The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-03-09
PLANTERS URGE
IMMIGRATION TAX

been drawn closer all the time until
now the japanese government has
! adopted policy of almost complete
! exclusion of its people from the United
/ States.
! At the present time there is a suffi-
cient supply of labor for the needs of
/ the plantations, but the Asiatie labor
| ing class, being more or less transient,
| their number is steadily decreasing by
departures for Japan, and it is easy
| TO see that long continuance of such
conditions must bring trouble to the
plantations, and financial distress for
the Territory and its inhabitants.
From the time that the Federal gov
eminent became actively interested in
| our industrial problems, there has been
great and persistent pressure from
| that source upon the Territorial gov
eminent and upon the sugar plantations
to increase through European immigra-
| ton the non-Asiatic population of the
| Territory. Every government official
who has been here and investigated our
conditions, has repeatedly urged this
upon US. They have openly stated that
Asiatic immigration would be cut off
and that our only source of labor sup
ply would be from the mainland of
Europe.
The past efforts of the Board of I'm
| migration have been conduese led with
the distinct approval and sanction of
the Federal administration, which, from
the President down to its labor and i'm
migration officials has manifested the
greatest interest and extended hearty
cooperation in this work.
You may accept it as an established
fact, that Asiatic immigration to Ha-
waiI is thing OF the past and that any
effort. to seek such immigration viii
find no support, but great deal of op-
position, on the part of the Federal
government. The administration at
Washington is absolutely determined
that the population of this Territory
shall be built up of other than Asiaties,
and every step will be taken to accom-
plish this end. The Federal govern
ment desires that we work out our own
salvation along the lines indicated, but
If we do not reach the desired result
voluntarily, measures will be taken to
accomplish this for US, even though
such measures lead to a curtailment or
perhaps, sacrifice of our principal in
dustrv.
In 1905, the Legislature of Hawaii
created Board of Immigration, and
in 1906 and 1907 the board introduced
about 2400 Portuguese from the Azores
and Madeira Islands and about 2200
Spaniards from Malaga, at a cost of
approximately 100000. This sum was
contributed entirely by plantation cor
porations, free of conditions except
that it should be used for the purpose
CT European immigration. Naturally,
a great majority of these people
sought work on the plantations, and
we have every reason to believe that
this money was well expended and a
great benefit has been derived from
this immigration.
immigration of this character, how
ever, was cut off by the amendments
to the Federal immigration law of
1907, which amendments prohibit con-
tributions to the Board of Immi gration
by corporations. A bill was intro
duced in Congress to amend the immi-
grafton laws so as to permit the re-
sumption of immigration to Hawaii
upon the same lines as conducted by
though every effort was made to Sc
cure its passage. this measure was
overwhelmingly defeated.
The only method by which European
immigration can be conducted is by
the Board of immigration of the Ter
ritory, with funds raised by legisla-
tive enactment, and regularly appro-
priated for that purpose.
It seems to be an established con-
elusien that, at the present rate OF
taxation, the income of the Territory
will be insufficient to provide any
funds for the purpose of immigration.
The amount that should be expend-
ed annually for the furtherance of i'm
migration should not be less than
$3.50 900 to 100000. With this amount
the Board of immigration should be
able to obtain three shipments of
European immigrants per annum, bas-
ing my conclusion ON what the board
has heretofore accomplished.
The question which presents itself
is by what method shall this fund be
raised. The burden of taxation should
be placed on those who are best able
70 bear it, and upon those who will
naturally derive the most immediate
benefit from the immigration. La no
way cen you reach this result better
than bv increasing the income tax
along the lines proposed by the Gov
ernor.
The additional amount obtained by
an increase of the income tax OF :
per cent. on incomes above four thou
sand dollars will be secured principal
w from the plantation companies, and
| consider that the burden of the IN
crease will be more equitably distrib-
uted. and be borne by those who are
more able to bear it, in this manner
than by any other method that has
been proposed and has come to my at
tention.
Furthermore. so far as | am inform
ed the plantation interests stand ready
to support this measure and have no
opposition to offer TO the proposed m
crease of income taxation, provided
that the revenue derived therefrom Is
used for the purpose under consldera-
ton. The plantations realize the ne
eessitv of immigration and also that !
they will derive direct benefit from the /
bringing IN of & number of European {
immigrants. and, realizing this, they !
are willing to stand the greater pro !
portion of the expense thereof.