The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-12-04
FAVORABLE TO
A PAN PACIFIC
CONGRESS HERE
May Be Only Consular Conference for the
First--Old Market for Auditorium Com
merciaI Bodies Have Taken Up Matter.

expected from commerce by Hawaii
A great change was already observable
in the large number of steamers com
ing here as compared with former
times. 1t would help our merchant:
to secure a due share of the increas
ing commerce of the Pacific if they
would induce representative bushes:
men from the great centers to meet
in Honolulu.
| Among the problems that should be
considered by such a congress was
that of protection against contagion
exposed as We were on every side
I We needed the support of other COM
mercial communities everywhere tC
i protect the commerce of the Pacific
from anything that would hampe. it
! Why could not Hawaii take a Lead
ing part in bringing about this confer
ence? Where could a conference De
held better than here for convenience
| of reaching it, provided only we had
the accommodations? Lo Angeles
had erected a reinforced concrete
building, at a cost of 1,500, 900, for the
use of great conferences. That city
is prepared to do anything for any
conference in the matters of accomIno-
dation and transportation inside the
city, as well as offering the free use
Of that vast auditorium.
Perhaps the old market building
here, with little remodeling. could be
made into a very good auditorium
Improvements to its acoustics might
have to be made.
1t ought to be possible, say seven
or eight months from now. to bring
about such a conference. They might
limit the endeavor, for a beginning, to
a meeting of all the American consuls
to Pacific countries. Whether to dew
elop the proposal into something larg
er and make it a Panpacific confer
ence of merchants, or go still further
and invite business men from all the
world who are interested in Pacific
commerce, were questions to consider.
For this he had called the trustees of
the Chamber of Commerce and the
directors of the Merchants Associa-
ton together. If the proposition met
with their approval the two bodies
might appoint a citizens committee to
act in conjunction with himself Or
they might have a citizens committee
independent of the commercial bodies.
Mr.. Gartley thought eighteen months
would be required for preparations. A
commercial congress here would like
ly be a benefit, from bringing Hawaii's
central position into prominence. in
increasing our congressional appro-
priations. 1t would aid the merchants
in the purchasing of merchandise. He
believed in it, incidentally, also for its
probab BILE value in promotion work.
Governor Carter referred to newspa-
per clippings, reading short extracts,
to show the immense growth of inter-
est in International trade taking place
on the mainland. Secretary Roots
sixteen thousand mile trip had Won
derfully stirred the American people. |
Mr.. Gartley instanced the starting of
the American-Hawaiian Steamship |
line as a direct result of annexation. |
Its existence was an argument in |
favor of justice to Hawaii. for all of |
the commerce that line would carry |
to both sides of the Isthmus of Tehu-
might be carried in foreign |
steamers if the All. line had not |
been created. He believed it was the
largest steamship line ownd in the
United States.
Delegate Kalanianaole, being asked |
by the Governor what he though of
the proposal. said there ought to be
no question that the scheme could be
carried out.
Would you recommend an appro-
oriation from the Legislature?" Mr..
Smith asked.
If the community wishes it we Ger
.einly ought the Governor replied.
L think it is a matter in which the
taxpayers are interested. 1t will re-
luire the assistance of the business
men, at all events. Probably a sala-
led man will be required to take
,harge of it. If that building can be
1sed-it is Territorial property-one
arge item will be gained
The Governor said that Secretary
Tart had found some fault with the
government about it's declining to sell
he market building to H. Hackfeld &
%. Accordingly negotiations were re-
lewed but that firm dropped the mat
er. The government thought it worth
so 900, and Hackfelds probably wanted
for about S25,000. He did not see
nv better use for it now than as an
Mr.. Smith asked if Congress would
ssist.
Eyes. Congress does assist such
hincs.' the Governor answered
Mr.. Gait believed ii would be fine
hing. Al of them probably did Mr.
,artlov liF01v vas right about eighteer !
months. Personally he should much
ather start in and get a congress OF
onsular representatives here within
ne year and make that a starter. It z
Continued on Page Four)