The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-08-06
An Important Statement on the
Question of Hawaiian
Annexation.
How California Benefits by the New
Tarif-A Review of Appro-
priatiOns Secured.

MIN were gratlhed al finding their QueS"
lions anticipated and answered in a type
written interview already prepared. The
Senator gave an inter sting review OF his
Congressional labors-and of the legislation
accom- piIshed during the session in which
California is especially interested. The
patronage awarded to California, The tariff
legislation particularly affecting The in
dustries of this State and the appropria-
tons secured. etc, were reviewed.
After discussing the question OF Ha-
wAlau annexation at considerable length,
M. Perkins states that he is not ready to
predict what course he will take IN COLI
nection with il. His review and report
we're as follows:
Both the regular and the special sessions
have been unusually hard ones as far as Work
was concerned.
1t to be regretted that California did not
secure more foreign posts, but II was Gear
that the honor which the Stale had received
from the ovation of judge MckeGna to the
Cabinet would be considered as equivalent to
a dozen trst-c.ass consuiships and so our
quota OF the latter was cut down.
The sppoin tment of plain W. L. Merry as
Minis ter to the Greater Republic OF Central
America is proof OF the ADMINISTRATIONS
friendship for the Nicaragua canal and is
bond 10 the PaciGc Coast that the Government
VIII favor its construction.
One Of the questions which have been
brought before Congress and in which Cali
tornia is intimately in Interested is the project
OF the annexation OF Hawaii. No Stale in the
Union viii be so affected by action on this
subjec, as California. Our merchants have
direct dealings with the islands, which they
believe will be increased by annexation, and
q certain amount oil our products sold there
they think VIII by so much benefit our pro-
ducerS. And IL is believed that with Hawaii
as d part OF the United States the more in IL
mate relations would greatly increase our
uade. To these reasons are added the senli-
men tai one growing out OF the practical con-
troll OF the islands by Americans since foreign
influence has been felt there and the patriotic
one which arises from a desire 10 see our flag
floating far out in the Pacific.
On the other hand it is claimed that the an
ncTatiOn OF he islands would act disas-
aslrous check 10 the beet-sugar industry now
fsir.y started, and from which our own coun-
try has right to expect as great benefits 8
Germany and France have derived from it.
No part OF the world probably Is so favored in
conditions promoting he production of sugar
cane in this respect as is Hawaii. Annexation
means practically making the islands psrt
OF California and placing he Hawaiian pien-
tauons-with all their advantages OF soil, eli
mate aud eoelie Ia bOr-,ide by side with the
California sugar-beet ranches, with their edu-
Gated American labor. The farmers see what
this relation means to them, and he American
laborer sees what 1t means to him. In conse-
quenee, from both classes there have come
protests against annexation.
Some interesting figures relating to the COM
merce of Hawaii have recently been published
by the Department OF Agriculture. They
show that the total value OF exports and i'm
porls OF he islands for 1896 was So, 57S, 230,
OF which SIS 515 $50 were exports. Thu ex-
ports exceed imports by $4,000 600 But
while nearly all the products OF the islands
ST bought by the United States, oniv about
- per cent OF the goods imported are pur-
cHased III this country In other words, we
bus SO, GOO 600 worth OF Hawaiian products
each year and sell to the islands about ST.
100000 worth. This TACT has given rise TO
uUfHVOrable comment IN the Fest.
The sentiment on this question is by no
means all one way, either in California or the
Eat You would be surprised, perhaps to
learn from the letters received how great and
widespread is the distrust in our own State OF
the proposition. In the East the question of
polucdl eNpedlency Is principally discussed
and doubt IS cast upon the adv stability OF tax
ing into our family OF States and Territories
another member, nlne-tenths of whose inhab-
iteuts are OF races nearly The opposite of our
own in thoughts, habits, customs and desires
They would form a new elemen which is re-
garded with dlstTust To make them part OF
wuat may be called our Nationa household
exc ties apprehension on political as well as
industrial grounds. Therefore there is found
very strong feeling IN the East as well as in
California against annexation.
1t IS insisted by some that all the arguments
in layor OF the annexation OF Hawaii apply
with more force to the annexation OF Cuba
and Saa Domingo. ior the reaso that the lat.
ter are nearer our shores. Strateglc4lly they
are more important 10 the United States, and
cOInmetC.aIy their influence upon our COM
mer md trade is greater.
But rs Senator of the United States I am
bound o carry out as far as | can the will OF
the people and shall do so in the case Of
Hawaii neral opinion, howev, +, has not
vet become pronounced enough TO enable me
10 br.dIct what course | shall take. The peo-
PIE in general are considering the quest lion
careful ", and when their decisioI is made it
VIII be Indicated in no uncertain way.
Another OF the great questions affecting
California before Congress mas been the tariff
and am glad TO say that the result of the
delegations efforts has been to secure wider
AM larger measure OF protection for our
products than has ever before been granted.
Another hard fight was on Zante currants
which is the staple production OF Greece and
where we found another competitor of our
staple products with strong foreign backing
But we succeeded in securing a duty OF .
cents, which is 10 per cent ad valorem In
crease larger than that on any manufactured
article imported.
We also got duty OF 215 cents on raisins
On walnuts we got cents, almonds and 8
cents, prupes cents, olive oil 80 cents per
gallon. quicksilver z cents a pound, lumber
81 and material projection on chicory, borax
and quicksilver.
California is the second wool-producing
Slate i'll the Union snd we secured a fair pro-
lection of the industry. Our woods are prin-
cipaly OF first and second grades and on these
the duty is respectively IL ana II cents per
pound.
In arranging the sugar tariff the demands of
bect-sugar maker have been considered. The
outv on refined sugar is made 90 but to
sugar is increased to l.S212,
We also secured DUTY on cattle imported
from Mexico, which Will protect California
cattle interests.
4 small duty was placed on bags and bag
ging.
The bill as adopted contains two provisions
OF great Importance to California. One is that
foreign and domestic goods may be Withdrawn
from bonded warehouses and bonded manu-
featuring warehouses without payment OF
duty or internal revenue tax, II designed as
supplies Tor American vessels in foreign trade
or III trade between Atlantic and PACING ports.
The other provision is that goods designed Tor
export, whether wholly or in part, composed of
article s beet to duty or Internal reven ne tax,
may be manufactured in bonded manufac-
turing warehouses without the necessity OF
paying duty or Tux on the articles otherwise
subject to such payment.
third subject OF great interest to Califor-
MA wi III when the delegation had TO deal was
the San Pedro harbor.
Among the appropriations for California are
the following:
New Postoffce at San Francisco, 500, GOO.
san Francisco harbor light vessel, $40, Ooo.
For esta bishing pos.lights on the Saca-
mento and San Joaquin rivers, part OF lump
sum OF $500 900 ior similar lights in various
parts of the country.
For surveys on the California coast, includ-
ing San Francisco harbor. $25 900.
For tidal lndica tor in San Francisco harbor,
For constructing ste amer for coast survey