The Hawaiian gazette., 1909-01-26

'This question works both ways.
Why does not Captain Matsop say that
he will not urge any opposition to this
bill for the sake of the people of Ha.
waii, upon whom he depends for all
his trade and all his business! Why
should he expect the people of Hawaii
to- stand aside for his company and
against their own interestsl
''In regard to the suggestion that
in asking for this exemption we are
opening the way for tariff discrimina.
tion against us, the people at Washing
ton smile. Theyi say that we down
here do not understand the situation or
the relation between things. In the
first place, there can be no tariff dis
elimination, because the Constitution
will not allow it; but there are no CON
stitutional objections-at least, so sar
against the suspension of the ship.
ping laws. What does strike the peo-
pie. at Washington is the complete
analogy between the coastwise laws
and the matter of immigration. If we
take the stand that we do not want
exemptions in the matter of shipping,
on principle, we can not ask for ex-
emptiQn in the matter of immigration.
Some say that we are committed to
the policy of protection and must stand
up for the American flag. Are we to
put ourselves up against the President
and a majority of Congress, when it
is understood that we are only asking
for a temporary relief2 We are not
asking for any special favor; we are
asking to be relieved from special
burden. We have no railroad alterna.
tive in travelling here, as they have on
the mainland, and we are in differ
ent position. In Just the same way
we are in different position in re-
gard TO the immigration laws. We can
not expect European immigrants to
reach here. Even if they started for
here they would not arrive across the
continent; there are too many opportu-
mites for them there. The only i'm
migrants who would come here volun-
tarilv are those from the Orient.
'"The bill we ask for is to give us
relief for six years or until three more
American steamships are ready to
bring the relief from the present sit
uation. In my opinion the bill is go,
ing to help American shipping. 1t is
going to make more passengers for all
the steamers. But suppose | am mis-
taken in this. Then, after all, the
steamships do not look to the passen-
ger traffic for their profits. The ques-
, tion of passenger traffic is analogous
to that of mails. 1t is not question
of expense, but one of speed and fre-
quency. On freight we are willing to
| patronize the American vessels. even
for the perishable freight, although we
| need the frequent transportation for
this badly. But with passengers we
| want quick and efficient service, Just
| as we want that for our mail service
| We have given the American shipown'
ers every chance; now we want them
to do the fair thing by us. 1t is al
logical to ask MS to wait over for an
American boat to send answers to ouI
letters as to ask us to wait for an
| American boat when we want to travel
Little Hawaii, even before annex
alton, did more to build up the Ameri
can merchant marine than any othe
foreign country on earth, No equa
number on the mainland now begins t,
give the merchant marine the support
we do. Now, are we going to sacrific,
the vital interests of the Territory fo
the sake of the few paltry dollar
it will mean to n few steamship own
ersi
.'We are not opposing subsidy bill
We are all in favor of such bill, an,
this bill we want now is not in oppo
sition TO n subsidy measure. / do no
think there is much more to be said
the matter has been gone into fully i
the press and we all understand it.
might quote what Congressman Little
field said in regard to this measur
when il was before the committed
This matter-is like the Sabbath h
said. The Sabbath was made for MAI
not man for the Sabbath, and in tn
same way, the coastwise laws are fo
the public, not the public for the coas
wise laws. -
i The Governor was loudly applaude
at the conclusion of his address.
J As soon as the applause had die