The Hawaiian gazette., 1907-05-28
.COAST|NG LAW
OUT OF PLACE

"The shipping interests have been
unfair to these islands ana unfair in
their treatment OF the government.
said Congressman Stevens OF Mime
sofa, In a discussion OF the transporta-
ton question. Il was one Of the mem
bers OF the committee in which was
discussed the question of the extension
of the coasting law to Hawaii and
remember distinctly that the law was
made operative here on the distinct
promise of the shipping men that there
would be az all times sufficient ship
ping to handle the passenger and
freight traffic of these islands without
hampering in any way the shipper.
II find. however. that the banana in
dustry on this Island of Hawaii has
been ruined through lack of shipping
| facilities. This is one example of the
way the shipping interests have treat
ed this place. The actions of the
steamship companies have been a great
disappointment and can tell you that
the government is getting tired of this
kind of bunco business"
Congressman Stevens had been in
vestigating this question before he ex-
pressed himself in this way in Hiio
last week. He had also had his atten-
ton called to the matter of the favored
few securing the remission of the fine
of 5000 inflicted upon those taking pas
sage between here and the Coast on
steamships flying the British and Jap
anese flags, the Doric and the Coptic
ha no nf ha L
X. line the latter.
Our attention has been called to
this" he said. ut appears that good
many of the Federal officials have been
travelling on these foreign liners and
having their fines RENTED, while the
people have to wait for the American
liners or pay the penalty without any
hope of rebate. This is a gross I'M
fairness. If any officials are to be al
lowed to travel in this way everyone
ought to be allowed to do the same.
1T is our intention to have an in
vestigation made and have the names
of those who have had their fines re-
mitted put on record. We will also de-
mand the reasons why the rebates We're
granted, and II these reasons are not
satisfactory someone is going to suf-
fer"
Congressman Alexander of Buffalo is
also an advocate of removing the coast
ing regulations so far as Hawaii is
concerned.
In enforcing those regulations so far
away from the coast line proper a great
injustice has been done these islands,"
he said. $50 far as actual coasting
trade is concerned, their application has
been just, but it was surely never in
tended that these laws should be
stretched so far and applied half way
across the Pacific.
Through a good many of our Eastern
States run branches of the various Ca
madam railroads. Do you suppose for
lines would consent to any law which
would deprive them of the use of these
lines If they wanted to travel on them?
Why, the people there would think it an
outrage if any abridgment of their right
to use the most convenient line was de-
MED them, and why, then, should you
people here be deprived of your right
to travel on the first steamship that is
going the way you want to go?
There may possibly be some excuses
for making the law applicable here so
far as freight shipments are concerned,
but the law which makes passengers
wait here and watch ships sail without
them until an American liner comes
along is an unjust one"