The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-21

colA hlllO VI SulplOylucnU WAdbCfCl,
while the Japanese are becoming daily
more and more arrogant. It was only yes
terday that the editor of one of the Japan
csc papers here said to a friend of the
writer: when we get through with China
we will take Honolulu and after that
San Francisco" And the man hon
estly meant what he said. There
is no doubt about Japan's ability to take
Hawaii any day in the week, but when it
comes to taking San Francisco even Pfesi-
dent Cleveland might be induced to put on
a little war paint.
There is little com bination here known
as the Planters Labor and Supply Com
pany. Its objects are implied in the name.
There is not a plantation-owne or mana
ger who does not belong to it. 1t, is a
close corporation, but it controls the des-
TIMES OF the..Hawaiian Islands all the same.
1t does its work in very smooth, slick
sort of way, but it gets there all the same.
1t is said that three members of the
present Ministry are directly under its
control. The Acknowledgement is prom
inent member of the company, and is in
terested in host of enterprises which are
subservient to it. The Minister of the In
terror is simply figurehead for the firm
of Wilder d Co., which owns the steam
ship line which carries sugar from the
other islands to the ships in Honolulu
harbor. The Minister is, and has been
for long time, the superinte ndent of that
company.
The Minister of Finance is the manager
OF the bank of Bishop & Co. 1t would not
n q ms !, %,
the Planters Labor and Supply Company
and he does not. In fact, it is general
talk here that Mr. Damon is working for
Damon first, Bishop Il Co. next and the
dear people later on. Much indignation
has been created here over the action of
Jonathan L. Shaw, the Tax Collector of
the island of Oahu, who has just awarded
the printing of the delinquent tax list to
the Chinese News. This paper is printed
wholly in Chinese, employs no white
labor and very few people were even
aware OF its existence. Mr.. Shaw did not
like the bids submitted by the Star, Bull
letin and Advertiser, and instead of throw
ing them out and advertising for new ones
he tried to peddle the Job out. He ap-
preached J. M. Vivas, the editor of a
Portuguese journal here, and offered him
$50 to be allowed to put the tax list in as
supplement, the Tax Office to furnish the
same ready printed. Mr. Vivas replied
that he could not use his paper for any
such purpose. After exhausting himself in
endeavors to get some decent paper to pub
fish the delinquent list Mr.. Shaw finally
gave it to the Chinese News, which took a
$3.50 contract for $50. The Honolulu Typo
graphical Union has called special meet
ng for tonight and proposes to make it
interesting for the Tax Collector. No
single act of any Government official since
the formation of the Provisional Govern
ment has called forth such universal con-
demnation as this. The Tax Collector is
directly responsible to the Minister of
Finance, but Mr.. Damon was on the coast
while the work was done. 1t is expected
that he will order the republication of the
list, there being serious doubts as to its
legality in Chinese paper.
Just as the steamer sails it is reported
that the Government officials have broken
into and taken possession of the Holomua
Office. This paper has always been a thorn
in the side of the Government and for fear
that some one would start it up again the
mighty Hawaiian Government bought up
a mortgage held by H. A. Widemann and
took forcible possession of the office few
minutes since without recourse to law or
anything else. 1t is hardly safe to open
ones mouth in Honolulu now except in
prayer.
Volney V. Ashford was expected to de-
part on the Australia, but he failed to do
so. Shortly before the steamer sailed he
was released from prison, on the under
standing that he should leave the country.
He was too i'll to leave on the Australia,
but may depart on the next steamer.