The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1877-01-27


accompany mature years-'Honor, love, ODE
dience, troops of friends"
The RUMoR is current that the boats of the P.
NJ. S. S. Company running between San Fran
cisco and the Colonies of Australia will shortly
cease to make Honolulu a port of call. On inquiry
as to the facts, we learn that the agents in San
Francisco had received information from the
President of the Company in New York, to the
effect that they were advised by the Australian
government that in future the calling of their
ships at Honolulu would be optional with the COM
pany the agents at Honolulu were advised ac-
c~ordingly, and directed to ask that the Hawaiian
50 subsidy be paid at once for the past year, if
they desire the service continued" -
The history of this question of subsidy reveals
the following facts: That on the first approach
by the agents to this government, in November,
1875, a favorable answer was given to the apple
cation that the Budget presented to the Legis-
lature of 1876 by the Cabinet contained a dis
tinct recommendation for a subsidy that before
the close of the session the sum of $40, 900 was
voted as such subsidy and placed in the appro-
~priation bill and that up to the time of retir-
ing from office, the late Cabinet continued to
express the intention to execute a contract and
to pay the subsidy. In consequence of the
supposed assured favorable action of this govern
ment, the San Francisco agents of the line had
seriously submitted to the President of the Com
pany for his consideration. the changing of the
present direct route from San Francisco to China
via Yokohama to an entirely new line from San
Francisco to Honolulu, thence to Yokohama and
Hongkong they had also counselled the sending
out to the Pacific of such steamers as would Gas
soon as the increased products of the Islands
would Justify the establishment of a monthly
steamer to alternate with the Australian line)
be suitable to maintain a regular monthly COM
munication with the islands. One such steamer
has probably ere this arrived at San Francisco.
Under all these circumstances the Company and
its agents have very naturally been led to expect
the payment of the promised subsidy and
on finding themselves mistaken and misled, it
is quite as natural that they should feel that
they have been treated unfairly and disingen-
uously by the government. Without regard to
the fact of a change in the Ministry, the Com
pany viii and do undoubtedly assume that the
faith of the Hawaiian government was pledged
by the action of the late Cabinet.
On the other hand, We understand that the
present administration takes the ground that
there is nothing of record with the government
whereby it can be held to contract with the
Company or to pay for service already performed,
whatever may have been the verbal promises of
individual members of the late government; that
they are willing however to continue the facili-
ties now afforded the boats of the line but that
generally they view with disfayor the proposition
to subsidize the line, unless increased facilities
are afforded for communication with San Fran
cisco.
In view of the order of the President of the
Company as above stated, the ultimatum as de-
clared by the agents, and the attitude of this gov
eminent on the question involved, it may be
safely concluded that the steamers will be with
drawn; or at least, that they will call here only
at their convenience, which will be of course not
our convenience in any sense. By the terms of
the contract with the Colonial governments, the
line is paid Gl0 for every hour less than schedule
time on each trip. The estimated time that will
be saved by emitting to call at Honolulu is ~
hours, both going and coming, which will
amount to s360O-equal to 60 passengers at $50
each. This is probably quite as much as Is
made by the line by calling here, both in passen.
gers and freight. The statement is made on be-
half of the Company that by resuming the route
as originally selected and giving these islands
the 'sgo-by,'' they viii make no sacrifice of
money; and the facts appear to bear out this
assertion.
Great stress has been laid upon the fact that
We already give to this line q considerable
subsidy in the shape of free wharfage, storage
etc.; but we are apt to forget that these ships
are specially exempted from paying the usual
barbor dues, under the provisions of the treaty
of lS49. 1t is true that these exemptions
amount to quite a sum per annum, but in re-
captivating them we are perhaps uneonsciously
the sum total as so much money ex-
pended, whereas if the steamers shall cease CON-
ing the suspension of the free list in their case
will not leave the Treasury any the richer.
The question with us appears to be this: Is
it worth $1,000 a month to the country to secure
the continuance of the line and the friendship
and goodwill Of this wealthy company and is it
to reject that ~profered friendship and good
will, that promises to give in the future all the
facilities, of the lack of which we now