The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1910-03-30
COMMITTEE LISTENS TO
COASTWISE ARGUMENTS
Delegate and Mcclellan Marshal Strong Array
of Facts1he Opposition Lobby
Denies Congestion.

before the mousse committee on mer-
chant marine and fisheries, in regard to
the bill providing for the temporary
SUSPENSION Of the coastwise shipping
law has been received in Honolulu. The
hearing on the bill was on March 10,
the Delegate and George B. Mcclellan
speaking for it and Congressman Kahn
Of California. Secretary Flynn of the
American Firemen. Oilers and Water
Tenders Union, and ". +. Yates. ma
tonal president of the Marine En-
gineers' Association, appearing in oppo-
sition.
Congressman Kahn took the stand
that the American ships on the run now
were able to handle all the passenger
business offering, the arguments of the
other two against the bill being based
on the fact that its passage would hurt
the American merchant marine on the
Pacific.
The addresses of the Delegate, Mr..
Mcclellan and Congressman Kahn fol
low:
Mr.. Kalanianaole. Mr. Chairman and
gentlemen, | have just a short state
ment to make, and [ will leave all the
further matters to Mr.. Mcclellan, who
will 90 into the details more than |
will
Ny bill, H. r. 1889, now before your
committee, Is an emergency measure to
provide temporary passenger facilities
Tor the Hawaiian Islands by means of
foreign vessels now calling at the port
Of Honolulu. Its limit of time is SIX
years, and it expressly provides that
the privilege shall cease at whatever
time a line of three American passen-
ger steamers shall be placed in service.
Two years ago last month a bill OF
substantially similar provisions was IA
vorably reported by this committee. Mr..
Littlefeld, of Maine, in making the
report. stated so clearly the reasons
making necessary this legislation that
| repeat here a part of his statement,
as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to
afford temporary relief to, and add
tional facilities for, passenger travel
between the Hawaiian Islands and the
mainland of the United States.
During the past year there have been
numerous occasions when the time be
tween sailings of American ships has
been from eight to tWenty-One days,
with intervals Of ten or twelve days
a frequent occurrence. In numerous
case, the American steamers calling a
Honolulu EN- route to San Francisco
from the Orient have not been able
to provide cabin space for more than
10 to 81 per cent. of the passengers
booked for those steamers.
The people Of Hawaii say, with much
reason. that it was never the purpose
in anneXing those islands to the Uni
ted States to make communication with
the mainland more difficult than it was
when they were a foreign country.
No change of the law as regards
freight transportation IS asked, nor are
lower steamer fares sought; the pur-
pose is only to secure the physical pos
sibilitv Of travel when business or per
sOnal reasons demand it.
Inasmuch as Hawaii has no alterna-
tive of land travel, the application Of
the coastwise laws to those islands has
created a total inhibition of travel for
the varying periods between American
steamer sailings, such as was not con
temPlated in the passage of those laws.
This bin as amended specifically pro-
vides that its operation shall cease as
soon as a new line of three American
steamsh ps shall be placed in this ser
vice
The measure is neither asked nor in
tended as any departure from the true
intent Of the American shipping laws,
Int Is meral~ designed To give tenn
porary facilities for travel till such
TINE as a proper support of the Amer .
merchant marine viii enable It to
supply an adequate passenger service
between Hawaii and mainland ports.
We look upon the circumstances that
Justify tn temporary eXpedlent as
l'af"'iar and unusual and largely the
1auit Of the congress in not enactlng
adequate legislation. It IS very unlike
y that they can be duplicated. and this
H.. can not he relied upon as in any
>n'S@ precedent for any legislation
mat Will in any degree permanently inn
p The iEtegT " OF the cuastwise laws.
Inc report from which ! have Just
quoted states the attitude Of this com
mt'fee two years ago, as summed up
~ Nh. LIttlefei, who was always an
active advocate Of the American mer-
chant marine.
Inc bill reported by vour committee
Two years ago passed the house BY an
overwhelming vote after presentation
o' the facts II was also favorahly
L"'"r'"d b. the senate committee on
commerce, but owing to the lateness
ne session trT opposing senators
we're 10 IN j. ',.r- ,..-.-.,o