The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-02-01
DILLINGHAM;
Refutes AshfOrd'S
Charges
AND GIVES A FEW CUSTOM
HOUSE AND TAX STA ~
TISTICS TO THINK
ABOUT.
THE ADVANTAGES OF A TREATY
DEMONSTRATED.

AtAA IL l. - AAAAH '~N%'-A3 ~~AS
Sons candidate for Representative
of the Third District, addressed the
voters of the Third Ward at the
Portuguese club house. The at
tendance was very good, and the
speakers remarks were listened to
very attentively by the people pres
ent. The following is Mr.. Dilling-
hams speech:
GENTLEMEN AND FELLOW CITI-
zENs: 1 come before you this even
ing by special request of the Portu-
guese voters of the Third ward. 1t
was my intention to avoid all posi-
BILE reference in future to the name of
my special political opponent, and L
shall do so this evening replying only
to certain charges made az ainst me
and a man who has been true and
faithful friend to the whole country,
Mr.. L. A Thurston. am sorry that
gentleman is not here to speak to you
tonight, but he has gone out of town
to fulfil a previous engagement. lam
requested to state to you the facts
concerning the statement made by
G.. w. Ashford to the effect that l..
A. Thurston, when Minister of the
Interior, gave the o. r. & l.. Co. g
deed to One-half the harbor for a bride
of five shares of stock in that company.
/. This statement is absolutely false,
andwithout any foundation whatever.
2. The o. r. & l.. Co. or any other
railway corporation formed under the
laws of this kingdom are entitled by
law to receive aid from the Govern
ment, and the Minister of the Interior,
whoever he may be, is duly author
lied under those laws to deed over to
any railway company or companies,
for railway purposes, the free use of
Fright Of way through all Govern
ment lands, and to grant such Gov
eminent lands as may be necessary
for their buildings, stations, depots
and stores, or other structures, and
also the free use of water. It may
make such piers, jetties, stations, ST.
dings, Wharves, warehouses, toll
houses and other houses, yards, en-
gines, machinery, signal posts and
other apparatus, works and convent
ences whatever, connected with the
railway, as the corporation may think
proper, and may from time to time
alter, repair or discontinue any such
apparatus, works and conveniences,
and substitute others in their stead.n
This is quoted from the General Rail-
way law of 1878, nine years before Mr..
ThurstOn became member of the
Cabinet, and seven years before | ever
thought of building a railway in this
country or anywhere else. The o. r
r. and l.. Co. hold no grant by deco
of any harbor property from the
Government excepting small piece
of 62-l00 of an acre next to King
street, which was bought at public
auction in May, 1891, for $500. The
lease of a narrow strip of frontage t.
deep water on the harbOr made for {
term of ten years can be cancelled by
the Government at any time after {
ninety days notice has been given
and payment made the Railway Com
pany for improvements created by
them. Had Mr.. Thurston alone mad
the lease referred to, he would onl.
have been doing his duty as requires
by law; but even in this he had tn
approval of his act through the sigma
lures of the other three members c
the Cabinet, which includes the nam
only did not give the Railway Com
pany an inch of harbor property
but absolutely refused to grant wha
the law appears to authorize, tellin
me personally that if insisted upO
my Interpretation of the law that h
would take the matter into Court
Now, gentlemen, [ will leave it
your good sense to say if it is no
quite as absurd to accuse either MI
Thurston or myself of dishonesty i
the matter in question, as it would
accuse the members of the Legisla
ture of 1878 of having been bribed b
me to pass the general railway act
The partial free trade treaty with TIL
United States enjoyed by this coun
try since 1876, was obtained afte
long and persistent effort had bee
made by different representative
from this country. Prior to the las
effort made by this country to secm
the treaty of 1876, Mr.. G. A. Castl
son of the Hon. S. n. Castle, drew u
a petition in regard to the advantage
which would accrue to this countr
from a reciprocity treaty with tt
United States, which seems now liz
prophecy. / canvassed this city fl
three days with the petition to tt
King and Cabinet, urging I'll
necessity of immediate action on tt
part of the Government to secu>
from America special commerce
advantages by which we migl
send into the market of that countr
free of duty, our chief and almo
only products, rice and sugar. III
business of the kingdom, its revenl
from the Custom House and tax /
ceipts, had been steadily declinil
since 1870. There was then only
few small schooners and one steam
plying between the islands of til
group. One could stand at the jun
ton of Fort and King streets at ce
tain days in the week, during bus
ness hours, and look in either dire
ton without seeing more than perha
one or two persons within quart
of mile. During my canvass
signatures to the petition for Urea
of Reciprocity with America, it W
astonishing to find such large nun
Der of Intelligent men, in variO
lines of business, who opposed t
movement with expressions Ii
these: ave do not want a
treaty it will do us no go
whatever" Where shall we {
our revenue to run the expenses
government when the duty is ]
moved? Well have a lot of tho
sharp Yankees down here to run
out of the business, etc., etc." il
about as good arguments as are offer