Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-07-10

Taylor, secretary OF the HAWAII HTOHi
ticies for the departments commerce
ing out that the free port" proposal
press. It was this article which came
field and apparently has won his acti
The free port" idea will be dis
.cussed at several public meetings this
i week At the Pan-Pacific luncheon
tomorrow on the Young hotel roof
garden, farewell to Ex-Governor Wal
ID ter r. Ffear, the idea viii be paid at
tention by various speakers. Judge
Frear g going for a trip to Aus
traiia. At the Ad Club luncheon on
Wednesday the scheme Is also TO be
discussed. NJ
In q letter TO the star.Bulletin from
washington, Judge Sidney M. Ballou,
representative Of the planters associa-
tion In the capital, questions the ad-
visibility Of such move, on constitu-
tional grounds and also because. he
apparently thinks, Il might lead to re.
opening the tariff issue. His letter is
published herewith.
Writing 20 the Star-Bulletin from
Washington. G. s. Albert, special cor
respondent for this paperr, says:
WASHINGTON, d. Co June &c.
The proposition to create at Honolulu
a great free port" is being enter.
tanned here with much eordiality. Sec
retary Redfield has taken the matter
up. II Is probable he will call the at
tehtion Of Congress to this subject and
have appropriate legislation given con-
sidsration. Those to whom Secretary
Redfield has mentioned the PROPOSE
ton think we'll CT II.
The chief argument thus far ad-
vanced here in support of this sug-
gested action IS the benefit which
would accrue TO the territory by reason
Of Honolulu being made a free port.
The distribution Of products from Ha-
wall 20 the south Sea islands, to the
Pacific continents, Australia and the
PHILIPPINES would naturally follow. In
addition, It would stimulate and make
profitable the establishment OF manu-
featuring enterprises In the territory,
followed by the sale Of the goods pro-
dueed to the countries mentioned.
The astonishing success of Ham
burg Copenhagen, Hongkong and
other shipping eenters OF great Inn
portanee, all OF them being free ports,
has drawn attention to the plan. The
development OF these cities has held
forth ENCOURAGEMENT that Honolulu
might be transformed into one Of the
important commercial cities Of the
world. Il is held here that the city
Is the focal point for all shipping in
the Pacific, dovetailing into the BUSH
ness value OF the Panama Canal and
being the natural converging point for
all the large steamship lines from
japan. Australia, South America. Can
ada and the Pacific coast OF the
United States
While the jam Of legislation that
always confronts Congress as adjourn
ment draws near, coupled with the
whoop and hurrah Of the approaching
presidential campaign. may prevent
progress In the immediate future, the
seed will be soWn and may take root
next winter.
judge BaIlou's Objections
Judge Ballou writes:
Editor, Honolulu star-Bulletin. Ha.
wall.
s'Sir: l notice in your editorial col.
umns q revival OF the discussion OF
the adyisability Of making Honolulu
q free port.
Il should like to call your attention
to-the following provisions of the Con.
stitution Of the United States:
AN duties, imports and excises
shall be uniform throughout the
United states. Article I, Section 8.
No preference shall be given by
any regulation OF commerce or revenue
to the ports Of one state over those
OF another; nor shall vessels bound
to, or from one state, be obliged to
enter. clear, or pay duties in another
Article I, Section 3.
The first provision seems to be
obviously applicable. The application
of the second to Hawaii may be more
doubtful, although the contemporane,
ous use Of the word state particular.
ly in the Northwest Ordinance, shows
that 1t was frequently used to describe
what we now designate Territoy.
my interest In calling your atten.
ton to this matter is that the agitation
to make Honolulu q free port without
any consideration of the foregoing
Constitutional provisions gives the i'm.
preston that we do not consider those
provisions as applicable to Hawaii. ]
think 1t is rather important that we
should insist, at all times, that these
provisions, particularly the first, in.
clude Hawaii, and that we should not
do anything to spread the contrary
impression. II Honolulu is made a free
port, 1t would necessarily follow that
any articles exported from Honolulu
to the mainland would be subject to
duty If Congress has the power to
do this, it has the power to make the
same provision as regards the whole
OF Hawaii. i think we should insist
) on our Constitutional protection
against such q possibility. -...
Very truly yours,
SIDNEY BALLOU."