The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1882-09-09
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Mr.. EDIToR:-A system of indirectly subsidiz-
ing monopolies is prevalent in this Kingdom,
and any person dssirous of settling here in bust
ness as a merchant or storekeeper is at a loss to
account why private interests should be so
jealously guarded. Honest competition is the
life of trade, and i'll those communities where
restrictions do not exist, trade has increased be-
yond all expectation, profits more eqnitably dis
tributed aud the imports consequently pay Il
proportionate increase of revenue into the pub
lie treasury. Concessions sanctioned by the
Legislature for u term of years to the promoters
and executors of public works, such as harbors,
docks, railways, tramways are very proper, AS
they are for the public use and benefit and ne
c~essitate the outlay of immen>c sums of money
and these special privileges SO granted are
carefully guarded for the public interest by enact
ments hiding these corporations to manage
Such enterprises properly. But It seems absurd
that no one is to sell fish baf Il ~nttive, hence it
is scarce aud i, al: deep sea ~fisli1s is entirely
unknown. and consequently 1t staple article OF
food is very costly and inferior. Ii this trade
were open We should ind employment for q great
number of people, the supply of fish would be
unlimited, and the cost reduced to one-fourth of
it; present price, thereby enriching the eutire
population by reducing the cost of a staple arti-
Gle of diet.
rect subsidy t. an Individual, consequently this
branch of trade Is represented by one firm only
we are, therefore, at the N Grey of the holder
of this license; if you are obliged to sell your
goods by auction you must " employ the only
channel available, no matter whether suitable
or not.
Now, Mr.. Editor, l want to know what 1 am
to do III face of an Act published in your paper
on the 31st ultino, regulating the license of
commercial travelling agents. 1 was going to
represent three houses and must pay q tax of
$500 for each, or 81. 500 in ali yearly, in this is
land only. Now, in spite of this Act can / take
an Office for so II month, put over the door a
neat sign labelled 'Messrs. Knoweverything,"
pay $50 u year for a trading license in all $40
per annum; represent fifty houses if L like indi-
rectly, and swindle the country out of $500 for
every house / represent? If 1 can do thi-, and
/ am unprincipled enough to test the Act-what
need of such laws being passed? Every mer-
camille house in this community very properly
represents any number of foreign houses and
pays but $50 per annum trading license for the
firm; therefore if this law is only to protect in
dividual interests it is wrong in principle, inan-
cially impolitic, and tells the world in plain
language not to come here, and that we do not
want your business or your company. Y.
Mr.. EDTroR, Please allow me through your
columns to call the attention of the proper officer
street, opposite the residence of one of our
prominent citizens, and caused by a perpetual
motion " sprinkler, which compels foot passen-
gers to take the road during night or day to
escape a thorough drenching and the mud. Ia
the daytime the jets of water can be seen, but
at night they must be first felt. This is not only
a common nuisance, but II breach of our irrigat-
ing law, and shOuld be ahated as we'll as the
vines that grow over the fence, and which also
Obstruct the sidewalk by the same residence.
Honolulu, Sept. :. A VIcTrM.