The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1910-03-30

and 20 cases OF pickles.
While the snip IS in port $4,000
pieces Of linen will be sent TO the
laundry.
In closing, gentlemen, I would say
there is 4 much more important prln-
ciple at stake in this legislation than
any mere question OF profits to a steam,
ship company.
Ever since annexation it has been
the insistent and proper policy of the
federal executive and of congress that
Hawaii should be developed as rapidly
as possible as an American community.
And Vet il must be evident to all
that it viii forever be impossible TO
build up an American community III
those isolated Islands in the mid-Paclflc
if their people are denied reasonable
facilities for travel to and from the
mainland.
From the very foundation of the gov
eminent one Of the fundamental prln-
ciples of our Nation has been freedom
of intercourse and commerce between
the several States and Territories. That
principle is written into the Constltu-
ton itself and has been elaborated IN
countless laws and court decisions. And
vet. ten wears after annexation, we tnd
Hawaii denied freedom of travel to
and from the mainland, through the APP
plicatiOn Of a law never designed to
applv to an insular Territory.
The technical application of this
general law, never designed for such
conditions, is resulting in a laW-made
MONOPOLY arbitrarily restraining the
growth Of an entire Territory.
The whole Nation is alert today to
oppose combinations in restraint OF
trade: what can be said then in defense
OF continuing the technical application
of a law in a place where 1t works a
definite and continuous restraint OF
trade2 What would the American peo-
ule saw if the beef trust were given a
law forbidding the use Of foreign meats,
even though the domestic supply were
insufficient to meet the demand7
The result of continuing this embargo
on Hawaiian travel viii be the same
as placing a growing child IN steel
cage and thus restraining the growth 10
the capacity of the cage. | do not be-
lieve that this committee, or the con-
gress. is willing that the unforeseen
application of an old general law should
be longer permitted to work absolute
injury 10 an important detached terri
tory of the Union.
Let there be no mistake or misnnder
standing on this subject. Hawan IS
not asking this privilege of travel IN
order to secure lower rates. Certainly
we are not asking it for the heneht OF
foreign ships. Neither are we asking
il as a matter of choice or preference.
We ask il only as a matter of necessity,
in order to secure the physical posi-
Eilitv of travel and reasonable freedom
and facility for going to and coming
from the mainland of the United states
Statement Of Hon. Julius Kahn.
Mr.. Kahn. Mr.. Chairman and gen
tlemen If the committee. / have before
me copy of the San Fracisco thronl-
Gle of the latest date, which gives the
sailiugs of the vessels between san
Francisco and Honolulu. The Togo
Risen Kaisha. the japanese line, gives
one sailing a month. steamship SAILS
Tuesday, March -, 1910; another Tues
dav. April ). 1910; another May ),
1910 If this bill were enacted into
law il would give the Hawaiian people
one steamer a month additional to
what they have, and that steamer the
cheapest run of any steamer that comes
into the harbor of San Francisco. The
wages that are paid at San Francesca
ON these American ships that run down
10 Honolulu are, for sailors, S42 a
month. The japanese line pays ~
month. For tiremen-Mr. Flynn. who
represents the firemen,s is here and can
bear me out-the Americans pay 500 a
month; the japanese pay 50 month.
To operate an American vessel Of the
size Of the Sierra. which is now gong
into commission. costs over $4,000 a
month To operate a Japanese vessel
of the same size costs little over $1,000
a month. That is the difference in the
cost Of operation. Since this bill was
up before, the I.urlne has gone into
active commission.
Mr.. McKinlav. There seems to be a
little uncertainty in regard to state
mcnt YOU made. that the wages Of those
men were SO q month.
Mr.. Kahn. The sailors wages.
Mr.. McKinlay. At one of the former
hearings Of this committee it was given
in evidence here that the wages were
- or ~ mtnlH OIL Inc dCtic MAIL
The Chairman. The same as the
foreign vessels.
Mr.. Kahn. | said on American yes
sel> that wages are So a month.
Mr.. McKinlay. Do you mean the
Pacific Mail?
Mr.. Kahn. No; | mean the vessels
that run exclusively from San Fran
cisco to Honolulu.
Mr.. Mckinlay. You mean in the
coastwise trade.
Mr.. Kahn. That j. il exactly.
Mr. NcKinlay. Make that clear:
that is what | wanted to suggest
Mr.. Kahn. The Pacific Mail has
mixed crew. She operates partly Chi
nese and partly Americans, and even
At that she has a very much larger
percentage OF Americans than the Jap
aneSe line, which is in competition with
the Pacific Mail which is the only line
that would be benefited if this bill
We're 10 be passed.
AIr. Humphrey. How much assist
ance DO the three Japanese vessels Get
from the government
Mr. Kahn. Five hundred thousand
dollars Of subsidy.
Mr. Humphrey. SIX hundred thou
sand dollars.
Mr.. Kahn. It has been generally re
q gtY.g