The Hawaiian gazette., 1907-08-09


one Of the largest and most repre-
sentative bodies of business men ever
gathered together at an afternoon
meeting in Honolulu assembled yester-
day in the makai pavilion Of the Young
Hotel roof garden TO greet Secretary
CT Commerce and Labor Straus and
through their spokesmen, L. a. Thurs
ton and J. i. NcCandless, present TO
him the commercial needs OF the TeIri-
tory. The meeting had been called by
the Chamber OF Commerce and the
Merchants Association, and the COM
bined membership OF the two organiza-
<isns was present.
The addresses Of the representatives
OF the commercial bodies placed IN a
graphic and concrete way the pressing
needs Of Hawaii before the Secretary.
Both speakers dealt particularly upon
The hardship to Hawaii Of the enforce
1nent Of the Coastwise Shipping Law
and IN his reply Mr.. Straus pledged
himself 70 assist the efforts OF the Ter
ritory to have this hardship removed.
In his closing address the Secretary
was laudatory OF the islands and most
complimentary in his thanks. lie prom
5sed 70 work as q friend for the Is
lands and especially in the matter Of
providing Us with better steamship
service.
George W. Smith, president of the
Chamber of Commerce, presided at the
meeting, with tim and Secretary Straus
on the platform being Governor Carter.
L. a. THURSTON'S ADDRESS.
There were no Introductory remarks
by the chairman, Mr.. Thurston being
first called upon. He spoke as follows:
= do not propose TO make any set
address here today, but do propose 10
present what seems necessary TO me OF
the few things we would like Secre-
Izry Straus TO know OF our conditions
and Of our necessities. In these things
we court the personal invesugs ton of
Washington, from the members of the
Executive and from the members OF
Congress. We are only sorry so few
have come. We are constantly sending
individuals 10 Washington, both in Of
zicial and in private capacities, but few
have come from Washington TO US
Secretary Taft has been here only Incl
dentally as he has passed 10 and from
the Philippines, and Secre tary Straus is
the first member Of the ee binet TO come
10 investigate for himself Up until
Hast year we have only had a few
straggling parties o. Congressmen, here
for pleasure and invesUigst Then
this year party OF thirty members OF
Congress came here officially and now
that We have d member Of the cabinet
here I feel that we are in better po-
sition TO be understood. am glad
that you are here. Mr.. Straus. and
hope that you Will enjoy yourself and
see enough 10 interest you into coming
back again
we do not want very much from
Congress You viii find that We are
here a contented community and
prosperous community, the most pros
porous Of any outside OF the mainland
in the United States. We are the only
seif-supporting community of the FIVE
outlying portions and possessions Of
the country. Guam and Samoa are
places only for the supplying and coal
ing OF our warshipr and for that pur-
pose they answer. Porto Rico ocCU pies
an anomalous condition, her citizens
are not citizens of the country, her
revenues are retained by herself and
even the revenue received as custom
duties on goods imported into the
United States are returned to her. The
Philippines. like Mahomet's coffin.
are neither in heaven nor on the earth,
and are possessions that will be a sink
into which the millions of United
states coin will pour for some time TO
come.
Hawaii. on the other hand, has
turned into the United States treas
ury every year since annexation, after
paying all the expenses of Federal adj
ninistration here. one million dollars.
we are not objecting TO this. We are
Americans and are willing to pay our
share of the taxes. II Is said that we
do not pay higher per capita tax