The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-01-06
Views of Senator J. c.
Burrows.
THE TERRITORIAL FORM
Why Hawaii Should Go Into the
Union on Plan Of CuI-
Iom Bill,

The following is from the Dry Goods
Economist:
dardly question that will come be-
fore the 56th Congress is so importanI
or will receive such careful consider.
alton as the disposition which tn,
United States must make of the prob.
lens presented in providing govern
ments for the islands which have re-
Gently come into our possession. From
a trade standpoint we must consider
how speedily We can make the neces-
sary arrangemen.s.t give American
manufacturers and exporters the great
est advantages in these new markets
! do not. doubt that Uu- new posses
sions have undeyelUped resources OF
Jountlcss. extent which the enterprise
and industry OF the American people
VIII develop within a very few years
Some time must pass, however, before
any Immediate returns can De had
from this source. while there is nc
season wig Congress should not speed.
lily enact the legislation Necessary IN
open some of these markets 20 Amerl-
can export trade, under conditions
that will give our people an advantage
Of the utmost Importance.
Our relations 10 Cuba, the Philip
pines. Puerto Rico and Hawaii are 10y
no means similar. and to some extent
the problems presented by the PROPOSE
tiOn TO enlarge our markets in their
ports are entirely different In trying
10 solve them We must bear in mind
that important questions of national
be kept in view. and it will be possible
TO take immediate steps with regard "a
some of these islands that must be de-
layed for some time at lels. with zee
gard to others.
As to Hawaii.
There seems to be nothing in the
way Of the very early passage of the
legislation necessary 10 extend our
general statutes and custom laws 20
the Hawaiian Islands in the last Con-
gress comprehensive measures were
introduced in both houses by Senator
CullOm and Representative Hit pro-
viding a territorial government for
hawaii. and the House passed a bill
providing that the laws of the United
States relating 10 commerce, nayiga-
ton and merchant seamen are hereby
extended 10 and over the islands and
waters OF the islands ceded 10 the Unit
ed States by the government of Hawaii
and accepted by joint resolution OF
Congress, approved July Z. 1898. 50 far
as such laws may be applicable This
measure was intended 10 extend our
tariff laws 70 the Hawaiian Islands,
and with some slight notifications a.
was favOrably reported 20 the Senate
Owing 20 parliamentary complications
the bill did not become a law, but a
similar measure ought TO pass az a
very early date
In reporting favorably upon this
measure and the one making Hawaii q
territory OF the United States. the com
m.ttee Of the two houses were inhuenc-
ed by practical considerations relating
solely % Hawaii and its trade with the
United States, and questions OF general
policy or precedent in the establish
ment OF governments in the future for
other insuldr possessions Of the CniteI
States had no weight. Neither the
fear nor the hope Of the future state
hood OF the islands had any place IN
the discussion OF the bill or rhe con
clusiOns. reached. There can be no
duobt Of the present needs and fitness
OF the people Of Hawaii for the gov
ernment proposed, nor Of the advan-
tages which American business men
will reap by reason Of closer trade re-
lations with the islands. The high
civilization prevailing in Hawaii. the
general diffusion of education. the law
abiding character Of the people, their
general knowledge Of the institutions
OF the United States and long-cheris1- H.
ed desire 20 enjoy the blessings OF these
institutions fairly entitle them 20 the
representative government OF a terri
tory. and promise 20 make them pat
rons OF constantly increasing import
anne Of all lines Of American trade,
and especially OF textiles. When the
tariff duties are eliminated American
manufacturers Of cOttOns, woollens. and
even Of silk goods. ought 20 be able 90
compete adyauta zeOusly with the
cheapest products Of equal quality that
can be produced even by the iil-paid
labor Of the Orient. When it comes 20
manufactures Of textile fabrics such as
wearing apparel. millinery. etc. IL goes
without saying that the United States