitch
cock. we throw overheard the whole matter, and
throw in our vote against the advancement Of civ
ilizaiinn. which has NOT been the policy of these ISL