The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-05-23
stenn, Communication.
PELICAN.

HONOLULU, May -, 1865.
Mn. EDITOR AS the Legislative Assembly has
considered the subject of tine proposed steamer
subsidy (the predominant topic for weeks past in
all our circles) of sufficient Importance not to re-
ject il upon the report of its committee, but has
ordered the discussion of the question FOR Tuesday
next, / wish to make n few remarks ON the argu-
ments given in the committee report rs reasons
why the subsidy should not be paid.
Before entering, however, upon the report, L
notice that not all the arguments urged upon the
committee in favor of the subsidy have received n
mention in their report; still they were consid-
cred of great importance by those who advanced
them, who were merchants well versed in the laws
of commerce, and intimately allied with the inter-
ests of these Islands. 1t is desirable that such
neglected arguments should he again drawn to the
light and receive n fair consideration.
1t has been argued before the committee that
the interests of the whaling fleet, recruiting here,
must be benefited by regular and frequent steam
communication with the great money and provision
market of San Francisco, and with the terminus
Of the overland telegraph. Famine prices FOR four,
bread and other kinds of provisions, which we
have seen here maintained for short periods almost
every year once or twice, can then no longer ex-
list, and exorbitant rates for money will never be
paid again by the whalers. These sclrcities of
certain kinds of provisions will always recur here,
till we are brought in closer communication with
n large market. 1t is impossible to avoid them,
rs the extent of the demand for provisions, as well
as for money, can be calculated but very vaguely
before the demand comes actually into our mar
ket, requiring its supplies within forty days. 1t
is highly detrimental TO the reputation of our Isl
ands, rs ports of supplies for the whaleships, if
ever they have to pay in gold S14 for flour, s
cents per pound for bread, 9 cents per gallon for
oil casks, 4 cents per pound for potatoes, and ) to
10 per cent. premium for money. Instances of the
existence of such high prices should never happen,
and can hardly ever recur when we are closer COLI
nccted with San Francisco. Then again, owners
of whaleships must prefer to have their vessels re-
cruit in a port where the captains are within
IS mailing distance" San Francisco has offered a
great advantage in that respect over our port,
which will be much smaller when through a reg
ular steamer line and the overland telegraph,
the captain can have his owners advices thirty
days from the time he reports from here his sea-
sons luck and further plans.
To what 50 undesirable complications :" a con-
tract Of this Government with Il Steamship Com
pany already under contract to Il foreign govern
ment can possibly lead, is not easily compre-
hended but the advantages to which such u con-
tract of our own must lead have been presented
to the committee in the following manner, though
they were not mentioned in their report If this
Government grants n subsidy to the Steamship
Company, and makes a contract, they can bind
them to run regularly and at rates not exceeding
stipulatiOns for two years to come. The public
would then be quite secured against any extor-
tons on the part of the Company, or neglccts of
their requirements and convenienccs. This was
so much dreaded and considered an
BILE obstacle before it was suggested by the Steam
ship Company's Agent, that a limitation of
freight and passage money could be made by the
contracting PARTIES.
Far from creating undesirable complications,
the grant of n moderate subsidy on our part would
be regarded by the United States as an honorable
endcayor To meet, i'll an appreciative spirit, their
friendly intentions, and prove our desire to obtain
more perfectly the object of their subsidized
line, i. C., the further development of the
resources of these Islands, for the benefit of Cali
fornia a. well as of our own.
IL has been shown by the Minister of Finance
the pavmcnt of this subsidy of $50, 900 for
years need not weigh heavily on the tax pay
crs. Government bonds to that amount could be
readily negotiated. interest mt the rate of 9
per cent, and 81 900 per annum towards a sink
ing fund would amount To only about So 900
per annum, which would be easily realized ont of
the increased revenue from increased trade. Is
then the additional accommodation and advantage
offered by two steamers over one, not worth this
small contribution ON our part?
The United States Government has offered us
the advantages of ten steamer trips Il year for ten
wears to come, ut n cost 10 themselves of $3.50. 900
in currency. Ii has been universally said here
that one steamer Offered very little if any advan-
over our former sail communication with San
1t lies in our power now TO secure the
of this steamer line by paying $50 900,
thereby insuring not only certain and regular
steam communication with San Francisco every
three weeks for two years, but most probably for
the future.
The staple produce of our Islands, it is true, can
not be sufficiently benefited by steam conveyance
To bear great additional charge in the way of
freight but there will be no rise in the rates of
freight. if the contemplated limitations are placed
in the contract to be made with the Steamer Com
Inny. Whatever benefit steamer conveyance may
bring to planters, ii brings unincumbcred. That
benefit lies not only in saving of interest and .
premiums, but more in the fact that
or dealers in our produce Will be
Ia our very doors to purchase here what
80 far we were obliged 10 carry 10 their market in
search of purchasers.
BY n closer examination of facts it would have !
been found that out of five lumber vessels coming
to this port. not more than one has obtained n
argo for San francisco. the other four having re-
turned either in ballast To the mills, or took cargo
For Portland or Victoria. Consequently the prices
IF lumber here will not be affected by the intro
luction of steamers instead Of sailing packets.
We are not prepared to believe and to acknowl-
edge that all the advantages of this steamer line
be on the American side, and that their
ought therefore to bear the whole
burden Of the subsidy. We feel confidence in our