The Hawaiian gazette., 1900-04-24
Gear Talks indemnify
For Ninety-Five.
SCHEME IN THE WIND
He ForestaIIs Final Action on Act
Four by Securing an
Adjournment,
(From Saturdays DailyJ


One of the principal incidents OF the
Council Of State session yesterday was
the calling up Of the Indemnity Claims
OF 1895 by Councillor Gear. fhe latter
questioned the President very closely
as TO their fate. Gear wanted to know
whether the Executive had shelyed the
claims, or IL he was sill corresponding
with the United States government
about them.
The questioning was not wnoiiy I'M
expected by those in touch with the
councillor. He endeavored TO pin the
President down to a statement as to
what would be the probable tate OF the
claims of those who he stated were
arrested as suspects during the troub-
lous month OF January, 1895, but who
we're not brought to trial. The Incl
dent caused no little excitement and
some smiles.
Councillor Gear said he had heard 1t
was generally understood that the cor
respondence between the Executive and
the authorities at Washington had
finally resulted In the United States re-
ferring the claims back to the Hawai-
ian government for settlement. Pres
ident Dole in his answer said that he
did not understand the reference was
made for settlement, but for DISPOSE
ton.
In opening his questions, Councillor
Gear emphasized his desire to gain n
satisfactory answer.
81 would like to ask a question of
the Executive" said he ION the mat
fnr W hitch b1un IN in thi Ia
bill (Act ~. 1t is as to the status at
present of the claims made against the
government by those who were impris-
oned as suspects but not brought to
trial In 1S95-aliens. / am given to I'M
derstand that claims have been pre-
sented and have been pushed by the
representatives of Great Britain and
other countries at Washington, de-
manding damages.
Now, after the passage of the Ter
ritorial law. making Hawaii a territory
to the United States, it appears to me
that the force Of these claims will fail,
and that the force of the reference to
this government by the government at
Washington, will also fail.
II would like to ask whether they
were referred with instructions to make
settlement, and II so, how the money
Is to be provided"
President Dole replied at once:
The claims were reported to this
government by the United States gov
eminent, after being brought up by the
English ambassador at Washington.
The United States then referred them
to this government We have several
letters from the WASHINGTON author
tiles In the matter The Executive
hoo Ia
amount of work upon them, but has
not been able to finish them on account
of the press of other work. At present
We can simnly report progress"
Getting down a little closer in his
questioning Mr.. Gear asked, as it the
intention OF the Executive Council to
make settlement of these claims? If so,
will II he necessary to call another SEES
sion OF the Council of S.ate to apDro-
pirate money to make the settlement OF
the cfaims?"
1T don't know what Won mean nv
making 'settlement'of the claims, Mr..
Gear" renl'ed the Executive. owe nm
derstood the government at Washing
ton to mean to '-e-cons'der' the claims
and disrose NJ them. We have no re-
uuest from the WASHINGTON government
TO nav anv claims. Simnlv. tn recon
slider them and d'snose Of them as we
understand the matter"
Then that disposition might mean
the simple shelving of the claims. and
non-action. Would that transfer the
liability from the Republic to the Ter
ritory and to the United States govern
ment?" said the councillor.
1T would not be non-actlon. but
simply decision as to the merits OF the
claims, or decision against some of
the claims" replied the President
calmly, awaiting further queries. But
they did not come. The councillor sat
down. and the incident closed.
rlose Quarantine Bills.
The quarantine bills which were in
Cured during the enforced stay of a
large number of Chinese who were
detained at Quarantine Island by
United States Chinese Inspector J. X.
Brown last year. were again the sourc0
Ut much argument In the Council
In a large measure the argument
was based on the liability Of the local
for bills contracted by q
Federal officer who declared later he
had no responsibility In the mainte-
nance of those In detention. The ar
sument was commenced by the Secre-
larry reading the proceedings which
before the Executive on April
Is, when J. d. McVeigh was present at
4 conference, and q stenographIc rec
ord kept OF the conversation which
iealt with the question of responsible
ty OF ordering the goods from Homo
ulu merchants.
President Dole said: The Exeou-
i've Council has endeavored to secure
upon the subject but have
not been able to as far as they Wish.
Mr. Reynolds is absent and we can get
10 information from him yet. Prob
IDLY the final obligation to pay these
bills Is on the Government OF the
United States. But II the agent OF the
3oard OF Health ordered these goods
IN account OF the Board. this Cavern