The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-03-08
BONAPARTE'S
BOMBSHELL
Ruling on immigration
Law Causes Great
Commotion.

There was an earnest meeting of the
Board of immigration yesterday tC
consider the news from Washington
that the Attorney General had ruled
against assisted immigration by States
The original message to the Adver-
tiser was exhibited; also a corrobora-
Hatch. A telegram of inquiry was
sent to Commissioner Sargent asking
if the ruling of the Attorney General
affects the present shipment of Span
iards, and if SO, if anything can be
done? The Board of immigration has
obligated itself in the matter to the
extent of about $4,000, twenty-five
per cent of which sum has been paid
Should the Spaniards come here and
be turned back the financial loss
would he very heavy.
Besides the steamer Heliopolis al
Malaga loading-she was expected to
be there yesterday or today-with her
twelve hundred and odd Spanish emf
grants for Hawaii, a deposit has been
made securing the charter of the
steamer Kumeric to bring a mixed load
of Spanish and Portuguese from Ma
laga and Madeira respectively.
E. d. Tenney, president of the Board
of Immigration, seen after the meet
ing, had no opinion to offer on the
Attorney Generals ruling, as the
board had taken the means above
mentioned of finding out just where 1t
stood, especially with regard to the
charters of the Heliopolis and the
Kumeric. After discussing the cable
grams received, Mr.. Tenney said, the
only decision the Commissioners of I'm
migration reached was to cable to
Washington for the definite informa-
ton required in the present emer-
gency.
Commissioners J. P. Cooke and A. l..
c. Atkinson gave the same account of
the meeting as the president had.
VARIOUS OPINIONS.
porter had obtained the views of a
number of gentlemen interested in the
sugar industry upon the ruling of Mr..
Bonaparte as they understood the
brief cabled statements. The inter
views are given below. Although the
opinions differ relative to the effect of
the ruling on the Hawaiian immigra-
ton policy, there is a remarkable
agreement for so many Independent
speakers on the proposition that,
whether it stands or falls under the
new Federal law, that policy was in
practically under the tute-
age of the Washington administration
md, therefore, that President Roos-
welt and Commissioner Sargent are
likely to leave nothing undone which
nay prevent serious embarrassment to
Hawaii if the new immigration law
ctually nullifies present arrange
nents for bringing Europeans into the
'erritory. An expectation is also pro-
ounced that, at the next session, |
congress will repair the seemingly |
erious defect in the immigration bill, |
pparently allowed through either |
or blunder, which is oppos- !
d to the welfare of many states and !
erritories.
ROOSEVELT AS FRIEND.
F. A. Schaefer (former president of /
hawaiian Sugar Planters Associa-
ion)-"Of course it will affect us here. |
he immediate question is whether the
uling of the Attorney General will |
revent the landing of the people who
ave been induced to come before the
NV went into effect, those who are
opposed to be about leaving Europe
ow in the steamer Heliopolis.
Il should think President Roosevelt
nd Commissioner Sargent would move
eaven and earth to help US out, since
hey urged the European immigration
lovement so strongly on Hawaii.
1T is to be hoped it is only an over
ght in rushing the bill through. ana
so the law will probably be amend
1 at next session"
GATNST WASHINGTON POLICY.
Charles NJ. Cooke president Of the
ank of HawaiD-"I am rather sur
rised at it. On what ground is the
lling made? It seems to be directly
gainst the wishes Of the President
-ith regard to Hawaii. The way IL
ill affect Hawaii is that all labor i'm
ligration must be conducted actually
V the Territory through the Board OF
do not look on that as
cry serious. 1t will only put US back
here we were before this law was
assed. That decision on the South
arolina law surprised us here, giving
nexpected support as it did 10 our
lethod We were in a good position
ccording TO that ruling. The plan