The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1895-10-08
THE CHAMBER APPROVES.
Resolution Passed Thanking Board
of Health for Stand Taken.

A well attended special meeting
of the Chamber of Commerce wa,
held yesterday shortly after
| o'clock to consider the matter of the
steamer China refusing to take the
mails. President Schaefer occupied
the chair; E: D. Tenney was chos.
en- secretary.
President Schaefer stated that
the meeting had been called to use
its influence in having mail sent
by the China. 1t was understood
the Board of Health held meet
ing during the morning, and had
come to the conclusion not to al
low the steamer to land freight and
passengers if Captain Seabury re-
fused to carry the mails. He had
discussed the matter with United
States Consul Mills, who informed
him that there was no international
law by which the steamer could be
forced to carry mail from Homo.
lulu, but it was hoped the master
of the ship would reconsider his
decision.
E. C. Macfarlane presented the
following resolution:
"Whereas, The captain of the Pa
citc Mail Steamship Company's
steamer China, under written instruc-
tions from the San Francisco agents
of his company, declined to take the
mails from Honolulu, it was the pur-
pose of this Chamber to request the
Board of Health not to submit to such
unreasonable treatment, as the cap
tain would be furnished with clean
bill of health from this port; and
Whereas, The Board of Health has
taken the initiative to compel the
carriage of our mails,
Therefore be it resolved, That this
Chamber approve of the action of the
Board of Health and tender its thanks
for the protection given the interests
the Chamber represents.
Mr.. Allen called attention to the
fact of a death aboard the steamer
while coming over. An autopsy
was being held, and it would be
well to await the report of the
physicians before taking action.
PC. Jones thought it was not
digniied for the Chamber to coun-
tenance retaliatoTy measures. As
he understood it, it was not good
policy to retaliate, and believed the
Chamber should make suggestions
to the end that there might be some
change of the plans of the captain
about taking the mails.
John Ena conceded with the !
stand taken by Mr.. Jones. Retail
alton didn't seem the proper thing |
to him. The refusal of the steamer
to carry the mails was on account
Of this being an infected port. He
was not very well versed in the law
touching the case, but would advise
4 more conservative course.
President Schaefer explained that
he captain of the China had strict
orders from his owners not to take
mail or anything else from Homo
.ulu and had no option in the
premises. He had to obey orders
or suffer the consequences. Per-
maps when the local agents
had conferred with the captain of
he steamer, that officer might find
/ expedient to change his mind
about obeying orders.
President Wight, of the Wilder
Steamship Company, said one point
had been overlooked about the
granting of health bills to steam
,rs. If Honolulu was not an in
ected port Consul Mills would so
leclare to the captain, and as the
Jonsups bill was always taken as
'ficial, it would make but little
Inference what stand the local
might take.
At this juncture one CT the mem
'ers received a message from Post
master Dat that the China had Just
ignalled that she would take the
nails. The resolution was passed |
unanimously.
The meeting then came to end,
he members giving vent to their
ceilings by cheers.