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


Hawaii; and there is more and more
inslstent demand for accommodation
for tourists from American citizens
who desire to visit Hawaii. As citizens
of the United States We say we ought
to have facilities for travel to the
States whenever business or personal
calls summon US to the mainland; and
it should be possible for any American
citizen who wants to visit Hawaii to
hni q steamer to travel on and another
t. come back on.
At present it is often impossible to
secure a passage, and many of our PEG
pie in Hawaii find it impossible to
come to the Coast when they want to;
and scores of Americans who would
visit Hawaii are prevented, either be-
cause they can not have assurances of
passage going, or uncertainty as to re-
turning passage, or both.
For ten years now since annexation
we have endured this hardship in the
hope that sufficient American steamers
would be provided But the hardship
on our island community has become
intolerable. and we are compelled to
ask the temporary privilege of using
the four foreign ships now calling at
the port of Honolulu, until such time
as sufficient American steamers may be
provided.
Congress has already given the Phil
ippine Islands the privilege of using
foreign boats both for freight and pas
senger traffic with the continental Uni
ted States. Hawaii does not ask this
privilege for freight. Even though it
costs Us a half million dollars per year
more for our freight carriage in Amer
lean vessels exclusively, we pay that
without complaint, because the neces-
sary ships have been provided to handle
our freight. But the passenger bust
ness is not sufficiently profitable to at
tract enough American passenger boa-s
and therefore we are compelled to ask
the privilege Of using foreign boats to
help out.
We maintain that this privilege will
not iniure American shipping for two
reasons: First, because the passage
price is from SO to $l5 less on some
Of the American boats than it is on the
foreign ships; and second, because the
increase in volume Of travel Will make
up for any who use the foreign boats.
1t will. however, distribute the travel
better, and enable passengers to depart
more nearly on the dates they desire.
instead of as now having often to wait
50 long that the voyage becomes for
them impossible.
Hawaii has been a consistent adyo-
cate of ship subsidy and the upbuiIding
Of the merchant marine. But we have
waited in vain for relief through an
adequate subsidy and the needed in
crease in passenger ships.
The only result has been an arbitrary
suppression of the natural growth of
our Territory, while American passen-
ger shipping on the Pacific has decIin-
ed rather than advanced. 1t is not
right that the natural growth of our
insular Territory should be held back
by law merely to add a few dollars
profit to three American shipping com
panies.
The continuing Of this monopoly to
American ships has not resulted in
building up domestic shipping on the
Pacific, but it is hindering the building
up of an American population IN Ha
wall; and we are now compelled 10 ask
for this temporary relief in order to
secure reasonable opportunity for
travel between our isolated islands and
the mainland Of the United States.
Mr.. Spight. Could you give an es-
innate of the number of passengers
monthly from the Pacific coast to Ho-
roluIu?
Mr.. Kalanianaole I have not that
record.
Mr.. Barchfeld I was going to say,
Mr.. KalanianaoIe, is it not fact that
in order to secure transportation to
Hawaii at the present time one must
make booking some months IN ad-
vance.
Mr.. Kalanianaole That is the case
when leaving the islands.
Mr.. Barchfeld. How is it from FRS
g out?
Mr.. Kalanianaole. From Frisco out
| believe il is the same thing.
Mr. Barchfeld. What are these four
foreign ships YOU speak of?
Mr.. Kalananaole. They are Japa-
1ese boats; the Tenyo Maru Chivo Ma
ru, Nippon Maru, and the Asia, Brit
sh steamer. |
Mr.. Barchfell. The Asia is a Pacific
Mail Line boat, IS it not9
Mr.. Kahn. Oh. no; she used to- be
ong o. the 0. AMI 0. Line.
Mr.. Goulden. How many saIlings
ave YOU. Mr.. KalanianaoIe. on Amer
an vessels to Frisco?
Mr., KalanianaoIe. can not state
+ this time the exact number,
Mr.. Goulden. There are no regular