The Hawaiian gazette., 1907-06-25
SENATOR FROM WASHINGTON
TALKS ABOUT LOCAL NEEDS

Seattle Post Inteligencer-Senator
Samuel H. Piles, the only member of
the United States Senate who accom-
panied the Congressional party in its
VISIT to the Hawaiian Islands at the in
vtation of their people, to study the
actual conditions and needs there in
matters of legislation, returned to Sc
attic late yesterday afternoon. He ar
rived from San Francisco, which city
he and the rest of the party had reach
ed from Honolulu on the transport
Sherman Saturday afternoon. Accom-
panying him were Representative A. S.
Alexander of Buffalo, New York, and
Representative George L. Lilley of Con-
necticut, who are passing through Sc
attic on their way home.
"As a result of what / learned on
the trip, and the favorable impression
/ gained of the Hawaiian Islands and
their people, said Senator Piles last
night, II shall take great pleasure in
contributing my small mite in doing all
[ can to further their interests in
projects involving national legislation.
They are not asking for anything un-
TedSOndDle, anu tHtTe are ihdHy liiihSs
which they need.
In the three weeks we spent going
from island to island on the little
steamers, visiting the interior, the su-
gar plantations, and learning of their
industries, the members of our party
gained better knowledge of the coun-
try as a whole than nine-tenths of the
people have who have lived there all
their lives.
"The greatest need l saw in the is
lands was that of harbor improve
ments. outside of Honolulu no other
harbor exists. Although good steam
ers run from there to the other ports,
it is necessary everywhere but at Ho-
nolulu to embark and disembark in the
ships boats.
''At Hilo, the second city in import
ance in the islands, the government |
has undertaken to make sort of har-
Dor by building breakwater. For this |
purpose, the last session of Congress
100000. A million will be !
required before 1t is completed. l be-
lieve the volume of the commerce JUS
titles such an expenditure, and / want
to see harbors developed in the same
way on some of the other islands.
LACK OF SHIPPING FACILITIES.
Another drawback to the islands at
present is the lack of shipping facili-
ties Aside from army transports, very |
few American ships touch at the Is
lands. In fact, few foreign vessels
touch there. The coastwise shipping
laws prevent boats of foreign register
from taking passengers to and from
the islands. Especially since the fall
ure of the shipping subsidy bill, taking
away the hope of increase in the num-
ber OF American ships. residents are
anxious to be relieved OF the require
ments of the coastwise regulations.
Another thing for which the people
are working Is adequate fortihcations,
for Pearl Harbor, at Ho-
nolulu. This can be perfectly protect
ed with comparatively little effort. The
need for II is one OF the points which |
the citizens sought to impress on the
members OF our party"
senator Piles is enthusiastic In his |
OF the people OF Hawaii, in
Guiding the natives; OF the public /
school system and the American pa
triotism taught there; OF the system
of maeadamized roads. which he found |
everywhere; OF the climate. and OF the |
with which visitors are |
greeted on every hand. He spoke OF |
the sugar industry, the exported prod
uet of which amounts 10 nearly $685. |
600 0oO annually, ana called attention
To the fact that the customs receipts |
are about 100000 annually, emitting |
the Islands 10 consideration In their |
demands for expenditures hy Congress |
BUSINESS WITH THE SOUND.
'rhosa people are anxious 10 do bus
iness with tho sound eltles,i said the /
Senator, Il was pleased 10 ind goods |
from the sound ln lhe Htures II Homo |
lulu The people were gratiued when
! told Them the Seattle chamber of |
fnmmrlre had planned an excursion ~ |
business men "a ~ dnan theirs neal /
February They propose a. shoW thai /
u Nill BE- mutually advantageous 90