The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-12-24

|
| PRODUCTION of bill by which it is pro
| posed to set aside rs per cent. of thu
internal revenues and customs receipts
as a separate fund in the Treasury, Il
be applied. as Congress in it's wisdom
| saw fit, toward the military and nava
defenses of the islands, harbor i'm.
| provements, and public and education.
al buildings. Such a measure, with a
| few minor changes, was readily passed
| by the Senate, but, Notwithstanding g
! favorable report by the Committee or
Territories, it failed to secure consider
alton p the House.
BUSINESS DELEGATION.
| In support of the measure, the dele
| cation of business men pointed out
| that the only price America paid for
! the annexation of these islands and the
securing of such a strategic point in
| the middle of the Pacific Ocean was the
assuming of $4,000, 900. of debt of the
| Republic of Hawaii; that since that
date the customs and internal reve-
| nues, wholly contributed by the people
isolated on these islands, had not only
paid back the $4,000, coo. but had con-
tributed nearly s2,00O,00O in excess-an
amount greater than all the appropria-
lions and current expenditures of the
Federal Government within the Ter
ritory since annexation; that the
worlds history shows that no country
has successfully maintained Dependent
cies from which revenues have been
extracted to any material degree. Our
delega ton also pointed out that for
local tax purposes the total contribu-
ton Pc, capita, which varied each
year, had been in one year little
over 500, and that the contribution of
Hawaii to the Federal Treasury had
been as high as s7.20 per capita in
single year.
Hawaii did not ask that the whole
amount of Federal revenue collected
here be devoted toward her develop
ment, because she did not believe it
would be right to secure all the priv
ileges and advantages conferred on her
as an integral part of the Union with
out giving anything in return.
After the adjournment of Congress it
was ascertained that there We're those
who had successfully opposed the
measure through fear that it would
establish a bad precedent and possibly
inaugurate similar action on the part
of other Territories. 1t is unfortunate
that we could not have had an oppor-
IIlIly " Ills, Luz IL AlllSIlCct
at any time in the future should be
fortunate enough to possess a Terri
tory similar geographically, socially
and commercially to the Hawaiian Is
lands, no better precedent could be
followed than one which would slim
ulate it's development rather than de-
prive it of it's own resources
DANGER OF DISEASE.
Perhaps few people recognize the fact
that there are responsibilities placed on
the American people in Hawaii that
are as great, if not greater, than those
borne by any other American commu-
nifty. The vast Pacific, to which two
thirds of the worlds population is trib-
utary, has not yet begun it's period of
great progress and commercial develop
ment. Divergent lines of commerce
from various ports, many of which are
filthy with disease and contagion, CEN
ter in Honolulu. Efficient as are the
Federal officials in preventing diseases
from entering. yet there is duty i'm
posed on us, which we will not shirk, !
of keeping this semi-tropical port, with
its large proportion of alien Oriental
popula Hon in such a sanitary condition
that disease can find TO foothold.
American occupation of Hawaii
should be guarantee to the world
that it will never be point for the
of disease.
EDUCATION.
Isolated in the manner these islands
are, it is incumbent upon the people
OF this community to maintain a
standard of education that will offset
the disadvantages of isolation. Two
I n miles nf make i'm !
possible for the rank and file of citi- /
zens in this Territory to secure the
benefits that are afforded by travel, |
and a free exchange of |
thought and speech, which are enjoyed /
by contiguous communities that are di-
vided from each other only by mag
mary lines. Thus if we are to build
a community here homogeneous in all
with those on the mainland.
every energy and every resource should
be applied to this end.
LAND SETTLEMENT.
Among other aims of the administra
ton in Hawaii is that of applying the
of public lands, wherever
practicable to furnish the basis for the
upbuiding of a middle class of citi-
zens; to increase Hawaii's popula ton
with those who can take an active part
and interest N civic affairs; to bring
ahout cond.1io..s which will permit of /
these islands being filled with small
homes. the ocCupiers of which will be :
eontented and happy for the reason
that each year they spend little less
han they receive. This is the end
which is now kept i'll view in dispos-
ing of the remnants of our Govern
nent's lands.
Undoubtedly there are many difficult
lies to be overcome in reaching such
4 goal. But when greed shall yield
little to patriotism: when permanency i
and stability shall be accepted by those
Who control our main industries as the
equal of any asset on their balance Il
sheet; and when they earnestly join
heir forces with those who are seeking
these ends, then all obstacles will dis /
appear and a way be found to reach, Il
chaos, those conditions which 81
may at times seem impossible.