Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-09-27
philippines May Gel. Direct service.

Ph1l1pp1neS May GET Direct service.
| MANILA, p. f. Aug. 31.-Ins a re-
cent communication the postmaster
general of the United States expresses
the opinion that the postoffice depart
ment can do nothing toward the es-
tablishmeht of direct line of steam
ers between the west coast of the
United States and Manila because of
a provision in the ocean mail act of
1891 which limits special rate con-
tracts to vessels plying. between the
United States and foreign ports.
1t has been possible through the
operation of this law for the United
States government to establish direct
steamship and mail service between
its own and foreign ports such as
Australia, and it was thought that
some such arrangement could he
made for direct mail line to Manila.
The proposition has now been ad-
yanced that the Philippine Islands
have been held by the supreme court
of the United States to be foreign ter
ritory, and on this point the matter
may again, be presented to the post
master general with a renewal of the
request for a special rate route. The
matter is now lin the hands of the
merchants association, by which body
it will be finally disposed of.
| "a
| wall. -as,..
| Departing from Everett, Washington
each laden with a full shipment of
lumber, the American schooners Spo-
/ kane and the Taurus are speeding in
the direction of the Hawaiian Islands,
wager said to have been made at
start, proving an incentive for efforts
toward speedy trip.
The two windjamers are en- route
&c Hilo. The vessels departed from
tho Sound port nineteen days ago. The
arrival of one or both schooners at
j the Crescent city should be reported
"a any day.
Capt Charles Peterson, of the Tau
rus, and Capt. Mcdonald of the Spo-
kane, are carrying lumber cargoes
from Everett mills. When the Taurus
made her last homeward trip she
! showed class in sailing, and under
standing this, Capt. Mcdonald play
fully bet his fellow skipper that the
Spokane could beat him to Hilo.
The race now on is interesting local
marine men. for the shippers are well
and popularity known.
| Foreigners Acquiring Merchantmen.
Reports of buying and building OF
/ commercial vessels received by the
marine department Of the Chambe"
of Commerce for the last month show
! that foreign nations are building up
their mercantile marine by the aCoui
sition Of many bottoms. The smaller
maritime countries, including Nor
way, Greece and France, are particll,
larry active in securing bottoms for
| the purpose of commerce, and ship
ping in England also has taken al
impetus which augurs we'll for sea
trade Although trade by sea SUI.
| fered slump for two years, the &C,
! tivity. now being manifested ind
Gates that it IS coming back into its
own The proximity of the opening
of the Panama canal, now more than
| four-fifths completed, is assigned by
| shipping men as the reason for the
| boom. Practically every shipyard of
the United Kingdom has received
enough orders for vessels to keep
them busy for year or more.-Cail
Shipper Loses License.
| There are many friends Of Captain
F.. c. Armstrong, master in the steam
ship Pleiades, at the port of Honolulu
who will regreat to learn that through
: the unfortunate experience in going
ashore. - miles off Port San LaZaro,