The Hawaiian gazette., 1908-12-01

a HuWieT OF important mHIterS were
dealt with at the meetings of the Mer-
chants Association and the Chamber of
Commerce yesterday in addition tb the
main subject of debate, the Federal
building site matter. Principal among
the questions to come up was one deal
ing with the present attitude of the as
sociations toward the question of the
suspension of the coastwise shipping
laws as applicable TO Hawaii, and an
other important matter at the Mer-
chants Association had to do with the
appointment of an industrial agent for
Oahu in conjunction with the Promo
tion Committee and the Chamber of
Commerce. On neither of these mat
tiers was definite action taken by the
merchants, the two being referred to a
special committee to report upon on
Monday, while the Chamber of Com
merce recalled their anti-coastwise laws
resolution
The matter of the coastwise laws was
brought. up in the Merchants Associa-
ton by the reading of the following
communication:
Matson Line New Steamer.
cat meeting of your association,
held on August 80, 1907, action was
taken authorizing the petitioning of fhe
Congress of the United States to enact
such legislation enabling the President
of the United States to suspend, in his
discretion, from the date of the procla.
nation thereof, the Coastwise Shipping
Laws as applied to passenger traffic
between ports of the Territory of Ha-
wall and the mainland.
Undoubtedly conditions were such,
previous to and at that time, demand
ing that some relief in this connection
be afforded the community and resi-
dents of these ISLANDS, necessitating
such action on the part of the com
mercial and business interests, but, in
view of the apparently changed condi-
tion of affairs at present existing and
prospective, as outlined below, relative
to the facilities now offering for pas
senger transportation between ports in
the Hawaiian Islands and the Pacific
Coast of the mainland, might we now
respectfully request reconsideration of
such action by your honorable body,
with the end in view of resembling the
samei
cat the session of the present Con.
gress held in May last, the bill in ques.
tion passed the House of Representa-.
tives by vote of 1913 to 40, but failed
of passage in the Senate. AS the final
session of the present Congress con-
venes again in December next, un.
doubtedly this bill will be brought up
for consideration in the Senate, and
for the reasons stated below, may we
ask the support of your honorable body
for the defeat or withdrawal of said
bill?
"This company, as you may be
aware, is one incorporated under the
laws of the State of California, us. A.
and has been operating steamers ani
sailing vessels sailing under the Amer
lean flag between points on the Pacific
Coast and ports in the Hawaiian Islands
for several years past. Within the las
year and half, it has been the specia
aim of this company, as far as it wa!
consistent to do so with the facilitie!
at hand and Inducements offering fol
Legitimate returns on ary Investment o.
capital involved thereby TO develop tn,
passenger transportation business be
tween these Islands an San Francisco
Recently, and since the passage of thu
Irction of your honorable body above re
| ferred to, we have placed in the loca
service between this port and Sal
Francisco the new and modern freight
ing and passenger steamer named tn
Lurline, capable of carrying sixty first
class passengers. Within the last tw'
months, definite action has also beer
taken by the company toward the con
struction Immediately of new an,
modern passenger steamer capable o
carrying from l25 to $50 first-class pas
sengers, to operate on what is know
as a six day schedule between San Fran
cisco and Honolulu. This steamer vii
compare about in size, with the S. S
China now being operated by the Pa
cific Mail Steamship Company, althoug
of slightly changed type, and no pain
will be spared in her construction, look
ing toward comfort and convenience i
her passenger-carrying facilities, wit
special reference to steadiness. Th
plans and specifications covering thi
new steamer are now ready, and we ar
prepared to assure the business con
munity of the city of Honolulu tina
orders for her construction will be plat
ed Immediately, and it is contemplate
that she will be completed and in opel
ation probably not later than yea
from January next.
cit might not be amiss to call after
ton to the fact that this company ha
now in operation between San Frar
cisco, Honolulu and Hilo three passer
ger steamers, in addition to which tn
travelling public are also afforded OF
portunity for transportation by til
operation of the s. 5. Alameda, belong
ing to the Oceanic Steamship Compan.
and the steamships Korea, Siberia, MOI
golia, Manchuria and China, operate
on the Oriental run by the Pacific Ma
Steamship Company.
"While we appreciate the fact tina
on account of the location of the Hi
waiian Islands in relation to the mai
T land of the United States, eontinge
2 cies may arise occasionally bringir
! about temporarily congestion of pa
senger traffic, in view of the determin
ton and adoption of policy by tn
g company toward the development ar
improvement of our local passenger Sc
n vice between these Islands and the p
cife Coast, may we not, in justice, n
peal TO your honorable body and to Il
|, h,et,,as., n ~ ,,,p,untty of tho Ha waiiau