The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-03-04
Master Of Schooner Robert Levers
Writes on Conditions.
SAYS MORE HELP is NEEDED
Would Recruit Three Pilots onsr-
Gus Duties OF Harbormastor-
Men who Work.


ltUNUluaL. -AtEtA - 1879
EDITOR p. c. A.:-This perICd OF
transition is a very trying one to those
OF weak and delicate nerves and ccustl-
tuition and while our Uncle samuel Is
taking his time in extending his laws
over us. there is a feeling OF anxiety
and uncertainty among those holding
Government positions. Those whose
salaries for the positions they Occupy
would under the United States scale OF
salaries. be larger than ut present, are
naturally anxious that the laws OF the
United States be established IS soon as
possible. Those enjoying generous sal
aries are only fearful that the change
may come too soon. These last named
persons appear to be bearing their
burden with wonderful equanimity and
Christian fortitude.
Some public officials are earning
more than their salarics-notably. the
port officials of this harbor.
The harbor master and pilots have
been very busy for some months past.
/ The old humdrum state OF affairs that
only a short time ago was character
istic OF this place. has gone forever.
/ Under the.inGucnce OF annexation. Ho-
nOlulu is q wideawake port now. and
I shipping Will be on the increase from
this time henceforth.
Some time ago an article Appeared IN
the Advertiser which gave out the
impression that the pilots were having
very easy times. Whatsoever may have
been the case then 10 certainly !s not
so now. For some months past they
have had more work than they ought
in justice TO be called upon to do.
l am told that during the late rush oi
vessels here soue OF them have been
on duty continuously for nearly TWEEN
ty-fOur hours. / submit that In this
tropical climate no man should be thus
worked TO the limit OF human CuduT-
lance. y mere money consideration
does not compensate any man for thus
taxing his strength to- the limit.
The harbor master has no moment
he can call his own from early muruiuE
TO late at night. Such faithful and ef-
! ticient public officials deserve NOR,
cons! Iteration from their superior of
iicers. They are too modest to- com
plain that the work Is more than they
, should he compelled to- do. The head
OF the department under which they
are placed seems unaware of the fac
1 that such is the state Of affairs. and
would beg leave by your favor auS
{ courtesy through the columns OF tbs
! Advertiser to call tO the attention %
, the proper authorities the necessity %
:. some relief in these matters.
, The pilot force should be doubled q
= once. The three senior pilots shuul,
: have their salary increased TO at leas
i $3.50 per month. and their duty shoul,
: be to handle the large steamships cX
ciusively. The three junior pilot
should have the same pay as az presen
o allowed. 5000. and their duty should =
, 10 take in and out all the sailing YES
sells.
, The master OF the tug should hav
. the same pay as the junior pilots.
4 The harbormaster should be relieves
e entirely of the mere drudgery OF tn
5 position. He should not be required 4
personally moor and unmOor ships no
TO board them on arrival. This woTl
should be done by his assistants. q
, which he should have three-to b
u styled assistant harbormaster5. -
bErthiug masters, whose salary shoul
be about Si2j per month-their duty Q
be- the placing OF all vessels in thei
J, berths, mOOring and uumooring. an
hauling from place TO place within tn
kharbor, boarding vessels on arrival an
n departure. all 20 be done only by order
: from the harbormaster.
: That there have been no complaint
/ made Is due TO the fact that evsryou
: having business with the harbormast
e er knows he IS doing the very utmos
n that can be done under the cirCum
y stances. That there IS often time
y cause for complaint is we'll known. A.
n most every day some shipmaster ma
l. be seen trudginE from one end OF tn
:. city front TO the other euqutriug q
, everyone they meet Have you seen th
Is harbormasteT.'' unable 90 find him q
4. his office. and after perhaps traveliu
y the length OF the city front twice. th
lie query is at length answered by som
g. one who knows that he Is OF on boar
n hauling some vessel around the harbc
performing some duty which shout
= Oe done by a subordinate.
, While there are some men here pet
Il haps capable OF doing what Capt. Fu
D. Ter does there are none that / kno
that would be willing 20 do the wor
D, he does. and speaking for myself al
very certain that I would not.
II IS a most difficult problem in itse
" TO accommodate the incoming vssse
with berths as they arrive so that tac'
shall he as little delay and iuCoi
venience as possible 20 any individu
vessel. and IL speaks we'll for the maj
agement OF harbor affairs that IN
has been accomplished with so lit
friction as Il has been.
n Il is a poor excuse. and &c IS not tu
tice TO the overwoTked officials me
JB toned. that the heads OF department
N. do not desire 20 make any change
in the existing state OF things on the
islands pending the final transfer OF :
authority to the United States Cover
ment They should at least make ter
porary appointments IL they can do
=f,Nf go ha