The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1905-06-02
IMPORTS
AND ENTRIES
LETTER ADDRESSED TO ISLAND
IMPORTERS by THE CHAMER or
COMMERCE. AND MEBCHAN
ASSOCIATION

The following is "a circular letter ad-
dressed by the Honolulu Chamber Of
Commerce and the Honolulu Merchants
Association to the principal importers
of the Territory. It Is the result Of
Investigation into the facts regarding
Imports To Hawaii, by which it was
found that much imported merchandise
for Hawaii was entered at other ports
of entry and thus the full volume Of
the import business Of the Territory
and its contribution to the revenues Of
the United States was not shown by
the custom house statistics.
Honolulu, May 20, 1905.
To the Merchants Of the Territory of
Hawaii.
The attention Of merchants who have
occasion to import goods from abroad
for island consumption or distribution
is invited to the importance of using
the ports Of this Territory as ports Of
entry for their goods whenever prac-
ticable.
An investigation of the conditions
that prevail discIoses the fact that
while many merchants make it an in
variable rule to order their importa-
tions shipped direct to island ports
when possible, or, if it is necessary to
bring them INTO this country by way
Of other ports, to order that the goods
be forwarded to this Territory in bond
and the property cleared through the
various island custom houses, such Is
not the universal practice Some or
our merchants apparently permit goods
to be sent to the islands from abroad
by way of other United States ports
when ample shipping facilities exist for
their direct importation, and such goods
as well as those necessarily imported
via other ports, are often permitted to
be entered at the custom house at the
port of arrival rather than at island
ports.
As a result of this practice the i'm
portations officially credited to the Ter
ritory of Hawaii are undoubtedly con-
siderably below what they should be.
1t has been suggested that i'm some
lines importations have been encourage
ed via other ports in the past because
of delays in handling at island ports
due to imperfect system and organiza-
ton at the appraisers stores. How
ever this may have been in the past
there is general agreement among mer-
chants who have dealings at the va
rious custom houses that the present
service at the appraisers stores is eX-
cellent, and that delays are now re-
duced to the minimum; in fact, that
ordinarily quicker service is given
through local ports than through other
large ports.
1t is desirable, in the interest of the
standing of the Islands and the in
creased prestige which comes with ele-
walton in rank among the great ports
of the country, that these Islands
should be credited with the imports or
all foreign merchandise consumed with
i'm them or distributed from them
In this connection it should be borne
in mind that the volume of tratnc
through these ports and the collections
from customs duties have a very I'M
portant bearing upon Congressional ap-
preparations for harbor Improvement
and for other public works necessary to
the commercial development Of this Ter
ritory.
The undersigned, having been APP
pointed a committee by their respective
organizations to bring this matter TO
the attention of the merchants of the
islands, take the liberty of suggesting
that it is the patriotic duty of every
merchant to see that all goods destined
for this Territory that are necessarily
impored via other United States ports
are ordered forwarded TO the Islands
/ in bond or by an immediate transpor-
tation entry, and the goods entered at
| local custom houses. BY so doing they
will render valuable assistance in build
! ing up the commerce of our ports and
will also, we believe, serve in a very
! substantial manner their own interests
Very respectfully,
w. LAM, Chairman
II. f. LANCE,
A. A. YOUNG.
E.A. McINERNH,
NJ. PHILLIPS
! NI.v.boptc' Association.