The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-04-08
HOUSE DISCUSSION
ON PEARL HARBOR

The following discussion occurred in
Congress, on the bringing up of Pearl
Harbor improvements by. Congress-
man Graft, of Illinois:
With reference to the Hawaiian ISL
ands, we realized that the country is
greatly interested in Pearl Harbor and
it's becoming a naval base of the Unit
ed States, and we all know that while
other considerations may have entered
into the reasons for our acquisition of
the Hawaiian Islands, after all it's i'm
portance as a strategic base in the
midst of the Pacific was the controll-
ing cause.
The question whether we should,
during the present year, make appro-
priations for the Qualifications of the
entrance to Pearl Harbor came before
us and was very carefully considered
and at great length, and we based our
conclusions upon the testimony of the
officials of the War Department, and
those alone. 1t developed before the
hearing was taken that there was no
IGllcDlC llllOl luC1J1Oh do W JlC CObAlilubNo
of cost or amount of excavation which
might be made in order to deepen and
widen the entrance to Pearl Harbor
We were informed by an official at the
Navy Department that in his judgment
it would require something like a mil
lion and a half cubic yards. Later, by
cable, information was sought in the
Hawaiian Islands as to what amount
of excavation would be required and
what would be the probable cost of the
improvements to Pearl Harbor. We
found that the figures increased as we
got nearer to the base where the facts
existed, whatever, they were.
Mr.. Clark of Missouri. l would like
to ask the gentleman a question OF
two. Does the gentleman's committee
propose to make a really strong base
x Pearl Harbor?
Mr.. Graft. We have nothing to dc
with that, because the committee has
no Jurisdiction over the subject.
Mr.. Clark of Missouri. You are APP
propriating the money.
Mr.. Graft. We are not now appro-
priating any money for Pearl Harbor
except for the purpose OF putting IN
fire control, electrical power and SO
forth, to operate a battery of two guns
which exists there already and which
is used there now for the incidental
protection of Honolulu.
Mr.. Clark of Missouri. That was the
gument in favor of anneXing the Sand
wich Islands was that by proper eX-
penditure of money Pearl Harbor could
be made as strong as Gibraltar.
Mr.. Graft. | have just said that.
Mr.. Clark of Missouri. That was the
argument they rolled me on when !
was fighting the annexation OF those
islands.
Mr.. Graft. l think we all agree with
you.
Mr. Clark of Missouri Now, you nave
had them for ten years. They said
that was the key to the Pacific, that
thew had to have them for national
defense. They have had them for ten
wears and have never taken any sub
stantial steps to make that place as
strong as Gibraltar, or as strong as
anywhere else.
Mr.. Graft. Does not the gentleman
recognize that this committee can
have no jurisdiction over any part OF
the subject except Notifications, when
in logical order comes afterwards
when there is something to tortityT
Mr.. Clark of Missouri. That Is wha'
want you to do-to appropriate
money enough at this session OF Con-
gress. l do not care whether this COM
mittee has jurisdiction of it or not OF
what committee has jurisdiction OF IT,
I want that committee to appropriate
enough money to carry out the state
ment and promise that enabled the an,
nexationists to down us in 1898 ana
annex those islands.
Mr.. Graft. I want to say to the gen
tleman from Missouri that there is now
pending in the House, reported IRON
the Committee on Naval Affairs by th'
gentleman from Pennsylvania INF
Bates), bill which proposes to &c