The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-02-23
SENATOR FRYE 5 REASONS
WHY HE WOULD HAVE PEARL
HARBOk IMPROVnD.
1t Is the Finest Harbor in the Pacific
United States-Stey to Annexation.

vived the Hawaiian question by intro
ducing an amendment to the Sunday
Cival bill appropriating 100000 for
the improvement of Pearl Harbor For
the United States to spend money in
improving Pearl Harbor would be. in
the opinion of senator Frye, an act of
sovereignty which, if allowed to pro-
ceed, would establish the fact of Amer
lean possession.
In discussing the subiec he said:
Il have several objects in introduce
ing this amendment. One of these is
that | believe it would be well for the
United States to exercise an act of
sovereignty in Pearl Harbor. Our jur-
isdiction over Pearl ITarbor dates from
the convention of 1887. The question
was raised then by Mr.. Carter, the Ha-
waiian Minister, whether the exclusive
right accorded the United States to
enter Pearl llarbor amounted to per-
manent cession, or whether the priv
ileges we enjoy were to come TO an end
whenever the treaty should expire. At
that time Secretary Bayard informed
Mr.. Carter that he could discern moth
ing in the clause relating to the har-
Dor which amounted to a subtraction
from Hawaiian sovereignty or which
imported a longer duration to the jur-
isdiction of the United States over the
harbor than the life of the treaty it.
self.
IL thing that in view OF this state
ment of Bayard, it would be a good
thing for the United States to do
something which would show clearly
how far our jurisdiction extends. |
do not imagine that any objection
would be made by the present Govern
mcnt of Hawaii to an exercise of SOW
ereignty by the United States. At any
slte. it will do no harm to make the
attempt.
But this is not the only reason why
[ introduced the amendment. l thinl;
it is high time that Pearl Harbor
should be fitted for the objects intro
duced under the convention through
which it came under American control
This is the finest harbor in the Pacific
1t is big enough to float both the
American and the British navy with.
out crowding, and the only thing need.
ed to make it available is to clear away
the bar at its mouth, which Admiral
Walker has reported can be done at q
cost of 100000 at the outside. There
is at present no very good harbor in
! the Hawaiian island available for use
| That at Honolulu is by no means ade
quate. When so small an expenditure
is necessary to accomplish such goot
results | think it would be unwise no.
to make it,
"Is this a step preliminary to annex
atom"
1T is too early to talk about tha
now, but if the islands are ever to b,
annexed, of course it would ,e an ad
vantage to have the harbor improved
When the amendment comes up it ma,
bring on more or less of n debate
about annexation"
"Do You think the country is still
favorable to anneXation?'
Il have no doubt of it. Not mucl
may be said now. If the question
should be brought up seriously yol
would quickly discover what the feel
ing was
But how about the report that Mr.
Mckinley is opposed to annexation?'
II do not believe he ever said any
thing of the kind, but l have no doub
the sugar interests are as hostile t.
annexation as they have been al
along. The opposition from the be
ginning has been due chiefly to sugar
/ am not so sure but that the Unitet
States will be compelled to take tn
islands whether they are wanted o
not. Japan is looking that way, AM
the Japanese on the island are begin
ming to agitate for the suffrage, whic
would put them in practical contro
If anything of that sort should be sci
iously threatened, there would b
nothing for the United States to d
but step in and take charge"