The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-02-20
A GOOD MOVE


Every now and again some extreme /
], virtuous POLITICIAN out oft job he- I.
gins to blame Our Chamber of Com |
merce because # has representative !
I'm Washington. Why should this body
not have representative Certainly
everyone has right to have repre-
sentative to put forth his cause at the
national capital, especially if it has
such very inefficient assistance as it is
like to get from it's political delegate.
The idea comes from looking through
the California papers. William NJ.
Bunker is the representative i'm Wash
ingtou of the Chamber of Commerce
I'm San Francisco, and nobody howls
that he is a lobbyist or anything else.
MI. Bunker reports his work i'm a bust
ness like way, and comments also up
on the California political delegation.
No one thinks in California that the
Chamber of Commerce is wrong, or
has done anything that it ought not to
have done in sending Mr.. Bunker for
ward, and in paying him for his work
The furry we have had here over the
appointment of Mr. Haywood, looks
absolutely ridiculous when one sees
and knows what is done and what
must be done in Washington.
For one thing in his report to the
San Francisco Chamber of Commerce
MI Bunker points out that as far as
California is concerned, there are so
many and vexatous issues which con-
front Congressman, because of Califor-
mas great variety of resources and in
terests, that it really requires a cam
paign or several campaigns of educa-
ton to secure the assistance Of Con-
gressmen in passing measures.
This is exactly what we have to deal
with. To make ourselves understood
we have to go in for many campaigns
of education, and if we want to get
what we need, we must have men up
on the spot to represent our various
interests. There is probably no place
more misunderstood than this. Con-
gress as a mass does not understand
US though a few individual Senators
and congressman do. The departments
do not understand us, and the general
public does not care to be bothered
with us. Our only method of putting
our case forward is to have men who
can talk and write, and who have the
confidence of those to whom they are
accredited.
The following quotations from Mr..
Bunker's report may give some idea of
what a representative of a commercial
body is expected to do in Washington
and the amount of interests he covers.
Mr.. Bunder says. as reported in the
Chronicle:
"In stating my belief that none of the
reciprocity treaties will pass Congress
am voicing the sentiment of Senators
and Congressman whose judgment is to-
day the most valuable guide The po-
sition Of Congress in this matter is only
partly due to concern for California.
The leading and most influential Con-
gressmen know that if foreign citrus
fruits are given tariff privileges, similar
privileges will be demanded for knit
and other foreign goods. The safety
of California citrus-fruit growers is
therefore largely due to a community Of
interests between the fruit section Of
the Pacific Coast and certain manufac-
turing sections along the Atlantic"
Concerning the appropriation for a
new Custom house in San Francisco,
Mr.. Bunker remarks that the necessity
for this is so obvious that if any appro-
priation be made for new building
San Francisco can hardly fail to get
the desired amount. and that the pro-
ject is viewed with favor by the Public
Buildings Committee of each house.
The resolution passed by the chamber,
advocating a ship channel through sah
Pablo bay has been laid before the
Rivers and Harbors Committee
Mr.. Bunker aftirms that the move-
ment for a direct line to Manila has
made an impression upon the War De-
partment, and that it is patent that the
department desires that the transport
service between San Francisco and Ma
Mia should be performed by a private
line, the Importance and value of San
Francisco as a military base being
thoroughly understood and appreciated
by the Government. A recent interview
which lie had with William A. Jones,
Commissioner of Indian Affairs, re-
suited in the assurance that in future
San Francisco would be given chance
to secure contracts for furnishing sup
plies in the department. He concludes
by saying:
AS Congress has hardly settled down
to work and few measures have passed
first consideration, L am necessarily I'M
able to make an elaborate report on
legislation affecting California inter
ests."