The Hawaiian gazette., 1909-08-13
NJ CLELLAN WINS
SIGNAL VICTORY
BY Ernest O. walker.
laII special TO the Adycrtl.erl

WASHlNHTON, July 3l.-Mr. George
u. Mcclellan is the happiest man In
Washington since the tariff conference
report came out. Folks who know
something about the situation think he
has a right TO this happy state of mind.
For even TO his own surprise he has
won n very big victory on the pineapple
duties, It was bigger than he had any
hope of getting.
The moment the conference report
was accessible yesterday, Mr. McClel.
Ian delved into its pages, sought out
the pineapple items. and the moment
he could recover his surprise and as
constituent ran away to the cable office
to inform Delegate Kalanianaole what
had happened.
There are forceful critics of high pro.
lection duties in Washington, and they
are already fitting against the pine
apple rates as out-Dingleying Dingley.
But even these critics do not know
how high the new rates are, and Mr..
Mcclellan is not telling anybody who
could not keep the secret away from
the leather-lunged orators of the house
and Senate. Of course, the duties could
not be beaten now, if the truth were
known, but there is no necessity for
asking the tariff critics to shoot away
their ammunition at Hawaii, when
Florida is nearer home. Most folks
think the pineapple duties were chiefly
for the benefit of Florida.
The conferees on the tariff agreed on
the exact language that Mr.. Mcclellan
submitted to the House Ways and
Means Committee last December. The
provision for preserved pineapples pro-
vides a duty of one cent pound and
35 per centum. Mr.. Mcclellan said this
afternoon that this new rate would
mean an additional duty of about $50
per cent. on that product. The new
law specifies goods "preserved or pack
ed in sugar, or having sugar added
thereto, or preserved or packed in mo-
lasses, spirits, or their own juices, if
containing no alcohol, or containing
not over 10 per centum of alcohol. =" The
provision, it should be explained, ap.
plies to other preserved fruits than
pineapples.
Yesterday Mr.. Mcclellan gained pos
session of reports of shipments from
Singapore and the Bahamas and the
prices at which those goods were en-
tered under the present Dingley duty
of % per cent. demonstrates that the
one cent pound alone will be equal to
the present 25 per cent. ad valorem
and more.
The conference restored the House
paragraph upon fresh pineapples, which
reads: Pineapples in barrels and
other packages, eight cents per cubic
foot of the capacity of barrels or pack.
ages; in bulk, So per thousand"
Mr.. Mcclellan learns that the House
conferees proved very good friends OF
the Islands during the fight over the
pineapple items. They stood out fol
the terms that would be beneficial to
the Hawaiian industry Mr.. McClel
lan's visit to New York to enlist the
aid of some of the powerful transpor.
tation lines also proved helpful fol-
they brought influence to bear upon
certain of the Indifferent Senators who
were willing the Hawaiian industry
should be sacrificed.
In other matters in the tariff bill
which will be law before this letter
reaches Honolulu, the midpacific terri
tory has Jared well. The sugar SEIZED
ule was not at all in controversy in
conference and its terms have been
known for weeks. Sulphate of am
monia, used for fertilizer in consider.
able quantities, remains on the free list
in lieu of the present duty of $40 OF
cent pound.
The long delay in the adjournment OF
Congress has again interfered with the
plans for taking a Congressional party
to Hawaii. Mr.. Mcclellan has beer
compelled to rearrange his list. Some
who planned to go have been detained
in Washington so long that they nov
decline A few invitations are being
withheld till after Speaker Cannon hal
named his committees, for it is hoped
to get as many of the members of tn,
| Navy Committee and the Rivers ani
Harbors Committee as possible. Som,
new men will probably be added Il
those committees by the Speaker. H,
will announce his committees in abou
| week, or when Congress is ready Il
adjourn, which will be about mex
Thursday, at the earliest.
The Chief of Engineers of the Arm,
has announced that favorable prelimn
| hig nave bttu Hldut OF
harbors at Kahului and Eleele. Order
have been sent by cable to have de
tailed surveys made. For these sur
veys the War Department has allotte,
$4,000 for Kahului and $4,000 for Ele
ele.
An opinion prevails around the CAPT
tol that the ship subsidy bill in som
form is likely to be enacted into law a
the next session of Congress. 1t will b
surprising if the old argument that tn
party can not afford to enact such
law just before Congressional cleo
ton does not hold good. However, tn
subject is already being agitated an
WILL at least, be exclusively consid
cred at the next session. 1t will affor
opportunity for advancing the claim
Of Hawaii for better shipping accom-
modations.