The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-06-08

institution Will be in running order
HAWAII AND DEFENSE.
Col. Hepburn referred to the coming
of the Taft party, stating that he
would join it here and proceed to
Manila as a member of the eXpedi-
ton. Asked as to his opinion of the
Philippines and colonial question in
general, Col. Hepburn replied:
Il think this: 1 never have been
favora bly, disposed to the colonial sys-
tenn. l have never believed that col
onies were a marked benefit to parent
nations. Colonies We're always a weak
spot in a nation. Colonies are more
expensive to defend than any other
portion of the state: There is apt TO
be less of that complete contentment
that results in the completest loyalty,
no matter how beneficial the parent
government may try to be. There are
always factions that try to foment
dfscord and breed discomfort so that
1 have always thought that a colonial
system is not an advantage. OF
course, there are exceptions to that.
1T sometimes happens that geo
graphical considera lions make it ex-
ceedingly desirable to have some such
relation with another people. The pos
session of the Hawaiian Islands as a
defensive measure for the Pacific
coast is of great value to the United
States. If we had not these islands
some other nation would have insisted
upon having them. In the possession
of anybody else they would be a men
ace to our peace, but with our pos
sessing them nobody else can trouble
us in the Pacific, and therefore 1 think
there are mutual interests which make
it very desirable we should have the
very best of relations with Hawaii.
PHILIPPINES FOR FILIPINOS.
II think We have had this colonial
policy thrust upon US in the case of
the Philippines and we have got to
make the best of it and help those
people to fit them selves for self-gov
eminent. 1 think when they are fitted
for taking care of themselves, we will
be glad to help them to a government
of their own. 1t may be, though, that
before that time comes they will
themselves be the reluctant ones to
allow the separation to take place"
RAILROAD RATE LEGISLATION.
Concerning the investigation of the
railroad rate matter, now so promi-
nently before the public on the main
land, Col. Hepburn said:
There will be some legislation con-
corning the problem of the railroad
rates. Our committee and the House
favored the proposition that would
give to the Interstate Commerce Com
mission the power to fix a rate of
transportation in cases where an
existing rate-was challenged and con-
demned as being unreasonable; then
substitute a rea sonable rate for it. 1t
is said, L don't know how truthfully,
that such a proposition is not favored
in the Senate. l don't know what they
will do, but something, L imagine. will
be done.
TT is very important question,
that of railroad rates. $13, 600, 000, 900 of
our wealth are invested in railroads.
They have an earning capacity of ST.
100000 a year gross. They affect
the value of almost everything that
enters into our internal and foreign
commerce. The cost of transportation
is a pretty important factor in the
price of everything we use, and it is
scarcely fair to allow the carrier to
determine to just what extent he will
toll off the wealth of the country SO
it is altogether likely that some as
sertion of the Governments power
will be made in matters of this kind.
THAT does not extend to steamship
rates. We have never attempted to
extend that form of control to the
ocean carriers, either foreign or coast
wise And I don't think there is any
probability of it. 1t is very diff
cult thing to control rates for ocean
transportation. There is never any
uniform rate, even in the same ship.
A vessel reaches a port, say. wanting
5000 tons of freight. They will get
two or three thousand tons and then
they Will begin to bid against them
selves and the probability is that the
last thousand tons is taken at a mere
fraction of the rate charged for the
first thousand SO there is difficulty in
establishing any regular charges.
UNDESIRABLE IMMIGRANTS.
The problem of immigration is get
ting to be pretty serious. We used to