The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-25
OUR HAWAIIAN TRADE.
Seventy-Six Per Cent of the Islands
Imports From the United States.

L
Pittsiourg Dispatch: Few persons in
the United States fully realize the con-
ditions which surround Hawaii. or are
familiar with the facts that render the
! stands so Important a factor in COM
merce. How many know that Hawaii
last year took all but 23.73 of her i'm
ports from the United States? If. as
il IS so often stated. it is trade and
commerce which shape our interna-
-ional policy, it would seem a reason
able prediction that the business ele-
nent of the country is likely TO favor
the annexation of the Islands.
The opposition to annexation claims
that our famous Monroe doctrine did
not contemplate anything in the way of
going outside the continent to obtain
additional territory. When the land in
Guided in Alaska was purchased of the
Russian government, it was alleged we
were stretching a constitutional point.
1t is rightfully claimed by the antl-an-
nexation element that the constitution
says that the president of the United
states shall never go beyond the limits
of our possessions. If we annex Ha-
wall. they say, there will be portion
of the United States which the very
constitution will prevent the president
from visiting. He could not visit Ha-
Waii without going beyond the three
mile ocean limit, and. therefore. San
Francisco would be as near as ever he
could get to the Hawaiian Islands.
Whatever may be argued, pro and
con. however, there are a few facts
which all of US must consider in order
10 form an intelligent opinion. For eX-
ample, American shipping has earned.
during the existence of the present reci-
procity. treaty for freights carried 10
and from Hawaii, $14 900. In what
is termed the inter-island trade 1t has
earned the further sum OF Sl,SlZ,lVz-
American commission merchants nave
received as commissions on the sale OF
the produce of the islands, S4,464, 25S.
American shipyards have built vessels
for the Hawaiian foreign and inter
island trade, the profit on which has
amounted to 1896. 81 The total amount
of premiums collected by American IN
surance companies on policies for lie.
prcDerty and freights, amounts 10
s.. s47. 1856. Americans have made proilts
from sugar cane raised in the Islands,
and the sugar therefrom, since the ex-
ecution of the reciprocity treaty,
amounting to s20,S61 $50.
What would be the effect upon the
external revenue and what would be
the effect upon the receipts from the
taxation of sugar if Hawaii became
mart of the United States? This IS
very. excellent problem for the student
of finance to consider. There is much
more in it than appears at hrst slance.
No accurate figures are optainaple
as to the actual profits made by Amer
lean merchants on goods sold TO ma
vail. Estimating that profit at lO per
cent il would foot up S6,517, 444- The
reciprocity under which this pleasing
state of affairs has come into existence
is. of course, very favorable TO the
United States. 1t is the only way OF
dodping what the diplomats call the
most favored nation clause clause
in international agreements whlch Is
intended to prevent a country faVorlns
commercially one treaty nation more
than another.
The figures given regarding pront TO
United States residents under the
treaty are those shown by the custom
house records There are, however,
other profits accruing to similar
sources. which. by reason of certain
treaty. provision, do not appear in the
records of the custom house at ALL Inc
total sum of these profits is So2,Zol.SSo.
Snce the execution of the treaty, prop
erty-sugar interests-to the value OF
S27, 1921. have been purchased IN ma
waii nv Americans. The present value
of American shipping built for and en-
gagged in the Hawaiian trade is SSfoo'-
40 The total value of property owned
bv Americans in Hawaii. exclusive OF
sugar and ships, is s43, 7S1, 54.
The Hawaiian trade is the direct ere
alton of the reciprocity treaty 1t has
become enormous in PROPORTIONS. OK
ceedings in value anything of the kind
to be found in any other part OF the
world. amounting to $3.50 per annum
for every inhabitant of the islands
Were our trade with Canada of Ike
proportion, it would exceed $50, OOO, 900
per annum, instead of about SsO,OOo as
al present Mexico. al the ' anne ratio
would represent $1,000. 100000 year in
stead of one-sixteenth of that figure
and would equal the entire foreign
commerce of the United states.
If the United States should annex
Hawaii we should be compelled TO as
sumo. an Indebtedness of s4,000,OOo. This
would be all, as there are no county
or city debts to take into consideration.