The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1880-07-31

SrBsIDY FOR FOREIGN STEAM LINES &" occupied
the attention Of our legislators two or three weeks
ago. and it was only after long and forcibIe argu,
ment, and expunging the word 90 foreign y that the
item set down in the Appropriation Bill, viz.
S24, OOO. passed. The Minister Of the Interior then
informed the Assembly that this sum was payable
only when the steamers made Honolulu a regular
port of call. and thai when they failed TO call, no
subsidy was paid Furthermore be told us that
the payment OF this subsidy could be suspended at
any time, and was not necessarily for the Pacific
Nail Steamship Company, but transferable, if in
the opinion OF those in authority, the service
could be better performed by another company.
With this understanding the appropriation was
made. Before passing this item a - Royal Mes
sage " had been sent to the Assembly ommen
ing the favorable consideration of a bill relating
to a China line Of steamers. The bill came up ia a
due course. and il met the fate it deserved. II
was opposed by the Ministry. and the committee
To whom it was referred set forth in plain terms
the iallacy Of the arguments contained in the
=" message II vas thrown out by a large MAORI
ty. The promoter Of the scheme did not, however
relinquisb his task. There was another plan by
which % get this sum voted. ) mer7bes was IN
duced TO introduce this item in the Appropriation
Bill on it, third reading, and the vote taken was a
tie. decided by the President giving his vote
against it. The following day it was reconsider
ed and strange TO say members who had pre-
viously voted against this item, and especially
one who had two or three days ago before px-
pressed an opinion in the House that he was not
then in favor Of it, gave it their cordial support.
The speech Of the Minister of Finance. combined
with his action regarding the { previous question:
was at total variance with that of the other Minis
tiers. He advocated the cause of the Chinese in
the strongest possible light. and that they are the
saviors Of this country. How does this compare
with the Hawaii correspondent of the Gazette, who
stated that
Labor is a scarce article in sl the Hilo district. vet
visible means of support. They spend their time trayeIo
ling from plantation to plantation, carrying 3 few bottles
secrecy.
Surely His Ex. must have received his favorable
impression from a peculiar source. Why would he
not allow his colleague the Minister of Foreign Rela-
tons, and also DIR. Mott Smith to express their
opinions as to the necessity of expanding this S24,-
OOO! The bill passed by q majority Of "a to IL thus
showing as DR.. Smith briefly remarked that ''this
was not done by agreement or reason, but
by some lobbyist or outside influence" Another i'm
portant bill came up yesterday on its third reading,
to regulate the importation, manufacture. sale and
expectation Of opium. The Minister Of the Interior
pointed out the evil results that would follow from
the passage Of this bill. He predicted that Hawaii
had already struck a heavy blow at her friends in
the United States by passing the China Steamer sub
sidy item, but the passage of this bill would bring
matters to a climax. 1t is q noticeable fact that the
supporters Of these injurious measures are also sup
porters of the great "cable bill, - and the SIC, OOO,-
BOO loan. The opium bill passed yesterday, and will
be signed to-day.