The Hawaiian gazette., 1902-11-18

islands 10 thus a serious afiaif. the %.
luton IL golng 20 be dlnlcult one.
and the matter will. Of course. be
brought 60 the attention ~ Congress.
II is suggested that a bin might be
enacted allowing the importation OF a
limited number of Chinese laborors for
agricultural purposes. on short term
contracts Whether or not such n
measure would be constitutional Is an
open question.
Another matter which claimed the
attention Of the Senatorial commission
vas the fact that tho currency of Ha-
wall Is being seriously reduced by the
customs house officials who. In collect
ing duties, send out of the country
from 100000 TO sl25.0O0 a month.
This has been going on so long and to
such an extent that the country is seri-
ously hampered on account of the lack
OF currency with which to do business.
Ex-senator John NJ. Thurston. who
happened to be In Honolulu early in
September. said to the writer: THE
question of this deficiency OF currency
Is becoming a very serious one with
these people. ! think 1t would be a
good plan to turn these customs re-
celpts back into the Territorial treas
ury. ! have no idea what action Con-
gress will take in the matter. but il
seems to me that the plan I have men
toned would be fair all around"
Honolulu business men, who talked
on this same subject, complained bit
terly of this contraction of the curren-
cy and were very emphatic In their
expressions in the matter.
SOME OF THE MATTERS DIS
CUSSED.
Other subjects taken up by the Sena-
torial Commission included harbor i'm
provements, the need of new Federal
building, the disposition of the govern
ment lands, etc. This latter topic
suggests the claim of Queen Liliuo-
kalani, who insists that she ought 10
be reimbursed for the crown lands
which. she alleges, were taken from
her without right or justice. In fact,
her dusky eX-highness now has before
Congress bill which provides that the
sum of SIS 100000 shall be paid to her
by way of reimbursement. Most of the
white citizens of the island pooh pooh
this, and say that with the handsome
house and liberal pension bestowed
upon her the queen has no reason to
complain.
Queen Lii, as might be expected, is
far from being reconciled to the new
order of things. With a modest retinue
of servants she lives in retirement in
her pleasant home not far from the
Royal Hawaiian hotel.
During the last summer she spent
some weeks in Washington, laying
some wires which will be pulled later
on in trying to further the passage Of
her bill.
In closing it may be said that the
present depression in the Hawaiian
Islands is only temporary and when
certain existing conditions are rem
edied the country will enjoy a wonder
full development. A reaction is bound
to come in the sugar business. which
will insure reasonable profit to the
planters. The business men of Homo
lulu are wide awake and full of energy
and they have unbounded faith, and
rightly, too, in the future of their city
and the islands in general. Not little
depends on how Congress shall act up
on the recommendation of the Sena-
torial Commission.
Given half a chance, the Hawaiian
Islands will successfully carve out
their own destiny as the Pacific portion
OF the American Union. A. j. X.