The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-04-20

AN OPPOSITION SCHEME REVEALED.

The Press last Saturday, arguing
against free port, made the follow
ing significant remarks:
II we had even half the commercial inter
ests Of San Francisco to subserve we could
easily get along as that city does with her
present port duties. 1t would even be bet
ter for us to allow a home corporation 20
control our pilot system as is done in San
Francisco than give foreign corporation,
which is already heavily subsidized, and
which controls the bulk of our shipping
free entry into port, thereby saddling the
people with an additional taxation of $685.
600 or $4,000 annually, with only specu-
tive future-contingent to supply the loss
of our present port revenue.
Appearing as this does in an article
having strong political bias, it must
be accepted as a pointer to what is
contemplated by the Opposition when
they are called to power. 1t is a
guide to their policy. Rather than
permit the free entry of the Oceanic
ComPany's vessels, in common with
al other shipping, the aspiring
politicians who address the public
Through the Press, are prepared to
Increase the dues and char ges upon
chipping, and to discriminate against
the Oceanic S. S. Company by cal
lowing a home corporation to con-
troll eur pilot system as is done in
San Francisco"
This announcement has at least the
I1n
public for what may be expected I'M
der the new regime. They must be
very confident of success, or very
reckless. when they make such cor
rupt bid in public for local support.
The Press italics leave no room to
doubt what is intended, even were
the passage we have quoted, read with
its context much less explicit than it
is. Having opened the eyes of the
people, however, to what is in con-
temptation, we may safely leave the
blocking of their game to those who
are more interested in the develop
nnent of trade, the improvement of
property, and the general welfare,
than ia q sinister political game for
selfish ends
/. We should explain, however, what
the Press means when it refers to a
shofae corporation" being allowed to
.scontrol the pilot system as in San
Francisco" OF the many corrupt jobs
and public abuses that exist in San
Francisco, this pilotage job is the
most unblushing and the worst. 1t
has been exposed and denounced by
every newspaper in that city by
turns but it sticks TO the commerce
of the port like limpet on rock, by
the corrupt expenditure of money
In lobbying at Sacramento, dur
ing the biennial sessions of the
state Legislature. Under their con-
tract or agreement with Messrs.
GoodaIl g. Perkins, better known
as the "tHg boat monopoly" the
niIots of San Francisco got a bill
through the Legislature, which was
approved by Governor Perkins, a
member of that firm, authorizing the
collection of excessive pilot dues.
The pilots, however, only draw 40 per
cent of the dues paid by shipping, So
per cent being paid to the "hOnae cor
uoration'' or firm, which controls
the pilot system"
This is the corrupt system of harbor
management which the Press advo-
Gates in preference to free port. 1t
would pay it and its friends better we
1.,.l.t ,,o+. b,,f fLaY1 II would not at
all suit the requirements of our local
trade, and we fear that this scheme
of Tradition, division and silence
may be considered off owing to its
premature revelation by the Press. |