Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-18
The United States and Hawaii.

There is now pending before the House
Of Representatives a bill TO establish fund
for public works In the territory of Ha-
vail. with favorable report from the COM
mittee on territories. That bill should be
promptly passed by both House and Senate
and signed by the President. II passed its
signature IS assured, for the measure was
recommended by the President in his an
uual message. 1t is neritorious in every
aspect and 81 should have been passed some
years ago. The least Congress can do at
this time is to make haste to atone for the
delay and the loss consequently entailed
upon the people of Hawaii.
During the five years since annexation
Hawaii has paid into the federal treasury
In tho form of customs dues and Internal
revenue taxes the sum of $6.323. 2.32, or
an average of S1,2J0.0oo q year. The cost
OF Hawaiian administration to the federal
government, including the collection of these
dues and taxes. has averaged only S4i00tp
year. leaving a net balance OF over $780,
90 a year which has been annually shipped
Ia gold coin 10 the subtreasury at San Fran
cisco. In return for this total contribution
Of some S4.1O0,0o0 by the Hawaiians to the
United States government they have re-
ceived little or nothing in the way of public
works OF the character which makes Tor
progress and prosperity.
The purpose OF the pending bin Is TO set
apart a certain percentage Of the federal
revenues from Hawaii. 70 per cent being
named hy the President and the committee
a. a fair measure. for the purpose of exc
cutting the works Of a public nature which
every civilized community requires The
committee sets forth In its report
Among the Immediate needs for Hawaii
are. School buildings. SISS.00. roads TO
open new lands 10 settlement. $3.50 900;
asylum for the insane, 5000: harbor i'm
provements at Honolulu and Eio. 81 co.,
OOU. smaller harbors and landings for island
shipping. 500 GOO; federal buildings SLIGO
Dp0: lighthouses, $430,010, total, 81, lis 600
To ,he above should be added $4,000
for fortifcations. and at least 81. 800 coo for
the beginning of a repair station and naval
base at Pearl Harbor, appropriations for
both Of which objects wiz be available
from this fund under the provisions of the
bIu.
First in Importance among these items
stands the need for aid to the schools. For
many years Hawaii has imposed upon her
citizens a heavier per capita tax for schools
than any state in the Union.
The nation expects a higher standard
aud more general distribution of educa-
ton In Hawaii than in Porto Rico. yet we
are putting into the federal treasury the
very funds from Hawaii that i'm Porto Rico
are given to that island for its educational
and general expenses
A fiscal policy that is sound for Porto
Rico should be sound also for Hawaii. che
mere fact that a greater breadth of polit-
teal rights. has been given Hawaii does not
relieve her financial strain. Nor does it
Seem Just that a country which volunta-
rily gave over its own sovereignty to enter
the linton should be made to labor under
harder financial conditions than one ac-
quirrd by conquest
a community in which the citizens are
oYertaXed and with limited school faciIi-
ties can never become a thoroughly Amer
lean territory"
The ease of Hawaii appeals with singular
force to the sentiments OF the American
people The conduct OF the citizens of the
little republic during the war with Spain
was Of a nature to make friends for It on
the mainland. Although in the eye of the
law Of nations strict neutral Hawaii re-
81 nnded to the ties OF blood and common
Interest and offered its harbors and shores
as "a hospitable refuge for the American
ships passing to and from the far east Ia
doing Hawaii placed herself in the keep
ing N the United States. Annexation fol-
lowed natural result and with an
ueNHticH was morally conveyed a pledge OF
support and aid Thus far virtually MOTH
ing has been done to give that pledge
practical effect. House bill 14015 offers a
means Of expressing the sentiments of the
nited States toward the territory, but its
passage is demanded by higher consdera-
to0s than mere charity or benevolence. AS
the committee suggests. it is the duty Of
The United States ~ make Of Hawaii a
q oroughly American community. and the
slrest means of doing so IS to give the peo-
pie tangible evidence IN works OF the In
terest which the United States takes In the
welfare OF its distant Pacific adjunct