The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-06-04
COMMERCIAL PROSPECTS.

The position in the United States
in which we are, at the present, most
interested remains about the same.
The work of the committee upon the
tariff bill is now before the Senate,
and there has been a slight test of
strength i'm which the committee has,
mp to the present, been sustained in
its recommendations. But no true
test has really occurred. 1t has been
hut the veriest diminishing before the
real battle-a little feeling for the
strength of the parties upon either
side. From the accounts published in
the papers, very little can really be
learned of the situation.
Senator Aldrich has outlined a plan
of alteration instead of violation or
abrogation. which indicates a consid
cradle change of opinion among some
of the committee. The Senator's
words with regard to the treaty are
significant and are a practical conces-
sion of point which our friends have
ably argued for some time past. He
said: "While we cannot fairly abro-
gate a treaty of this kind with
friendly country without notice. we
believe that negotiations should be at
once entered into looking to modif-
cation of the treaty" and went on
10 say that the committee would bring
in an amendment to that effect.
This admission means much to the
Hawaiian islands, and gives us the
legal standing in the case which has
been claimed, viz: that to make the
tariff act apply at once to Hawaii
would amount to violation of
solemn compact between the United
States and these islands, and that the
islands are entitled to years notice
from the day that the United States
Government makes up its mind to give
it. Senator Ayers words concedc
our rights under the treaty. fact
which had apparently been quite lost
sight of by some of the speakers
against it.
A modification of the treaty is what
Senator Perkins has also been advocat-
ing. The Senator has two parties in
his State to satisfy. and in his pub
lished statements he has frankly
avowed his willingness to steer mid
die course. There is no doubt that Il
number of Senators will also be
willing to adopt a similar course, and
it will be upon this, rather than upon
abrOgation, that the fight will come.
Sugar will be the pivot upon which
will swing the main portion Of the
tariff fight. And it will be for tas
that the giants of debate will reserve
themselves and the astute manpula-
tors put forth all their energy and
diplomatic skill.
How long the debate will last no
one seems able to predict Adyices
received here, from those who are sup
posed to be able to forecast, differ
materially. According to some. every
effort will be made to hurry up the
matter so that the tariff may go into
operation on the first of July: accord
ing 10 others the debate itself will be
drawn out into the month of July.
Where doctors differ it is impossible
for laymen to diagnose case. At the
distance we are from the field of ac-
ton it is almost impossible to decide.
But it seems probable that the effort
will be made to put the measure into
operation by the first of July.
The last telegram received Just be-
fore the Alameda left was of a very
satisfactory character. The substance
of it was to the effect that there GER
tainly would be no abrogation of the
treaty. Eight Democratic Senators
and one Populist Senator can be relied
upon to bitterly oppose any measure
calling for the cancellation of the
reciprocity treaty. With this as our
latest news, we may remain satisfied
and hope for still brighter intelli-
gence by the next mail
|
AS long as the tariff question re-
Al 4