The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-02-14
TINE FOR ACTION.

The session of the National Congress
| has reached that stage where the most
important of all legislation TO the mem
| Der appropriations, are ready TO be
! framed. In the bills which comprise
! the budget there is probably only one,
( the diplomatic and consular, in which
. this Territory does not have vital in
| terest 1t is therefore time TO express
! to legislative friends opinions as TO
needs.
The most important fiscal legislation
OF the present session. not only for this
Territory, but for the entire country
will be in the army and navy bills. In
these will be provided the defense and
repair, the barracks and the station
items, and in both the land and sea es-
Establishments Hawaii is deeply involv-
ed. While the first named measure Will
appropriate money for constructing the
defenses about the island, the greater
sums are those to be expended behind
these barriers of shot and shell, in the
way of the naval station at Pearl Har-
Dor. Millions it must take to place this
station where il belongs in the list of
such enterprises. What is to be I'M
dertaken right away cannot be fore
cast, but preliminary reports urge the
Inauguration of the work upon scale
which will be in keeping with its ulti-
mate limits. This would comprise at
least three high-clasS defenses about
the two harbors and a first-class dry
dock and machine shop. What would
come later must depend upon the
seeming necessities, the Eastern prob /
lem, perhaps, and generosity of chair
men of committees.
But while these are matters of very
f,.-r Nnrfn mo- or haT~ h al
must not be overlooked. Primarily,
there is duty which Congress owes to
this Territory This is the improve
ment of the harbors. When it is con-
sidered that neatly one and a half mill
ions of dollars are collected at the Gus
toms houses. it will be realized that the
of our group demands fos-
tering care. All of this money goes to
the national government and none re-
turns, for other collections would more
than pay all Federal salaries. The first
step to ultimate improvement must be
4 survey and estimate provision. In
he rivers and harbors bill of the last .,
Congress such an item was inserted in c
he measure. 1t was knocked out in +
however, and then the en- /
ire bill failed. 1t is probable that the {
same bill will be proposed at this ses-
ION, and It would DSnoOFe islanders 10
ocate any friends they may have and
ndeavor to work up sentiment for
hngs Hawaiian. Should another
nance arrive if the Delegate cannot
old the appropriation in the bill, per-
aps some Republican friend may be
ound who will see that there is no
hange made.
tom" Reed, the famous Car of the
House, used always to refer to the
ivers and harbors and public buildings
ills as the pork barrel" where, if any
lember cannot pick up a good thing il
because he mistakes the barrel alto
ether. Both measures should carry
lany items for Hawaii and the ne
essity for their insertion and the great
eed of watchfulness, would prompt
he placing on guard of others than
Wilcox, whose time must be fully occu-
led with hiving his gubernatorial bee,
y interesting them in our projects
trough letters or personal represent
tons. Every appropriation measure
fleets the Territory, and the friends of
lie Territory should be thoroughly in
1rmed and equipped with argument
nd data.