The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-02-23
By Ernest G. Walker.
(Mail Special to the Advertiser.)

(Mail Special to the Advertiser.)
WASHINGTON, February 10.-The
final word has been spoken on the
suspension of coastwise shipping laws,
as Honolulu is aware, in effect, at this
time. The Pacific Coast Senators
blocked consideration of the House
bill now before the Senate. Senator
Perkins of California made a special
request in writing to Chairman Frye
that action be deferred, and his re-
quest will be complied with.
The eablegrams from Honolulu in
behalf of the bill were taken up by
Delegate Kalanianaole and Mr.. Me
Clellan, who did everything they could
do to secure favorable consideration.
But there has been so much veering
from side to side that the Senate
Committee lost interest, and the bill
that would easily have become law
early in the session, had there not been
objections from Honolulu, will die
with this session of Congress. If it is
championed again before Congress, it
can hardly be before the long session
a year from now, and the work of
securing its passage will have to be
done all over again. before the House
Merchant Marine Committee and be-
fore the House itself
Frustrated the Majority.
The action of the Honolulu Chamber
of Commerce was nullifed to degree
by cablegram to the committee,
which was forwarded by the San
Francisco Chamber of Commerce. Tt
read:
''The following, representing large
business interests here, seek your CO.
operation in defeating bill before Con-
gress suspending eoastwist shipping
laws.
(Signed) w. G. Irwin & Co.,
Castle G. Cooke, Hackfeld & Co., the
Inter-Island Navigation Co., c. NJ.
Cooke, P. C. Jones, F. w. Macfarlane,
Wall Nichols Co., Claus Spreekels &
Co., Allen 6 Robinson, the California
Feed Co., and NJ. Phillips & Co"
1t developed that the San Francisco
Ghamber of Commerce had also in
duced tile Seattle Chamber of Com
meree to oppose the legislation. The
japanese embroglio had been made to
serve its part in influencing Pacific
Coast Senators not to support the bill
at this time, as it was claimed the
japanese shipping lines would be gain
ers and this would not please the vot-
ers on the Pacific Coast.
Facilitating Action.
Senator Perkins letter to Senator
Frye ON the subject said in part: sin
view of the vacillating action of the
people of the Hawaiian Islands, and
especially of Honolulu, in asking
through the Governor and other repre-
sentatives of the Islands that the bill
be permitted to remain without action
at this session of Congress, | think
no action should be taken by the Sen
ate, unless further advised by the COM
mercial organizations of Honolulu.
Mr.. Perkins letter accompanied sew
eral kilograms from San Francisco.
One of these was from the Oceanic
Steamship Company, claiming that
"before Congress acts it should await
full particulars - The telegram con-
tinued: Honolulu is by no means in
accord on this grave question" The
Oceanic company declared that the
Japanese steamships would be the
chief benefciaries of the enactment
of the suspension law. Whenever any
change in the shipping laws is made,
1t was urged that there should be an
effort to secure a provision by which
the American shipping companies on
the Pacific could be compensated for
the difference in the cost of japanese
wages and of feeding the crews, "thus
giving American vessels a reasonable
chance to maintain themselves This
telegram, and also one from William
Matson, proposed the same provision
about compensation for the differences
IN wages and cost of commissary, and