The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-05-23
Honolulu, May 22d, 1868.

hoSoLOLO, Nuy N-u, 1910.
To he Editor Of the Pacific Commercial Adcertiser:
SIR: Il have carefully read the Report of the Com
mittee on Commerce on the Inter-island and Ocean
Subsidy questions, and although L am sure that the
names of the gentlemen composing it are n sufficient
guarantee that it is n conscientious and carefully
drawn up document, and we know they have with
great patience listened to an immense quantity of con-
Trajectory views that were freely rendered to them,
yet there are one or two points in it connected with
the proposed ocean steamer subsidy, which l think
that on reconsideration they might be induced to
modify.
l regret that they did not see fit to give the Leg
islature some idea of the nature of the " undesirable
complications to which they seemed to think the
proposed contract with the steam company might
lead.
have in another place endeavored to show why
sugar and molasses are not carried by steam from the
West Indies and the Mauritius, and that rcumstan
ces enable us to get our 'slow freight carried as
fast freight at 'sslow freight rates. 1 would
only here remark that what the Committee call g the
ordinary laws of ocean transportation as to what
kind of freight is to be naturally carried by sail
rather than by steam, seem to be very mutable and
rapidly changing laws. Do we not see all over the
world that the kinds of freight ordinarily carried by
sail one year come to be commonly carried by steam
the next? Flour is now being regularly carried by
steam from San Francisco to New York via the 18th
mus of Panama, n thing unheard of until the last
year or two. Screw steamers have lately been subsi-
died to run with freight and passengers between
Liverpool, Chile and Peru via the Straits of Magellan,
n distance of 10000 miles In fine, steam is so rap
idly stretching its capabilities that it threatens within
this generation to abolish sailing vessels in toto
What a melancholy prospect for us poor Hawaiians,
whose prosperity, according to some of our friends on
the beach, is so very dependent upon them.
The Committee refers to an anticipated loss " some
where by the steamers taking the back sugar freights
from the lumber vessels, or losing it themselves.
This shows n careful attention to details but as it
seems very like one of those cases where the loss
would be divided between them, to our advantage,
and the only bad result to be expected being that the
steam company might at the end of two years ask for
more subsidy, which we are not obliged to grant, I
think that under the circumstances we might just
risk it, and let the loss fall where it may.
I am inclined to agree with the Committee that the
value Of the expected fruit trade has been overesti-
mated. although it is very difficult to say to what ex-
tent steam might improve it. but l confess 1 am stag
gered when they say, ''In point of fact sailing YES
sells and steamers present about equal facilities for
any kind of fruit. even with the best care
on the part OF the steamers what with q GER
tainty of Is days by the steam against an average of
% days by sail and a chance of 80 days, are the IA
cilities equal for carrying any kind of fruit "even
with the best care ON the part of the steamers 80 Sure
" there is some serious mistake as to the bearing of
the evidence here, or misstatements or o~verstaiements
from some of the witnesses, or, do the Committee
merely mean that the facilities are equal assuming
equal times of passage: if SO, this must be granted.
The arguments showing that the profits of the Homo
lulu merchants really depend upon increasing and
stimulating the products of the soil, are quite con-
vincing, and indeed unanswerable. L only regret that
all our merchants do not show a more lively faith in
the doctrine.
If. as the Committee say, any one in favor of the
subsidy urged upon them that as the merchants paid
most of the taxes, meaning the duties ON imports. that
the cost of the support of steam would therefore
mainly fall upon them, l must admit that these rea-
soners were merely 90 trying on - one of those clap
trap arguments to gain the native votes, with which
those opposed to the subsidy have so far been tolera-
bly, successful. 1t is satisfactory to find that the Com
mittee have discovered that the consumer almost in
variably really pays the import duty, and it is to be
hoped that our Legislature viii always bear this in
mind in future discussions on these matters.
The Committee are on firm ground when they point
TO the many improvements that are required in in
ternal facilities of communication, and TO the great
of providing them; but they are merely
90 creating n diversion - when they bring them up as
against the subsidy. 1t must be borne in mind that
to attempt anything adequate to the requirements of
the various islands from Hawaii to Kauai would re
ouire nearer $500, 900 than $4,000. 1t is for the
to consider then whether the $4,000
communication with San FrancisSo, would not return