The Hawaiian gazette., 1898-01-21
BUSINESS men
Chamber of Commerce on
Harbor Improvement.
Representative Committee = viii
Meet the Cabinet Today Opin-
ion-Maps-Attorn General.

For the special meeting of the Cham
Der of Commerce yesterday morning
at the rooms of the organization in the
Campbell block there was an attend
ance of fifteen members. AL of the
leading business houses and interests
were represented Those in attendance
were: President Atherton, Secretary
Spencer, Messrs. Hackfeld, Allen, Par
melee, Hopper, Wight, Schaefer, Hall,
Swanzy, Lowrey, Jones, Green, Gra-
ham, Bowen and Ena.
1t was well understood by those
present that the matter of harbor i'm
provement was to be considered Mr.
Dillingham; with a couple of maps made
a detailed explanation of present con-
ditions and of proposals for the fu-
ture. He severely condemned the ideas
put forth by the Government in rela-
tion to extension of wharfage facilities
and made a comparison of the two
plans-his own and that of the Inte-
rior Department Mr.. Dillingham; stat
ed clearly that in discussion of the
matter at this time he spoke simply
in behalf of the interest of citizens at
large in an important public work.
Messrs. Lowrey and Hackfeld
thought the matter should be permit
ted TO rest until the Legislature con-
vene next month. This view was not
shared by the other gentlemen, several
of whom pressed the belief that i'm
mediate action should be taken. A
number Of the members made remarks,
win the result that an amendment to
a motion proposed by Col. Allen was
finally adopted. The vote was for a
committee to consult with the Govern
ment. The members of the committee
are: Messrs. Jones, Hackfeld, Giffard,
Schaefer, Swanzy, Lowrey and Ena.
In the course of the talk by Chamber
members the verdict that the harbor
or wharfage should be enlarged at
once appeared to be unanimous. Mr..
Dillingham; pointed out, as he has in
articles in this paper, his conviction
that his own plans in slips were better
and cheaper than the Governments.
Figures were given and sketches
shown. The first proposal at the meet
ing was for the committee to make a
survey of the situation at the harbor.
Then it was argued that both sides
should have hearing, it being consid-
cred that a fair and square issue had
arisen.
The committee of seven will meet
the Cabinet at the Executive Building
at II o'clock this forenoon.
Attorney-General Smith made to a
reporter for this paper yesterday a
brief retort to Mr.. Dillingham's letter
published yesterday morning and per-
haps to others. Mr. Smith said that
the wharf site lease made to the rail-
way in 1890 contained the express stip-
ulation that it could be terminated by
the Government on notice of 80 days,
the Government to pay for improve
ments. The Government had given
notice and made the tender of money
and had been resisted and met with
condemnation proceedings. The rail-
road seemed to have forgotten the pro-
visions of the ten year lease given
for 81 and further that it was receiving
subsidy of So, 500 mile, had free
right of way and was exempt from
taxation for twenty years. The Attor-
ney-General continued that the ques-
tion seemed to be whether the public
or private corporation should con-
troll the water front. The Government
proposed to stand for the rights of the
people. The Government, added the
Attorney-General, was fully alive to
wharf needs and would meet them. Mr.
Smith said there was nothing connect
ed in any way with the transaction
that the public was not entitled to
know and that in the course of the in
yestigation he hoped all the facts would
be brought out clearly.