The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-18
our Foreian ..Coastvisev Ports.

Our Foreign "Coastwise" Ports.
The New York Journal Of Commerce
and Commercial Bulletin has been inform
ed that the collector of the port of New
York believes that as soon as the an
nexa tion Of the Hawaiian Islands has
been announced, Honolulu will be a coast
wise port of the United States" 1t is
understood that the United States Com
missioner Of Navigation holds the same
opinion.
Under our navigation laws, foreign yes
sells are prohibited from transporting car
goes between coastwise ports of the
United States. II the annexation Of Ha-
wall automatically extends those laws to
the islands, there is created the fiction OF
a port 1000 miles away in the midst Of the
ocean being an American coastwise port.
If we were 10 annex The Philippines, the
Ladrones and Porto Rico their ports, un-
der that Interpretation, would also at
once become American coastwise ports,
and foreign vessels would be prohibited
from carrying cargoes between any and
all of the islands and The mainland Of the
United States. They could, of course,
continue to transport freghts between
foreign countries and the islands, but the
trade between our foreign coastwise
ports" and the United States would have
to be carried on in American bottoms.
It is not likely Chat the sugar interests,
which were SO potent in securing the an
nexation of Hawaii, viii relish the idea
of Honolulu becoming "eoastwise" port.
The freight rates charged by American
vessels are considerably higher than
those charged by foreign vessels and the
annexauonists in Hawaii have immense
amounts of sugar to send to the American
market. They WILL naturally. desire their
sugar freighted at the least possible rates;
therefore, i'm all probability, they viii
bring pressure to bear at Washington TO
have free trade in shipping for Hawaii,
while bringing the islands under the pro-
tective laws of The United States in 9th
er respects. It has already been intima-
ted that such a movement is on foot, and
it is claimed the President has power I'M
der the annexation resolutions, to sus-
pend the shipping laws in so far as they
may relate 10 Hawaii and leave to the
Hawaiian commission the fixing Of new
navigation laws to govern IN the prem
ises.
The Journal of Commerce and CONNER
cial Bulletin hopes that Congress and the
commission will be wise enough to leave
the carrying trade between the United
States and the islands as open to the ship
ping world as il is now" What tenabe
reason is there for giving. our mid-Pacidc
"coastwise" ports lower freight rates
than are enjoyed by our citizens on the
mainland? Why should there be discrim-
nation between the shippers of Hawaii
and those of the United States, and great
ly in favor of the former?
The correct thing to do would be to give
free ships to all American territory; give
all Of our people the benefit of the lowest
freight rates obtainable. We favor the
open door, policy abroad. We desire
freedom for our ships in the ports of the
world and there has been some talk of our
joining with England in securing open
ports in the far East. At home however,
we have adhered to the destructive policy
coast, hedging in the markets and the
carrying trade and taxing the people
heavily for the privilege of doing business
with themselves. If the Hawaiian an
neXationists win put in an entering wedge
which shall rend asunder and finally de-
stroy our present navigation system much
will be forgiven them.