The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-03-12
HAWAII AND THE
PHILIPPINE BILL

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.-Advocates
and opponents of the extension of the
coastwise navigation laws to the Phil
the House Committee on Merchant
Marine. The only opponents of this
: measure who were present were Will
liam o. Smith of Hawaii and w. NJ.
: Alexander of Alexander & Baldwin of
San Francisco, although former Rep
resentative George w. Farisk of In
diana gave notice that the cordage
manufacturers, whom he represents,
would probably ask for hearing with
in the next few days.
Smith and Alexander explained the
shipping of sugar from Hawaii to the
United States, maintaining there is not,
even at the present time, enough ship
! ping to carry Hawaiian sugar from Ho-
nolulu to New York at the rate iIa-
waiian planters want to pay. After a
long drawn out controversy lasting
most of the day they substantially adj
mitted there is an abundance of ton
mage for the purpose if they choose to
pay the rate asked But they have set
$3.50 per ton as the price for sailing tom
, mage from Honolulu to New York and
thousands of tons of American shipping
is lying idle rather than accept that
rate.
Representative McDermott of New
Jersey undertook to press this question
upon Mr.. Alexander, but could not OBJ
tain a direct statement from him.
Representative Littlefield developed the
fact that Hawaiians pay So more by
water and rail to New York than they
do for all water route in order to keep
down water rates. Winthrop L. Mar
vim of Boston presented a list of thirty
one steam vessels of aggregate tonnage
more than 10000 tons which would be
available for Philippine service and
which later in the day he compelled Mr..
Alexander to admit We're not now en-
gagged in Hawaiian trade and conse-
quently that trade could not be injured
in the slightest degree by their enter
ing Philippine business. Representative
Green of Massachusetts picked up Mr..
Alexander on his statement that suffi-
cient insurance could not be obtained
for cargoes OF sugar in wooden sailing
vessels.
Il don't believe that said Mr..
Greene. Il have been in the insurance
business for fifty years and that has
been my experience.
E. F. Luckenbach of New York said
his firm had a number of vessels, some
of which were laid up in New York for
want of business, and all of them are
available for Philippine trade.
Captain 1. E. Thayer, representing
general shipping interests in San Fran
cisco, spoke in favor of the bill. There
is an abundance of American shipping,
he said for both Hawaiian and Phil
ippine trade.
William NJ. Bunker, representing the
Chamber of Commerce of San Fran
cisco, said the organization supported
the bill because it believed in develop
ing and protecting American shipping.
1t looks forward to the development of
the Oriental trade and is anxious to
have as many American vessels as pos
sible engaged in it. He predicted that
when the present war between Russia
and Japan is over there will be
tremendous contest for Oriental trade
and all nations will put forth their best
efforts. 1t is therefore necessary for
US to get in line and be ready for the
struggle when it comes.