Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1885-04-18
ryy pBry poBrorssrioy

"A wear and a day, when interested par
ties propose new public scheme or
get Others to do il for them, is, what is
there in it and whose political or civil
axe is to be ground while the taxpayer
tutns the grind stone' While We are
not OF oarping disposition, yet we
have watched the development, and too
often the consummation, OF so many
public schemes tot private ends in this
kingdom that seemingly grave sug-
gestion coming from governmental
source is sufficient to give us pause that
we may see wherein the proposal is for
the public veal
1t is not sufficient to merely propose
a new departure in our commercial life,
the prospects OF which are based almost,
entirely upon a speculative future and
expect the people to endorse it until it
is first shown to be feasible. But
W pt lSaSiblC u llust pS NiioNll
tina, the change will not materially ef-
feet the equilibrium of our revenue
that it will not work in the favor OF cor
porate power to the disadvantage OF
private enterprise that il will not ad-
vance transient commercial interests at
the expense OF the countrys internal
development; and lastly, it must be
shown that the opening OF Honolulu as
a free port will not entail expensive i'm
provements in harbor accommodations
which may fail to pay not only interest on
the investment but may fail to bring in
sufficient revenue to take any further
burden Of taxation off the people which
would follow the abrogaiion OF our present
port duties. II we build up commercial
interests which demand these improve
ments it will then be time to consider
them. Idle speculation and dreams of
greatness have been too often drawbacks
to the substantial advancement of the
welfare of Hawaii. II we had even half
the commercial interests of San Fran
cisco to subserve we could easily get
along as that city does with her present
port duties. 1t would even be better
for us to allow home corporation to
control our pilot system as is done in
San Francisco rather 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 ad-
ditional taxation of $4,000 or $40, 900
annually, with only a speculative future
contingent to supply the loss OF our pres
ent port revenue The egovernmentwould
be out the amount OF our port duties; the
deficiency would have TO be made up
by taxing the merchants and property
holders whom the promoters of the
scheme are endeavoring TO persuade
that the people would advance their
own prosperity and open up CONNER.
cial prospects OF the islands by en-
| dorsing a scheme which would put the
greater part OF our present port revenue
into the pocket of greedy and grasp
ing corporation which is at present
playing "Shylock' TO Honolulu's ''Mer.
chant OF Venice"
Our Marine railway meets all our
present wants. 1t is futile to attempt
to lure prosperity to our shores by
building expensive dry-docks, which,
capable engineers have before-time told
us are not feasible so near the equator,
owing to tidal disabilities. A system OF
dry-docks, 10 compete with San Fran.
cisco and other ports, would cost us
Now follows the practical question
already passed upon by competent men,
VIII our harbor facilities accommodate
such system of dry-docks as the one
proposed without entailing an enor'
nous expense The facts are that the
Marine railway can handle all our nee.
essay shipping and could be made
available for larger vessels at compare,
lively moderate outlay If dry docks
were bull, to accommodate the larger
vessels, men-of-war, etc, Of Other
nations it would be worth almos,
the price OF these islands to build the
docks and prepare the harbor and
reef channel by submarine excavation:
to receive the vessels.
A government which has only abou,
$4,000 in the treasury with which tc
pay its debts should pay no attention tc
interested advice unless it sees some
thing in il which will practically benefit
the people unless, indeed, it wishes
TO assis, a scheme for grinding q
corporation axe
1, seems peculiarly opportune that 9
sugar planter from Java, who has visited