The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1907-08-14
GOVERNOR CARRIERS
STRONG LETTER
CONTINUED from Page oneJ


learning that they have booked with
fifty or sixty other passengers de-
string to leave and that the steamer
can only take three or four additional
passengers at Honolulu, thus being
obliged to await another steamer OF
American register, lose their time and
be greatly Inconvenience by the de-
lay, during which they often see a
British or Japanese passenger steamer
arrive and depart. In fact, may say
the agitation of this question was
started, not by the residents of Ha-
wall, but by visitors here, who claimed
it was the first time they had found
that being an American (and in an
American port) was a distinct disad-
vantage.
ut cannot reasonably be argued that
the application of the coastwise law
was ever intended for part which had
no rail communication with other parts
of America As / have already stated
to you, in the development of our coun-
try there have been few features OF
more potency than the free interchange
and travel of our people from one part
of the country to onther. This has
not only made us homogeneous but
has brought about the immense trade
between the various states and terri
tories. 1t cannot be claimed that it
was the intention of Congress in the
passage of this Act to hamper or res
trict this free interchange of our COM
merce. The American drummer, the
wonder of the business world, finds it
most irritable to stop off with his sam
pies in Hawaii expecting to catch
steamer which he sees scheduled to
leave in a few days, and then learns
that he can only travel on that vessel
by the payment of fine of 5000. He
cables his principal that his expenses
go on and his time is lost
IF during the eight years that this
law has been applied to Hawaii the
passenger service from these islands to
the mainland has been bettered or in
creased because of this protection, you
would not find public spirited men in
Hawaii opposing it. So far as l am
aware, there has not been murmur
raised by the sugar planters against
the restriction to American bottoms,
though it costs ,hem 100000 a year
a tax practically of 81 per capita OF
our population.
"Our people do not ask an exemption
for freight, but we do maintain COM
mon sense dictates that ordinary
judgment be used in the application of
our national laws.
Il presume those who have money
| invested in American ships will feel
that they are acting rightly and hui
namely when, by insisting on it's ap-
plication, they subject the local naval
authorities to keep one of their sailors
here for three weeks in dying con-
dition after his physician has stated
that the only way to save his life was
to send him to the coast The appli-
cation of the naval authorities for an
exception had been denied and no
transport or other American bottom
would touch here for that length OF
time, although there have been two
or more opportunities for placing him
on an English vessel and thus saving
his life perhaps.
ono community ,ogro+ ,,,oro +hon
this the action of Congress in failing
to provide a subsidy, which would
probably have maintained the Spreck-
els Brothers steamers in service. But
in view of the fact that they have been
obliged to take their steamers off, and
the reputed statements of the Pacific
Mail Steamship Company's officials
that the passenger traffic from Homo
lulu is a matter of utter Indifference
to them and plays no part in their cal
culations, as well as other considera-
tions, is not this Territory justified in
demanding of the Secretary of Com.
merce and Labor that he use the dis
erection which Congress has given him.
and remit all fines until such time as
in his judgment the service of Anne
rican steamers calling at this port
warrants the application of the law in
its full rigor.
Very sincerely yours,
&c. r. CARTER,
Governor"