Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1905-01-26
Progress Of Fight
For
Low Steamship Rates

report OF the committee appointed tC
look into the matter Of the possible
reduction Of passenger rates between
Honolulu and the mainland:
Honolulu, T. H., Jan. 10, 1905.
To the President and Members, Homo.
lulu Merchants Association, City
Conference.-The committee appoint
ed by you to endeavor to secure lower
and more equitable passenger rates
between Honolulu and Pacific Coast
ports. beg to report as follows:
Feeling that the first essential to.
ward the object in view, was to en-.
deavor to secure guarantee of SUM-
cient return freights, It was decided to
address the Hawaiian Sugar Planters
Association, and to solicit from them
such a guarantee.
Nothing Results
Your committee regret to report that
SO far nothing has definitely resulted,
but more or less impatient refusals to
favorably consider any proposals tend
Ing to the accomplishment of the de-
sired end.
1t is desired, however, to point out
some features that were presented to
the minds of your committee, which
to some extent may account for the
unwillingness Of the Hawaiian Plant
Iers' Association to render the required
Resistance.
Planters Interested.
1t has been found that seven Of the
nine Trustees Of the Hawaiian Plant
ers Association are representatives OF
agents for freight and passenger lines
either handling steam or sailing yes-
sells. or both, and that practically the
same persons represent the Factors
Union. whose special mission is under
stood to be the marketing and trans
portation Of sugars.
| 1t was also noticed that no reply
was written by the Oceanic Steamship
Company to our letter Of July 20, 1904,
until September Z, or a month after
the Planters Association had declined
to guarantee the required freight.
Your committee, therefore, conclude
that the reply from the Oceanic Steam
ship Company, was based upon such
refusal, and we believe that IL we had
been successful In obtaining such
guarantee OF freight, the Oceanic
Steamship Company would at once
have forwarded favorable response.
The suggestion has been made that
the Association should approach the
Observation-Disclosures Steamship Com
pany. and endeavOr to negotiate with
them to convert one or more of their
steamers into passenger boats, and II
has been Indicated that such proposal
would be likely to have favorable con-
sideration. On this question your COM
mittee is not entirely In accord-the
view being advanced on the one hand
that we should avail ourselves of any
possible opportunity to obtain cheaper
passenger rates, and on the other hand
u Is held that no contract should be
entertained that will not guarantee a J
first-class service at fair rates. and
that the Observation-Disclosures line con- |
sisting OF freight steamers can neither
give the speed nor accommodations |
that Will meet the requirements.
Therefore, We have not endeayored TO |
negotiate, feeling that some definite |
contract for down freights would be
required by the Hawaiian American
Steamship Company.
Frisco 10 WiIIina.
There are ample Indications both
from the reply Of the San Francisco
Merchants Association, and also from
nerSnnnl IN
committee, that the San Francisco
Commercial bodies are willing to CO.
operate with us, but It does not appear
advisable to approach them empty
handed, or until we are prepared to
make definite freight proposal from
this end.
Your committee have noticed with
surprise and pleasure the declaration
OF the Hawaiian Sugar Planters Asso-
citation, as published In the Pacific
commercial Advertiser Of January Is.
tc the effect that they desire to CO.
operate with other residents OF the
Territory, In many desirable ways, and
that they believe that special efforts
should be made to the end of increas-
ing the american population.
Planters Inconsistent.
1t Is submitted that the attitude Of
the Planters Association In refusing
to entertain either Of our proposals 20
them, Is inconsistent with such dec 4
laration. and we beg to suggest that
the guarantee OF freight or support ,
to subsidy as asked for, would pre-. 4
sent to the minds Of your committee /
convincing proof of sincerity and {
good faith. Ii
With reference to the disavowal OF
a desire to I'LL this Territory with
cheap labor to the exclusion of Amer u
lean labor, 1t is submitted that this I
has already been thoughtlessly done to
a point Of extreme danger, not only 10 {
Others" but also to the sugar inter-
ests. This committee nevertheless {
halls with delight the indicated revo- {
luton Of ideas, and trusts these may |