The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-09-24
MEMORIAL OF
THE CHAMBER

Statement presented to the Members
of the Commission of the United
State Senate by the Chamber o.
Commerce of Honolulu, Il. II. Sep
TENDER 23rd, 1902
Gentlemen:-It is with pleasure that
the Chamber of Commerce of HonulJiu
cordially endorses the statements pre-
scented to your Commission by the Ha-
waiian Sugar Planters Asso ,iali1n, the
Merchants Association, the Bankers Of
this city and the Builders and Trader -
Exchange, so far as they refer 10 The
Commercial interests of this TcrrLoGy.
LABOR
In connection with the suggestions
made to your Commission as to the em-
plOyment of Chinese labor on the Plat
tations of Hawaii under certain re-
strictions, we respectfully draw your
attention to the fact that Governor
Taft recognizes the Importance Of chi
nese labor to the Philippines ard the
proposition has been set forth to "clUthe
the Philippine Commission with pow 80
to regulate the entrance of Chinese la
Dor" The Philippines have a large ma
tive population, in which respect they
hold an advantage over Hawaii so, if
1t is an assured fact, that to the Phil
ippines the Chinese immigrant is a ne
v ]
sary to this Territory, entirely depend
ent, as its plantations are, on foreign
labor.
The remedy proposed for the relief
of the labor situation in the Philippines
is the admission of Chinese, as planta-
ton labOrers only, under sufficient
bonds and proper system of identflca-
ton which will guarantee the return
of such labor to China after a certain
specified time. This, Gentlemen, is
what has been suggested to you by the
Planters Association of Hawaii, and
we recommend it's adoption in this Ter
ritory, feeling assured that all the busi-
ness interests in this Territory will,
thereby directly and indirectly be ben
| Gifted.
HONOLULU HARBOR.
The proposition for lighthouses, pre-
sented by Secretary Cooper, cannot be
too highly commended, more especially
the one on Makanuu Point and one on
Molokai as these will mark this channel
which is the great avenue of ocean
travel Regarding the improvement of
the Harbors of this Territory, we beg
to remind your Commission that the
opening Of the Isthmian Canal con-
Meeting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
will render the port of Honolulu of
I
Government than it is today, and that
it Is now none too early to begin prep
aratiOns for charging and deepening
this harbor, in order that the vast
amount of shipping which will maks
Honolulu a port of call may be accom-
modated just as soon as the canal is
open. We anticipate that, with the
opening of the Canal, the shipping at
this port will be largely increased and
Of a WI
touch here on their way to and from
the Orient.
HAWAIIAN SILVER.
In the judgment of this Chamber the
recommendations of the Bankers as to
the redemption of Hawaiian Silver can
not be put into effect at too early a
date. We urge the prompt passage Of
Senate Bill 221O.
FIRE CLAIMS.
We unqualifiedly endorse the state
meuts made by the Merchants Associa-
lions of Honolulu regarding the Fire
Claims. This Indebtedness on the part
of the Territory was incurred in an at
tempt to suppress the BubOniC Plague
in the quickest and most effective man
ner, and the greatest care has been eX-
ercised in adjudicating the above
claims, which could not be paid by this
.
the Territorial taxes. The earning pow
err of the people has been so seriously
affected by the present conditions of
trade consequent on the difficulties of
the sugar industry, and considering also
that the Organic Act has since prohibit
ed the issuing of bonds of the Territory
for such a purpose, that to now pay the
Fire Claims would be an unsupportable
burden.
COFFEE.
AS your Commission has expressed a
desire to be supplied with further in
formation regarding the coffee trade
and it's possibilities we beg to furnish
the following facts.
The exports of coffee from Hawaii to
the United States in the last two fiscal
years have been as follows:
Year ending
June 30. Pounds. Value
1901 ....,................2,1 1855 $780,
1902 .......,.............1, OS29 4,34O
These figures show a decrease in eX-
ports of one-half within a year, owing
to low price of coffee on the Mainland
and the difficulty of securing reason
able labor for our coffee plantations.
Brazil supplies the bulk of the coffee
wiz. 900 100000 lbs) used in the United
States, and, in proportion to the beneGt
derived by Brazil from this trade, the
return made by that country is very
small, her total purchases in the States
last year amounting to only about S10,-
100000. The character of Hawaiian cof-
fee is dissimilar to Brazilian. 1t is of
a milder, but, to the connoisseur, more
acceptable, it cannot be expected alto
gether to take the place of the stronger
coffees, it's fine character and the fact
that 1t is grown on American soil
should entitle its cultivation to that en-
would afford.
The extent to which the coffee indus
try on these islands can grow under
such fostering care is difficult to ar