The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1899-02-15
ITS CHEAP LABOR
HURTING HAWAII
Not to Enter American Mar
ket,
Why the Senate Pauses-C Competition
That Carries Menace Congress
Slow to Extend United States
Customs Laws to Uncle
Sans New Pos
sessions.
Special Dispatch to The Call.
CALL OFFICE, RIeas HOUSE,
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2,(

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2.{
Representatives of Hawaii who
are in the city looking after the po-
litical or business interests of the
Hawaiian Islands are much per-
turbed by the new developments in
the possible Congressional policy
toward our new possessions. The
people interested in Hawaii, it is
said, have just learned that there is
some difficulty in the Senate over
the passage of the bill extending to
Hawaii the customs duties of this
country.
The bill was introduced in the
House by the late Representative
Dingley, with the full approval of
the Treasury Department, and was
passed by that House without dis
sent. 1t was expected that the Sem
ate would be equally prompt, but
the Hawaiian Commission has just
been informed that there is feel
ing among some Senators that the
entire customs duties should not be
extended to the islands, but that
this country should protect itself
against possible cheap manufactur-
ing in Hawaii.
William A. Kinney of Honolulu,
who is here representing the Cham
Der of Commerce and the Planters
Association, is earnest in calling the
attention to the encouragement
which would be felt in Hawaii at
the news of possible delay. He,
with Others who were spoken to,
was satisfied that the administration
had not changed it's mind, but was
still sincere in desiring the extension
of American customs laws to Ha-
wall.
"News is being taken by the
steamer leaving San Francisco to-
day." said Mr.. Kenny, "that will
startle and discourage Hawaii
through its length and breadth,
namely, that influential members OF
Congress are seriously considering
the ACCESSIBILITY of giving to Hawaii
only limited free trade with the
United States, which means in plain
English a colonial status, and that
this sentiment is sufficiently strong,
probably, to postpone Hawaiian
legislation for this session.
This became apparent yesterday
when members of the Hawaiian com.
mission, appointed by the President
to recommend legislation for Ha-
waii, waited upon Senator Aldrich
new chairman of the Senate Finance
Committee, to urge action this ses-
sion upon the House bill now in the
hands of that committee, extending
United States customs laws as a
whole to Hawaii, which was intro
duced by Representative Dingley in
the House shortly before his last i'll
ness, upon the recommendation OF
the Treasury Department, and pass.
ed by that body.
| Senator Aldrch stated that
while neither he nor the committee
had decided definitely what to do
there seemed to be a sentiment
among some of the Republican Sen
ators in favor of restricting free
trade between Hawaii and the
United States to agricultural OF
natural products of Hawaii, SO as tt
shut out of the United States manu-
features made by cheap labor, ant
that this sentiment was apparentl,
sufficiently strong to result in de
laying action on the bill in question
until next session."
Twenty.fye Chinese were arraion