The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1909-03-05

D. ~ VIC NW' lhf ifpttut tRUh
law was enacted ihc United saics
owned no coffee producing territory,
norcHsiiatiHg no duty on coffee ha u
! protective measure; and the current
revenue was sufficient without impos.
ing q tarih on coffee for revenue only;
cunscqucn. ~ coffee is now on the FREQ
list
"2. Since the enactment of tho pres.
cni tariff law the United States has nc
quircd large area of coffee producing
territory the Philippines, Porto
Rico, and Hawaii
80. 1t is our undcrs audng and DO.
lief that, with protective duty ON
coffee of, say, six cents per pound,
these three groups of islands could
proftably produce coffee enough to
eventually supply large proportion, IL
not the cnsire consumption, of tho
! United States.
-. We ask that from protective
tariff standpoint consideration be given
TO protecting those industries which
are peculiar to the tropical portion OF
the United States, as well MS to those
which are the products of the mainland
exclusively The chief industries which
come under this category are the pro-
duction of sugar, coffee and pineapples.
duty, protective as well as revenue
producing, is already levied upon sugar
and pineupples. We ask that coffee
may also receive recognition in this re-
| spect.
"5 Aside from the purely protec-
tive feature of the suggested duty, we
submit that no single item among the
whole list of imports, presents n better
opportunity for securing so large
| tstN
viduals as will a duty on coffee. A
duty of six cents pound on coffee
would produce revenue of between
$50000,00 aud 1000, 900 per annum.
"We submit, however, that there is
every reason to believe that imposing
the suggested import duty upon coffee
would not result in raising the price of
coffee to the consumer, or would result
but in slight increase. The reason
for this belief is, that Brazil, the
world S chief source of supply of coffee,
now leVles an export tax ON all coffee
exported from its ports, of approximate
~ five cent pound; the same having
been imposed Immediately after the
United States placed coffee ON the free
list.
"ln other words the import duty on
coffee formerly collected by the United
States, is now collected by Brazil, tho
price of coffee remaining unchanged.
"lt the United States now reimposes
an import duty Brazil will have TO
repeal its export duty, in whole or in
| greater part, for the industry in Brazil
cannot afford to pay both duties. Tho
coffee business of Brazil is so enormous
that to ruin it, as the imposition of
double duty would surely do, would
precipitate such financial crash as
would shake the credit of that country.
The Brazilian government simply can
not stand the pressure. With the re.
peal of the export duty, the price of
coffee would remain approximately the
same, the only change being that the
United States, instead of Brazil, would
once more be collecting the duty.
"Under these circumstances, we sub
init that, as additional revenue is
needed from some source the foregoing
facts show that duty ON coffee would
J result;
81 In a very large revenue to the
United States Treasury;
"2. In a slight, if any, increase in
price of coffee, which would be prac-
tically unfelt by the consumer;
"S. In incidentally protecting
now small and unprotected industry,
with the ultimate prospect of its be.
coming large and prosperous one, tho
profits of which would accrue TO Ameri.
can citizens instead of to foreigners.
Resolved, Further, That a copy of
these resolutions be sent to the Presi.
dent of the Senate to the Speaker of
the House, the Chairman of the WAYS
| and Mnnng L.. Il
gate to Congress from Hawaii, at
Washington, d. G."
Second Readings
House Bills SO, 81, 90 and 90 were
up for second readings. These are:
House Bill SO, Carley, relating to sus.
pension of sentences, provides that
i "anY Judge of a court Of record or dis.
trict magistrate may, upon the motion
of the Attorney General or his deputy
or other qualified prosecuting officer
and on such terms and conditions as he
may impose, suspend the sentence of
any person convicted of a crime or mis-.
demeanor before the court over which
such Judge or magistrate is presiding"
1nls bill was referred TO the Judi.
ciary Committee.
House Bill 81, Sheldon, amends the
County Act by putting the salary Of
the Kauai county clerk at $500 year
and that of the deputy sheriff of Wal.
mea at $500. The bill was referred
TO special committee of the members
from Kauai.
House Bill 90, Castro, provides severe
penalties for men who live on or par.
ticipate in the avails of prostitution.
n