The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-06-06
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
SESSION OF 1865.
THIRTY-NISTH DAY, June

III inc ' utlI
MIR. Hitchcock INTRODUCED a resolution that the
vote on the first section of an Act To encourage
Ocean Steam Navigation. be taken by , O'Clock that
all speakers on the Till be limited to twenty minutes
each, and at ~half-past one the floor be given TO the
Attorney General
Mr. Pilipo introduced a resolution regulating the
salaries of teachers at Lahainaluna Seminary, as fol-
lows: Principal, 81 800 I'd teacher, Sl,iO Sd
teacher, $500.
On motion, the House proceeded to the order of
the day, MIR. Koakanu in the Chair.
Mr.. Wilder|l did not intend to address the House
upon this bill, feeling that my motives might be made
the subject of ill-natured comment. l have not been
insensible TO such illusions as have already been
dropped, but l feel TINT they were not intended as
personalities, but have resulted FROM the heat of de-
bate; and L am confident that no gentleman IN this
House will impugn my motives in the presentation Of
arguments that | believe are based upon legitimate
and proper premises. As a member of this Assembly
I is my duty to this House and my constituents to
place before it considerations that / deem important
why this bill should hot pass. In opposing the bill
providing for the payment of a subsidy by this Gov
eminent Ia n steam vessel to run between this port
and San Francisco for sixteen trips, L wish 1t to be
distinctly understood that my opposition is not as
against steam in the abstract. l admit that in many
respects steam communication carries with II many
advantages to certain branches of business, but in
respect to the point under our immediate consIdera-
ton, which l earnestly beg the House not to lose
sight OF, and which is not steam communication in
the abstract, but whether for sixteen extra trips, to
be performed in two years, this nation should be
called upon to pay SO large n sum OF money. Think
not, for several reasons ; one of which is that L be-
leve it will be for the interest of the Company to
make these trips, even if they receive no subsidy
from this Government, and that they will be made
in the natural course of trade, and the subsidy is
therefore an unnecessary expenditure. The princi-
pie of granting subsidies or other aids to any branches
of industry is one which the greatest and wealthiest
nations of the earth apply but sparingly, and only
when it is very apparent that without such aid such
branches of industry or lines of communication can
not be maintained and that their maintenance IS
highly necessary to the public good. 1t does par
take, to some extent, the character of a monopoly,
the idea of which is ever odious. 1t certainly places,
in this instance, this Company in such a position
that no opposition could hope to compete with it, and
thus give il u virtual monopoly. Look at the Cali
fornia Steam Navigation Company "a monopoly of
seventeen years standing-a monopoly that has con-
trolled the great State of CALIFORNIA; monopoly
that elects its own legislators, that pass any bill it
desires-a monopoly that has ruined many n man
who was foolish enough to oppose it And who COM
pose the California, Oregon and Mexico Steam Nay
igation Company? Many of the same men who con-
troll the California Steam Navigation Company, with
Il man at their head whose energy, whose business
talent and capacity are known over the entire world;
a man who daily grapples with projects of a greater
magnitude than We ever can dream of; a man who
can draw "A balance from his banker sufficient TO buy
us with all our plantations. And what does such a
man or such n Company care for cur prosperity or
cur rights! They but look to making a monopoly
"A monopoly of all the business Of the Sandwich
Islands-no communication but by the steamer-no
business but with their house. The provision to re-
strict the rate of freight to SC per ton or less does
not seem to me so valuable a provisions; it gives us no
advantage, for it allows the highest rate of freight
that has prevailed for some years. Ii is not only my
opinion, but n fact verified by the experience of
every sugar-growing country, that the advantages to
our staple products of carriage by steamer does not
Pay for its employment. And if this is so, with coun-
tries not so fivorably situated as we are for commu-
nication by sailing vessels, it will prove so doubly in
our case. To expect that sixteen extra trips for two
years will alter the course of trade in n market like
that of san Francisco and give any more regularity
to its>trade. is an idea extremely absurd. The mer-
chant of San Francisco calculates to-day with as
much certainty MS TO the extent of our productions,
and the effect upon his market, as he could If there
were two steamers The fluctuations of trade then
arise from causes entirely independent of these
Islands, and the difference of five or six days, more
or less, in the placing of our products in that market
will not, except in very rare instances, make the
slightest difference. And then instances are Just as
likely to occur without the extra steamer as with it.
The merchants of San Francisco commence their
business year with u full knowledge of the stock in
market, of the amount to be raised here and shipped
over, and they order from other countries the amount
necessary to keep up their stock, 1t Is when outside
spectators send cargoes which exceed sometimes the
whole annual product of our largest plantations that
the market is affected disastrously to US or when,
through some mistake in calculation of demand or
supply, that II short market operates in our favor.
Such mistakes are just as likely to occur with steam
as without steam. In like manner, in our own mar
ket, some unexpected and consequently unprovidel
for demand arises for some one article, and it is tenn
porarily enhanced in value. Such mistakes and
fluctuations are observed i'll all markets, even those
which are most highly favored by steam communica-
ton.
To argue that because the Government has just re-
alizel in an unexpected way the sum of $4,000,
it should be the excuse for spending $4,000 or
more, is not sound. Unexpected sources of revenue
are not more common than unexpected necessities of
expenditure. IL is enough to answer it by saying that
the Government have been called upon to expend
nearly the same amount by the volcanic eruption,
which was also unexpected. The congratulation of
the Minister upon the receipt of this $4,000 seems
badly misplaced, when We reflect upon the source of
the revenue, the opium license. Would that by the
of twice $4,000 all the evils resulting from its
use in this country could be prevented. 1t democrat
ICES and is injurious to a large class upon whom we
are dependent for labor. 1t produces disease, unhap-
piness and death, and the large sum paid for the priv
ilege of its sale, only proves the alarming increase
of its use and devastating influences.
Among the arguments which have been ingeniously
presented in favor of this subsidy, is one which must
strike navigators of vessels of war and commercial
men with peculiar force-that is, that the addition of
s trips per annum to our commerce with San Fran
cisco is going To turn to this port the stray navigators
Of the Pacific Ocean. We dwell with rapture on the
trips added to the time table of the steam
and Honolulu becomes the centre towards which
the prows of the worlds commerce is directed. Now,
MIR. Chairman, it seems to Inc that the number of
stray vessels i'll the Pacific Ocean, either national or
commercial, without a definite point of destination, is
very small In this age of the world stray vessels
are rarely found, and if they were not, L fear that
The revolution in trade to be accomplished by these 8
trips will not be so great "a to attract the immediate
attention of all nayigators throughout this ocean.
Perhaps the argument Is sound, but L doubt very
much if the number of vessels that are attracted hith-
,r will be equal to those that will be entirely displaced
BY the steam line. Seriously considered, sir, our geo
graphical position is wonderfully favorable-so favor
lble that We are sought by steam vessels before We
hink of Substituting them and therefore it is the
height of folly for this nation TO expend its resources
N paying for what naturally seeks our shores.
Now, sir, let us consider how IL is proposed to meet
he obligations which we assume, not only for our
pelves, but with kind regard to our successors, those
Who must meet the maturing bonds % years after the
eryice ceases TO be performed for which they were
,iven In five years We shall have paid the sum of
So, 500. At the end OF five years more, $50. 500.
N five moro. SS4 900. In five more. SOB, 600. ]