The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-08-29
TRADE WITH HAWAII.

The people Of the United States are likely to
be deprived OF some much desired Information
regarding the commerce Of the United states
with the Hawaiian Islands. The recent act OF
congress which extended to these islands prac-
ticay all Of the laws Of the United States Is
construed as rendering the commerce between
the United States and the islands "ooastwise
in its character. The laws, with reference 10
the gathering Of statistics Of our commerce, re-
qure importers and exporters TO file with the
collectors OF customs at the ports at which
their goods enter, or at which they leave the
country, a specific statement Of the quantity
and value Of each article imported or exported.
The law does not require, however, this de-
tailed information with reference to goods
passing from one port OF the United states to
another port OF the United States. Taking ad
vantage Of this condition, merchants OF San
Francisco, who are engaged in the trade with
the Hawaii Islands, refusing to furnish to
the collector at that point, regarding goods
sent to or from the Hawaiian Islands, the gen
eral class Of information which they have for
years been furnishing but from which theyy
claim they are now exempt under the new con-
ditons
The effect OF this will he TO deprive the
Bureau Of Statistics and the people OF the
United States, at present at least, OF all in
formation regarding the commerce with the
export trade has attracted so much attention
during the past year as that with the Hawaiian
Islands. 1t one spot where the effect OF an
neXation upon commerce with the territory an
ncxed could be studied, since, in the other ter
ritories brought into close relations with the
United States, conditions were not in our favor
by reason Of the war which had existed previous
to- or Immediately following the new relation
ship. While the growth of our commerce with
Porto Rico, Cuba and the Philippine Islands
had been very great II has been difficult to de-
termine what proportion OF the growth was
due to conditions or what proportion to the
new relations thus established In the case OF
the Hawaiian Islands, however, no war condi-
tions existed, either previous or subsequent to
annexation and the growth Of the commerce
with the United States may be attributed,
chiefly, il not wholly, to the close relations
brought about by annexation and the general
business revival which followed that event.
The growth Of commerce with the lla-
waiian Islands In the last few years, especially
in the years 1890 and 1900 has been phenomenal.
This growth is especially interesting in view Of
the new relationship which has been established
with the islands and the marked increase which
accompanied the final determination OF that
event In 1890 the exports Of the United
States TO the Hawaiian Island were SAIL All,
and in 1897 were s. ,G0O,O ,O75, showing no growth
from 1890 to 1897. In 1890 the imports into the
United States from the Hawaiian Islands were
1923 ,00s, and in 1897 were Sl3,6S779J, show
ing but a slght growth
The treaty Of annexation was signed at Wash
ington June 16, 1897 so that all the commerce
OF the fiscal year 1905 felt the effect Of that
step in the process Of annexation. In that year
the exports Of the United States TO the Ha'
waiian Islands were $j,007155, an increase Of
% per cent. over 1897, when they amounted to
A,600075, The trust formally transferred to the
United States on August l2, 1898, thus bring
ing practically all the fiscal year 1890 within
the period following the complete annexation.
The exports to the Hawaiian Islands, In the
fiscal year 1890, amounted to s0,SO5,i70, an in
crease OF three and one.halt millions over 1897,
and the year 1900 showed another increase Of
three millions over 1893 and 1892
The following table shows the commerce be.
tween the United States and the Hawaiian Is
lands in each year from 1890 TO 1900:
Imports into Exports from
United States United States