Hawaii Holomua, Volume III, Number 27, 1 July 1893 — Untitled [ARTICLE]

The Collector Generai of Customs has issucd an ukaae to the efftot that. frotn October lst all duties on imported g » K.ls must be paid in cash. We cannot understand or admire the icy whicb has led the government to take such a step. Jt has heretofore been the custom to accent the imp<»rter’s bonds properly endursed by s<une soiveut party for the duties due on goods withdrawn. and such bonds j have ahvays been promptly met at the day of maturing. This was a convenience to the irap<»rters, and a perfectly safe and solid system for the government to l’ollow. In a sraall community like ours, thc finaneial standing of every business j man is alway9 well known, and it seems h» us to be theduty and best t>olicy of any government to throw ( all t<ossiblefacilities and assistances iin the way of the business eommunity.and todo all in their power to encourage an increase in importation and trade generally. Under the bond sy9tem an importing firm cou!d withdraw itsgoods and would thereafter haveample time to make j the neces&iry arrangements for meeting the bond when it heeame matured, and at such date the government received in gold whatever sum the bond called for. During j i the genera» depression in businfss here many of the business houses | although perfectly s<<lvent are frequently strapped for ready cash. The result of Collector Castle’s rule will be that goods will be imported in bond and withdrawn in very aniall portions et one time —just suffic5enlly to raeet an ordinary everyday demand in the trade— and that duties will be paid in so sraali figures as t« make silver instead of g«ld, the proper tender. ; We consid o r the contemplated change a direct attack on the business community. and we should suggest to the Charaber of Commerce t • eall a meetiiig snd protest against the arbitrary aeiion of the Collect <r-General. If that official would devute some of his tirae now ; occupied in reading Balznc to the 1 study of nati«mal and j»olitical economv, he w«»uld perhaps leam what the proper course of any g«verument is towards the men who, through duties and taxes furnish them with the nece8Sary finances. I The Minist«r of Pinanee. who, we are convinced underst;ind3 the re- ; I lations of a government towards Ihe busine88 commanity should j rescind Mr Castle’s order.