The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1906-01-06

mainland markets free. The cost of
labor in the Philippines will be less
than here, the margin of profit on SUI
gar therefore higher. The amount of
production will increase rapidly and
soon supply the consumption of the
Western States, and poor little Hawaii
will be left bearing her burdens of
taxes and contributions far i'm excess
of the Philippines and yet obliged to
compete with them.
Meanwhile, unless an increase of po-
pulation can be obtained from some
source the excess of departures over
arrivals among the Orientals will sap
the foundations of our Industrial struc-
ture. And the American people are
expecting to in some way hold up the
structure and maintain it until a new
foundation can be laid. We are all
ready to admit that American archi-
tects and engineers perform wonder
full feats, and possibly American states
men can do as well, but there is no in
dication as yet of their paying any at
tention to the problem that is present.
ed here in Hawaii.
mus TIE lllSl llllllB ueeueu Is Il IlOul@
ttcation of our immigration laws by
which we can in some way build up the
population of these islands and re-en-
force the supply of labor that is now
slipping away from us.
The second question is finances.
Hawaii shares i'm Americas debt and
she contributes her full share to the
support of the Federal Government.
Since annexation the contributions
from customs revenues alone have
amounted to $6,O5917151 more than
half as much again as the entire debt
of the Republic of Hawaii which the
United States assumed at that time.
History shows that England has found
by experience that she failed with
every dependency from which she eX-
acted tribute and on which she depend
ed for financial support.
An able senator, chairman of the
committee on Pacific Isands and Porto
Rico once made a statement to this
effect: I'VE are taking a million dol.
lars "a year out of Hawaii which we do
not need and do not want and should
find a way of stopping it,"
Is there any area of 664O square miles
on the mainland (this is about the size
of Connecticut and Rhode Island to-
gether) which, with only $4,000 people
could stand w for five years under
such strain as Hawaii has met.
Were it not for the exceptional pro-
ductiveness of the soil in these Islands
the high price of sugar and the low
price of labor, it could not have been
a h. nj cd in,
the face of the constantly increasing
price of labor is a question which the
future alone can answer.
4 few figures which l gathered to-
gether over a year ago from the best
available data showed that every per-
son in Hawaii was taxed for local pur-
poses $15.2O and a further indirect tax
for the support of the Federal Govern
ment of $7.9O-a total of $23.1O year
In Porto Rico the total taxes collect
ed amounted to 1929 per capita per an
num- and the whole of that ,as they
contribute nothing to the support of
the Federal Government, was eXpend-
ed i'm their own development.
Our people have underworld to make
good this drain on Hawaifs tinanc as
by asking Congress for liberal appro-
priations, such as for public buildings.
These demands have been met with the
reply that cities with "A much larger
population have been clamoring Tor
years for such recognition without sue
cess, and though congressman Will adj
nit the justice of our position, YET
they claim they cannot vote for pup
lie building i'm Hawaii until the claims
of their own constituents are first met
We believe that with the large num-
Der of people from other countries
passing through here on the steam
ers that stop at Honolulu the stars
and Stripes should float from a Fed
eral building commensurate with the
culture of our great Union and that
would dignity America i'm the eyes OF
foreigners. In addition to this there
is actual need for such building. The
old ramshackle structures that were
used by the kingdom and republic Of
Hawaii as custom house were taker
over by the Federal Government AM
are stiI in use. The building that tn
community had previously erected a
a post office is now entirely inadequate
J and inconvenient besides Since annex
alton the Federal courts have occu
t pied 1852 square feet of space on tn
2 ground floor of the Territory's judi
e ciary Building without as yet paying
r dollar for rent.
I Our people do not care to ask to b
t relieved from burdens that every othe
4 American bears and therefore l haV
- in my annual report made as the frs
recommendation in needed legisatio
+ for Hawaii the following suggestions
e That Congress pass an act undo
- which the Secretary shall cause to b
; set aside for period of twenty year
S seventy-fve per cent Of the Federi
e revenues from Hawaii as specie
S fund, to be expended i'm this Territor
e as directed by Congress for the FOL
Y lowing purposes:
e First-The erection Of educationi
p and public buildings,