The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-07-06
NEED OF A
COFFEE TAX
A. Louisson Discusses
Phases. of Coffee
Situation.

Mr.. A. Louisson of Hamakua is in
town on business and will be here about
two weeks. When seen at the Hawai-.
ian Hotel yesterday, in response to a
request. he spoke as follows about cof-
fee and the tariff:
OF late We have seen much agitation
in the press for a tariff on coffee, and
1t is my firm belief that it will be re-
allied in the near future. 1t is in the
natural course of logical events, that
the United States will consider the in
dustr1al needs and development of her
insular possessions, and the great fac
tor In building up mainland industries
has been tariff protection. The same
holds good for protection of insular
products, so that our prosperity may
be assured. 1t follows therefore, that
eventually We are going to have a great
American coffee industry.
When We consider the Philippine Is
lands in conjunction with Porto Rico
and Hawaii, we have enough acreage
that can be developed to coffee which
in time is able to supply the demands
of the mainland. Inasmuch as coffee
does not conflict with a product of an
equal nature Of the mainland, makes
our contention and plea a much strong
er one. 1t must not be forgotten that
the United States by placing a duty
on coffee creates several beneficial con-
ditions
In the first place, we will be placing
millions of money into the treasury of
the United States, that now finds its
way into the Brazilian and other South
and Central American countries
through export duties.
Secondly as heretofore stated, we are
creating a new development under the
American flag giving the opportunities
in this line of industry to American
citizens and American capital
Thirdly, inasmuch as the United
States is going to face a large deficit
in its treasury, this can easily be wiped
out by a tariff on coffee. 1t is a we'll
known fact that the heavy investments
in South and Central America, are in
the hands of Europeans, so, this makes
IL very clear that the United States
with a free coffee market, is building
up and paying tribute to European in
tereSts.
The coffee industry is any mans in
dustry, and with ample protection the
man of moderate means, as well as the
capitalist of large means, can engage
in it's culture.
Porto Rico, our sister territory. has
an area of 10000 acres devoted to cof-
fee, and they make the claim that they
can double more than this area. Ha-
wall being a larger territory certainly,
we could eventually in time outstrip
her.
The question of a duty on coffee
means so much to the future of Hawaii
especially in its industrial and CONNER
cial growth, that all interests of this
Territory should aid in obtaining tariff
protection. A five cent tariff on coffee
would work wonders in our future
economic welfare. 1t would not be
amfss if our delegate to Congress would
take with him party, well versed in
this industry and it's possibilities, to
assist this measure in case the same
came up for discussion.
The United States now consumes an
nually over 1000, 900 pounds of cof-
fee, and l mention this fact simply to
show the magnitude and possibilities of
it's future.