The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-02-17
THE MESSAGE.

Senators and representatives
the absence of the President, l pre-
sent to you several matters for your
information and consideration
Exercising the authority conferred
upon him by the Constitution and fol-
lowing the spirit of a resolution pass
ed at your last regular session, the
President has, with the approval of
1.-The Cabinet, made a treaty of political
union with the United States of
America.
Negotiations were opened early in
the month of April 1897, which result
ed in the signing of the Treaty at
Washington on the sixteenth day of
June, following, by the plenipotentia-
ries of the two Governments; on be-
half of the Unite States of America
by the Hon. John Sherman, Secretary
Of State, and by Messrs. Francis M.
Hatch, Lorrin A Thurston and Will
liam A. Kinney, for the Republic of
Hawaii.
Having reviewed the action of our
plenipotentiaries and finding that the
Treaty contained in it's several arti-
cles sufficient provisions for the bene-
fit and protection of the Republic and
desiring to ascertain the pleasure of
the Senate in regard to it's final rati-
fication, the President called a special
session of that body which assembled
On the eighth day of September, 1897.
| After mature consideration of the
Treaty, the Senate, by an unanimous
vote, consented to it's ratification on
the ninth day of September. The
Treaty was signed by the President
| two days later. The American copy
of the Treaty was transmitted by
President Mckinley to the Senate OF
that country, on the 18th day of June
1897, accompanied by special mes
sage recommending its ratification.
| Until the final exchange of the ratifi-
cations the sovereignty Of this coun-
| try continues. 1t is therefore neces-
| sary for you to consider the biennial
and special appropriation bills which
will be presented to you by the Minis
| ter of Finance, and to enact such
| wholesome laws as may be required
LII IhC WSI1 Wills VI ChC PSOplC.
Owing to the intimate relations eX-
isting between the Republic and the
| United States of America, great care
should be exercised that no action be
taken which might interfere with the
scope of the Treaty above referred to-
nor in any way jeopardize the present
satisfactory relations, nor hinder the
| future presentation Of the Treaty
| should it fail at the present time to
receive the approval of the Senate OF
the United States, where it is now
pending.
JAPANESE IMMIGRATION.
During the months of March and
| April, 1897, several steamships left
the ports of Japan for this country
having on board a large number OF
immigrants. In the course of his in
vestigations in regard to the qualifi-
cations of the immigrants to land, the
| Collector-General of Customs found
| that a large number were unable tC
conform to the requirements of the
| laws appertaining to the landing OF
aliens, and for that reason denied
them the privilege. The immigrant:
were detained at the Quarantine Sta
ton until taken back to Japan by tht
immigration Companies who had as
sisted in bringing them to this coun
| try. This action on the part OF Lht
! COllector-General drew forth a pro
test from the japanese Government
and much correspondence has bee1
exchanged on the subject.
As the correspondence progressed
became evident that it might be diff
ficult to arrive at a satisfactory settle
ment of the controversy. For this rea
son it was suggested by this Govern
ment that the points Of difference b
submitted to disinterested arbitrator
for decision. The framing Of issue
upon which the decision of the arbi
traitors is to be invited is now bein
proceeded with.
REVENUES OF THE GOVERNMENT
The receipts from the several reve
lnue producing bureaus show a marke
increase over previous periods. Tn
operation of the tax law of 1896 pro
lduced in the main satisfactory result;
and while it gave rise to litigation
it is now more fully understood, an
its administration in the future vii
undoubtedly meet with but little Op
position. For this reason, and also c,
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