The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-02-09
Japan's Statesmen Want Peace.

Furthermore there is every reason for
believing that the Japanese statesmen
and those who are responsible for the
conduct of their government want to
live on terms of peace with the United
States and are doing their utmost to
foster and encourage friendly relations.
The hue and cry over there about war
comes from the irresponsible elements
who do not stop to count the cost or
the consequences. Undoubtedly Amer
leans have much more to fear in the
commercial conquest for control of the
Pacific than in any martial operations.
In recent years the japanese have
gradually been establishing their COM
mercial supremacy on the Pacific. Ev.
cry little while reports come to Wash.
ington of their advances in that regard
and it is claimed the day is not far
distant when the Japanese will be
reaching out for the control of the
trade to South America. Their enter
prise in that direction is, perhaps, as
likely as anything else to cause a clash
between the Caucasian and the Moneo-
liam. For our captains of industry ex-
pect to make a conquest of the western
coast of South America as soon as the
Panama Canal is opened. The encour-
agement of American shipping on the
Pacific by Congressional subsidies is
thought to be the matter of only few
years now. 1t may even be begun at
this session of Congress.
Anti-Roosevelt Row Pau.
In the light of events mentioned al.
ready, the political and Congressional
activities of the last few days appear
more or less tame, and yet there has
been much of more than ordinary in
terest. Congress has ceased "fooling,"
after some six weeks of that character
of procedure, aud both its houses have
become about as busy hives of industry
as can be found in all the land. The
slogan on the hill now is "work, work,
work. and millions of dollars are be-
ing appropriated daily toward the sup
port of the many departments of the
government for the fiscal year 1910,
which begins July l next.
The scolding has ceased. The leaders
have choked it off as expeditiously as
they could The Republican Senators
and Representatives were first silenced
and gradually the Democratic scolds
have also been ceasing. This has re-
suited in more satisfactory situation
to all concerned. The three committees
two of the Senate aud one of the
House-that have been charged with in
quiries growing out of differer9es with
the President-are hard at work krt
they are not exploiting their efforts and
i probably little will be heard of these
committees till they are ready to re,
port. These reports will come in at
the end of the session. when all Wash
| ington is absorbedin the interesting in
cidents pertaining to the inauguration
of the President and the change of ad
ministration. Congress itself will be
nightly engaged in completing its legis
| lative work. so that the reports of the
special committees will command slight
attention. In other words the heft OF
the anti Roosevelt agitation has ap
parently passed.
Pay and Perquisites.
The greatest debate of the session
| thus far has been over the raising OF
| salaries of the most prominent of gov
eminent officials, including the Presi
dent, Vice President, Speaker of The
House. and all members of the judiciary
| The Senate dwelt for days and day:
| upon an amendment to authorize those
increases, threshing out the minutes
details, such as the wisdom of provid
ing carriages for government Officials
and the comparative utility of horses
and automobiles As the Senate fnall.
agreed, by close vote, an amendmen
was adopted making the salary of thu
| President 100000 where it is nov
$4,000; of the Vice President and thu
Speaker, $4,000 each, but allowin!
them no official carriages at public ex
pense; of the Chief Justice of the Su
preme Court of the United State
$500 and each of the associate Jus
tees $14,500; the twenty-nine Unite,
States Circuit Judges, $4,000 each, an,
the eighty-four United States Distrie
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