The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-01-06

piioHLueHtJ anu VINO mas SHOWN to your
| committee the estimates of cost of a cable
MADE on full specifications by several of
| the largest cable construction companies
and the correspondence between himself
and the United States Government.
| II cable be laid during the time lin.
| tied by the above Act, no one can doubt
the immense benefit which would result
| thereirom to this country.
And We recommend that the most
earnest efforts be made to encourage the
| laying oil such cable and If private par
ties cannot undertake it, that the matter
be laid before the United States Govern
ment and every means be exhausted in
trying to induce that Government to
take such steps as will accomplish the
object.
But the question which appears to
your committee 10 be of the most imme-
dlate and vital concern TO Hawaii, is the
matter of commercial relations with the
United States.
The United States is our market; the
market IN which almost all of our pro-
duce is sold, and from which the bulk of
our imports come. The present Treaty
relations are not satisfactory, the United
States tariff on certain classes of products
is excessive and we'll nigh prohibitive
Ii all restrictions were removed and all
OF our products admitted into the United
States free of duty, it would be OF meal
culable benefit to US. 1t is impossible to
estimate the extent OF our undeveloped
resources; hitherto our main dependence
has been upon sugar and rice, and all
other agricultural interests have lau-
guished.
Under free trade with the United States
those who would receive the first and
greatest benefit would be those having
little or no capital, for there would then
be an opportunity for them to engage in
industries within their means and with
fair prospect of profit.
The temporary loss of revenue to this
Government under free trade treaty
would be insignifcantas compared to the
national benefits that would be gained,
and in very brief period the gain in
revenue from other sources would far
exceed the loss.
We believe that with free trade
treaty and cable communication with the
United States, these Islands will attaina
degree oil prosperity never before expe-
rienced.
The present treaty of reciprocity with
the United States will expire within two
y
even that benefit, and steps Of some kind
will have to be taken
We therefore believe it of vital import
ance that every effort should be made
and without delay, to establish these
closer commercial relations with the
United States, and if the United States
should require, in return, that they re-
ceive lease of Pearl Harbor We should
be prepared to grant the lease.
But perhaps before giving legislative
authority to the Government to negotiate
such an important matter, more informa-
ton ought to be obtained, showing pre-
clsely what advantages can be secured.
Your committee therefore recommend
that committee of this House, to con-
ERT I1gee ms, l=ca.-he. authorized to
sisJ or tiIfSO IneTnUers, - .@ ----tsai'sl
obtain such information, and ascertain
what course the United States Govern
ment or Congress would be inclined to
take, and to report to this Legislature at
an adjourned session, if the information
shall, in the opinion of Her .Majesty's
Government, be sufficiently important
to call together the Legislature. Mem
ber5 of the United States Congress do
not, as your committee believe, consider
it proper for Diplomatic representatives
of foreign nations to interview them, or
urge upon them views on international
subjects, and yet they are ready to con-
verse freely with such a delegation as
was recently sent to the United States
by some of the South American countries
and the result of the Pan American con-
ference was seen in the treaties shortly
afterwards negotiated.
In like manner a delegation from the
Hawaiian Legislature, when introduced
in Washington by the Hawaiian Minister
Resident there, may obtain a full. all
though informal, interchange of views
on the subjects of the treaty, the cable
and Pearl Harbor, the result of which
would be that this body would then
know to what extent it may be advisable
to authorize Her Majesty's Government
to negotiate.
From Mr.. Marques remarks before the
committee, it appears that in his opinion
the views of other countries as well as, if
not before the United States, should be
ascertained concerning Pearl Harbor.
Further steps may be proper, if the
United States shall not indicate desire
to give Hawaii full reciprocal benefits for
naval station and harbor in the Pearl
River lagoon; but your committee rec
first be given an opportunity to show
whether or not it is ready to act in the
premises in a way which shall be salts
factory to this country.
Your committee do not, however, rec
ommend that any conference on this sub
ject be sought at Washington or at
London, Berlin or st. Petersburg, unless
some intimation be first given in behalf
of the United States, English, German
| or Russian Governments that such con-
ference would be acceptable. With this
Limitation on the power of the legislative
committee herein recommended to ask
conferences abroad, your committee urge
its appointment, and are confident that
| important results will follow therefrom
r. w. WILCOX,
w. 0, SMITH,
JOHN KALUNA,
| JNo. NJ HORNER.