The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-01-18

tagonize the business interests of its
people.
One would think that the Govern |
ment has problems enough on its hands |
of necessity without inaugurating a |
system of confiscation and illiberality |
that finds its best counterpart in the |
operation of such a monopoly as the |
sugar trust. In a small way, the raj,
road is a business rival of the Govern |
ment in the matter of furnishing |
wharfage facilities in the Honolulu |
harbor.
The Government in the business
rivalry falls back upon powers of Gov
eminent intended for other purposes, |
and in the face of its pledge TO this |!
corporation TO allow it wharfage faci- |
lities. simply confiscates the property
of its business rival a la the sugar
trust
1t may be that this Government is
strong enough TO continue such antics.
and it may be not. If ii was a matter
of honor with this Government TO take
that stand. one might fee that ii
should go on regardless of consequent
ces but so far as there is any honor
in the matter it seems TO be involved
in the pledge of the Government. by
charter and contract, certainly not to
stand in the way of utterly preventing
this railroad from getting a foot of
frontage on that harbor That the
heads of the Government are plainly
losing their heads is manifested from
the way in which they have conducted
their crusade.
The Government brings q suit to
determine the right of this railroad to
no har &c thit.
itself applied TO the Courts. attempts
before any decision, to force itself in
| TO the possession Of that wharf by or
dering the Harbor Master to collect
wharfage fees from ships using the
railroad wharves. under a threat that
it viii refuse vessels clearance until
they pay the Government the fees that
they had already paid to the railroad.
Then in the face of temporary in
junction issued by the Court checking
them from taking possession, the Har-
Dor Master goes over and demands of
two Captains of vessels the fees in
question
And now the Government in the
same spirit proposes to push wharf
across the water front property of the
railroad company, without waiting for
what the Courts may say as to the
| right and wrong of it.
Does the Government intend to ma
nifest its indifference to the propriety
of adjudicating in a peaceful manner
before the Courts, intended for that
purpose? Does the Government wish
to make of itself an example in the
way of disorder and disregard of the
Courts? Is the necessity so peremp-
| tory to shut that railroad out from
the use of that wharf, as if it were
| public enemy, that the Government,
forsooth, cannot control itself suffic-
emily to wait until the Courts have
| defined the rights of the respective
parties? And yet if the railroad COM
pany, bated and goaded to desperation
should use all it's influence to unseat
this Cabinet, and put it out, they might
be charged with being disturbers of
the public peace, disloyal to the Re-
public ETC.
We ask again upon what meat
doth this our Caesar feed, that he is
grown so great?"
| If the Government plans to fill in
| tide land that can be used for wharf,
thereby showing that they have wharf
| room to throw away, will they not
allow the crumbs to fall from their
| table TO some private individual or
corporation who would be willing to
make it into wharves? And if the
Government refuses such course is
it not proof that their only motive
in so doing, and at the same time TAX
ing the wharf of this railroad, is to
create monOpolistic control of all
wharf business, making their pledge
to this railroad, in charter and con-
tract a fraud and deception, not only
upon the organizers of that company.
but upon those here and abroad, who
have loaned that company money up
on the faith of that charter and con-
tract? What has this railroad done that
it should receive such condign castiga-
ton at the hands Of this Government?
Without subsidy and without sup
port, but with bare franchise and
pledges the first fifteen miles of the
road were built in the face of absolute
want of confidence on the part of the
public in the enterprise. 1t is respOn-
sible for the greatest and most pros
porous sugar plantation these Islands
| have ever seen. 1t was the promoter
of this railroad who demonstrated the
feasibility of pumping water for agri-
cultural purposes whereby thousands
of acres of rich and otherwise unpro-
ductive soil have become and are to
become the greatest producer of wealth
throughout the Islands.
1t is due to the existence of this
railway company that the Great Oahu
Sugar Company was successfully or
ganized and put into operation. Now
while this Government is seeking ways
and means by which they hope to de-
prive that powerful promoter of pros
perity of its legal vested rights, the
company is just completing twenty
four miles extension of it's road, which
will result in further large develop
ments in agriculture that will furnish
employment for 1000 to 5000 men, ant
make an additional increase of tax n
turns amounting to $4,000 to S20,0 900
per annum. which added to the in
crease in taxes for which it is nov
responsible, say $4,000. will make tn,
, handsome returns of $4,000, per an
mum. When the railway has been ex
tended as far as business encourage
, ment may warrant, the Government
Golfers viii receive still greater return
according to the possibilities of land
now lying waste The prosperity
!; business added to the present will re
Ouire all the wharf room the nremiSe