The Hawaiian gazette., 1911-09-12

Agents for Hawal.
them a subsidy of 100000 per annum
when they were running smaller vessels,
and with the larger steamers they are
now putting on the route they are get
ting, believe, a subsidy of $1,200,000.
"The American ships do not get
single dollar of subsidy from our gov
ernment in this Island trade. The ships
that run between the Islands and the
mainland exclusively, and do not en-
gage in the transpacific trade, are all
running at enormously increased cost
over the Japanese boats. In recent
years some millions of dollars have
been invested in the construction of
new ships for this trade. That money
was invested because the coastwise laws
| practically guaranteed the investors
/ freedom against competition from
cheaper run vessels.
4 ''The guarantee is in the nature of
pledge on the part of the government,
1t is not likely that the investments
would have been made if it had been
believed that the government would
withdraw its protection. I am of the
opinion that If the protection were
withdrawn the American lines would
ultimately have to go out of this bust
ness. They could not compete with the
cheaperbuilt and cheaper-run boats sub
sid2ed by the Japanese government, and
ultimately, in consequence of that fact,
the Islands would have fewer sailings
than they have today.
CAT the time the agitation for sus-
pension was on, we assured the com
mittees of congress that additional
ships were already in course of con
struction so as to give the people of
the Islands more frequent communica-
tion with the mainland. The Lurline,
Sierra. Wilhelmina and Honolulan have
all been put on since the agitation was
! started.
Re-Establish Australia Line.
"While I am not in a position at the
present moment to state anything au
thoritatively, / know that steps are be
ing taken to re-establish the line Il
! Australia via Honolulu, with American
ships, of course, and that viii mean al
, improvement in the passenger opportu
mites
i "The strangest part of the matter il
i that the Japanese government has is
! sued an edict that no foreign vesse
. shall engage in the coastwise trade o,
h Japan. That, of course, has been tn,
/. policy of our government since tn
n foundation of the government almost
y and practically the only tonnage tina
e amounts to anything is the eoastwis
S which is protected by the law of over
!. century ago"
# Mr.. Kahn agreed, however, that tn
agitation for suspension had been II
s. spOnsibe for the increasing of tn
p number of American ships between tn
IT mainland and Honolulu, thereby great
" ly increasing opportunities Of travel.
" Mr. Kahn takes great interest in th
Is forthcoming practise with the heav
Dt mortars of Fort Ruger. and he wi
doubtless make a personal visit to N
fort TO watch the big guns disehari
n. their ponderous projectiles.
n Ten years ago Mr.. Kahn hoped
IA visit his old friend, the late Paul Ne
~ mann, here, lie was invited 10 Wis
N az the Neumann home aud booked on
~ transport. AZ the last moment Geuer
tb corhin decided 10 cnt out Honolulu q
M that trip and send the steamer dire
4 TO Manila. But Congressman Kal
he WIS glad that the trOopship did NJ
of stop here, Tor the day a would hn,
I'D arrived Mr. Neumann passed ava
u i0gnfessman Kahn got Paul Nenmai
ne w. INTO ihe naval academy As eade
gd The Young ohleer was later killed
en an explosion aboard the a. r s MI
Ye tVuri.