The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-05-09
TIL.

Considerable dss1u.ssOn bzs been rai>1 b. ne
proposition 70 sgb-idine the line established IT,
tween HonoIaln and san fraDci-c1. and there -
ID mistakiny the set that = string OppSitsJD
has ari5en % The measure. lie OppsitI0n, how
ever, l. Lot ba-ei Oh tie simple sueston Of tie
prOpncty Of encouraging this ali important enter
prise. bat on Tire grOaBd hat. under tie present
arrangement IL i BDt calculated 70 encourage tbe
interests which 1t Wa originally delgned 70 foster,
and be1au-e tie agency Of steamship line, esAh-
Esbel solely By the American Government, and
subsidized by II. i placed in the hands Of
foreigners, while Americans are entirely ignored
Tais M doubt has had = tendency 10 excite the
JEALOUSY OF Americans, who are largely engaged
in planting, mercantile, and other pursuits; tar
II ought NOT 10 operate on ne main question,
lr2,tssr fhis hRs sASHIT or should not Be eRoOur-
aged ~ q HGlcalG4 subsidy. If it be proper 10
sabsidi1e the line, and our finances enable US to
% 50, j, ought to be done.
Without q larger subsidy than it now receives,
derived either from the American or Hawaiian
Government, We feel confident that a second
steamer will not be placed on the route. and that
the continuance of even the present enterprise
viii be endangered. Ii is claimed that with the
subsidy now paid, and al the receipts from freight
and passengers, the cost Of running the steamer
i not covered. In time, rs the trade and travel
increase, the receipts viii No doubt he larger; but
1t Is not proposed 10 grant q perpetual subsidy.
AL thar is asked is aid for two years, after which,
II Is hoped, no necessity viii exist for It's oontinu-
ance. The expenditure. when compared with
our income is a large one, We admit, but the
question Is. will not the Islands derive 4 benefit
equal TO it? viii it not impart a feeling of sta
bility and confidence 10 ali commercial enterprises,
and show to the world that the Hawaiian peo-
pie are able and willing 10 do something towards
establishing steam intercourse with America?
Intimately connected with this subject, ard
governed by the same principles. is the subsidiz-
ing of an inter-island steam line. We feel conf
dent that We shall never obtain efficient steamers
until something is done in this way. 1t may not
be necessary 10 vote a large sum outright. but a
or bill should be passed authorizing
the payment of a subsidy of NJ least one thousand
dOllars a month to any parties who will engage
10 pat on two good steamers-one 10 run around
Mani and Hawaii and another smaller boat around
Kauai and perhaps Oahu. We have not the cap
ital or the capitalists here To carry on such an
enterprise, but We believe a liberal subsidy would
bring US the men and the means.
Both the inter-isIand and foreign subsidies
be guarded with provisions, which would
prevent any extortion or injustice to shippers or
passengers, though really there is little to fear
rom this, rs il is well known that no steam enter
prise can last long. which does not court mercan-
lie and popular favor. The interest Of the public
md of steam lines is identical, and any attempted
very son corrects itself. They are
open to competition with sailing vessels.
which will very soon be put Oh and correct any
wills.