The San Francisco call., 1898-12-28

until the United States has taken charge of our customs department Honolulu is foreign port.
 The decision in question affects. as nearly as can be ascertained, about 500 Chnese holding permits of different classes, and as MT. Brown has decided to test every case on its merits before the Supreme Court in bank the court will be kept busy for the next few weeks until definite instructions are re- ceived from Washington as to the will or the supreme national government in the matter.
 In the meantime the press and people lndorse the decision of Chief Justice Judd for its spirit of equity and fair play, While the lawyers differ as to it's sOundness in law.
 This morning, the opening day of the December term, three more writs of habeas corpus involving the landing of twenty-eight Chinese were made re- turnable on Wednesday next before the full court. Owing to the absence of Associate Justice Frear in Washing ton, D. C., as Commissioner. Circuit Judge Perry will sit with the Chief Jus tice and Associate Justice Whiting in bank. Prior to appointing the date for nearing an argument was had as to the right of the Chief Justice to sit, as under the Hawaiian constitution he cannot sit on an appeal from case which he himself has tried The Jus tfces held that these cases, being diff ferent cases from the prior writ, did not disqualify him.
 President Dole informs me that he has decided to defer his projected visit to Washington until he again hears from Senator Cullom whether he is re- quired. He is not disposed to make the journey at all unless it is shown fn bo didacy' for the first Governorship of our Territory. his views are contained in the following paragraph dictated and approved by him:
 T do not consider that the matter Of the Governorship is similar to a question of the election of an official by voters, and although it is proper for people who are interested in good gov ernment to express themselves as to the personnel of the office-as sugges- tions to the appointing power-it would be out of place for me to nominate my self for the position and work for my appointment. The appointing power alone is resp6nsible."
 And with this statement MT. Dole contents himself and wards off further discussion with a smile
 The i'll fated City of Columbia has reached our port from Hilo in safety and is now leaking at the rate of "A inches in twenty-four hours She was no sooner tied up than the lawyers plastered her up with more lbels, az gregating nearly $20,000 half of which is for seamens wages, a matter now being investigated by the courts
 The fate of the vessel has not vet been decided upon, but she will prob ably be patched up sufficiently to take the voyage to the coast when she gets clear of the shoals of litigation.
 The Government has granted to the new British American line the same privileges as those accorded to other liners in exchange for carrying the mails, except that there is no special coal storage site allotted to them. as there is none to spare.
 The lack of wharfage accommodation for the increased commerce is pressing very prejudicially upon Hawaiian ship ping interests Conferences between committees of the Chamber of Com merce and the Government result in no practicable action. The matter will probably drift until the intentions and wishes of the home Government are known, for the matter of wharfage be- tween the Government and the railroad company is in litigation before the Su- preme Court and standstilI is created thereby. The pressure upon wharf space is felt more now than hitherto to great extent through the extra number of coal bearing vessels dis charging here for the United States Government stores
 After having caused a very large number of milch l1ine to be slaughtered on account of tuberculosis during the past two years, the Government has at length ordered the inspection of neat cattle imported from the coast
 Within the past two weeks the Jan anese have increased their crinoineI record here by two homicides. with in dications that they were foul murders and with suicide; and at Koloa plan tation they broke out in riotous strike and fought with the police, but were work again.
 As Chief Justice Judd has now round ed off his twenty-five years of service on the Supreme Court bench the mem