Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1907-08-17


boat plying between this port and the
mainland was the announcement
brought out yesterday afternoon at the
meeting of the directors Of the Mar.
| chants Association
The meeting, it was stated by the
| chairman, George W. Smith. WIS
called for the purpose of discussing
the matter Of attempting TO get the
coastwise shipping laws suspended. II
was suggested by Mr. Smith and
agreed to by the other directors that
It would be better to ask the President
and the Secretary Of Commerce and
Labor to suspend the shipping laws for
! a period of three years rather than at
the discretion of the President, as had
been at first suggested. The placing
of definite limit on the time of sus-
pension would give more confidence
it was thought, than il The laws were
liable to be enforced again at any
time.
In this connection the statement
was made concerning a local boat Mr..
Smith said he understood that a local
business firm intended to have a first
class passenger and freight steamer
built to run between Honolulu and
San Francisco. But as it would take
at least three years to have the boat
designed, built and got ready for bust
ha ,F he, tttp
shipping laws would not affect those
who are back of the enterprise
Although Mr.. Smith did not say who
the firm is that intends to have the
boat built, ii is understood that the
Castle & Cooke and Brewer interests
are back of the proposition.
When the matter of the suspension
of the coastwise shipping laws was
first taken up, Chairman Smith stated
that Secretary Straus had intimated
that it would be good thing for the
various commercial organizations to
prepare and forward to himself ami
the President memorials on the sub
Ject. and had also intimated that he
thought the Territory was entitled to
relief.
The idea, Mr.. Smith explained was
to have the coastwise shipping laws
suspended for a period of three years,
at the end of which time conditions
would be much different. 81 was told
this morning. said Mr. Smith, that
one Of our largest local firms has on
foot move to secure for the trade be-
tween here and the Coast a first-classI
local boat. But it will take at least
three years before the boat can be de-
signed, builded and prepared for use.
In the meantime the suspension of the
shipping laws would bring in the new
Australian line which otherwise will
pass us by
Mr.. Smith was in favor of setting
the three-year limit rather than leav-
ing the duration of the suspension OIL
uent, as otherwise there would be no
certainty and change in the admin
istration might at any time have the
result of putting the laws into force
again.
There was considerable discussion
over this matter, but the general opin
ion was that the three-year idea was q |
good one. The statement was made
that those who intend to have the
local boat had said that suspension OF
the shipping laws for three years
would not hurt them any, as they
would not be ready for three years.
81 believe" said Smith, that sus-
pension Of the laws for three years
would hasten the getting of a local
boat, for it would demonstrate what
a large amount of freight would be
handled Besides there would be a
great increase in the tourist trade,
which would open the eyes of the
steamship people to the business to be
done here
On motion of Mr.. Lucas Il commit
lee consisting of the Chairman and
the Secretary was instructed to draft
concerning the suspension
of the shipping laws to report back to
the Board of Directors.
Secretary Paris suggested that the
members of the association do what
they could to impress their views on
those who fear that a suspension OF |
:he coastwise shipping laws would in
jure the chances of getting a local
boat.
The subject of a change of quarters
was discussed at length and it was
that the association might
be able to get accommodations at the
Commercial Club. The idea was that
the library there might be used once
a month for the directors meeting
and the dining-room for general meet
ings. A committee consisting OF
Messrs. Cation and McInerny was
appointed to see the governors of the
Club and find out whether
any such arrangement could be made