Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-08-18
BUSINESSMEN in
LIVELY SESSION
ON SHIPP|NGLAW
Proposals for Modification or
Suspension of CoastWise
Act Warmly Opposed
LETTERS AND ARGUMENTS
PRO AND CON ARE HEARD
Gov. Pinkham Disapproves of
Opening Traffic to Foreign
Competition

Verbal fireworks were freely prophe-
sled this afternoon when the Honolulu
Chamber of Commerce met to consider
suspension of amendment OF the coast
wise shipping law. Before the meet
ing several members said they were
ready TO take vigorous part in the dis
cussion, and the proponents and op
pcnents of change IN the law were
out in full force.
More than so members of the cham
Der gathered in the rooms of the or
ganization to discuss whether Homo
lulu favors reduction in the penalty
of 5000 which is imposed on foreign
ships fer each passenger carried be-
tween Hawaii and the mainland, as
provided in the coastwise shipping
law.
Governor Pinkham occupied a seat
next TO President Fred L. Waldron
After several reports had been read
President WaIdron announced the top
ie for discussion and requested E. l.
Spalding to act as temporary rresi-
dent.
Governor Opposes Proposed Change.
Governor Pinkham furnished one of
the features of the meeting by an
emphatic declaration against any
plan to suspend the coastwise law or
to modify it to allow the competition
of foreign ships in coastwise trade.
mo entering wedge" declared the
governor in an address which he read
before the chamber, should be driv-
en- into the seams of our ship of state
such as would be initiated by the alb
rogation, for suspension means inevi-
tably abrogation, of our coastwise
laws"
He read a table showing the large
ntiriBer of unoccupied berths between
San Francisco and Hawaii. He de-
clared for a broader view of the qlies-
tion than that bounded merely by Ha-
waits local interests.
The governors address is published
In full herewith
The topic was taken up with the
introduction by President Waldron of
the following resolution:
Resolved, That while we fully rec,
cgnize the wisdom of the policy that
has caused the Congress of the Unit
cd States to legislate for the protec.
tion of American shipping engaged in
the coastwise trade by the passage of
the act of June 19, 1886, Ch. 421, "a
Stat. l.. 81, by which a fine of two dol
lars was imposed for every passenger
transported between ports of the Unit
ed States and landed, and the amend
ment thereof. act of February II, 1898,
Ch. 26, Sec. 2, 80 Stat. L. 24S, by which
this fine Is increased to two hundred
dollars, yet we believe that since the
passage of these acts the conditions
intended to be remedied are so ma
terially changed, particularly by the
acquisition of territory at a distance
of more than two thousand miles from
the coastwise border, by the made
Quate number of American vessels now
engaged In passenger service on the
Pacific Ocean, by the imminent with
drawal of the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company, with an annual capacity for
passengers from this port of twenty.
five hundred, and by the great in.
crease of travel between the ports of
Hawaii and the mainland, that the
carrying out of this law on American
citizens desiring to avail themselves
of free and uninterrupted communica-
tion between the ports of Hawaii and
the mainland is burdensome, inconve.
nient and almost destructive of their
right of free transit; now, therefore,
be il -.#
Resolved, That the Chamber of