The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-08-09

Swanzey's question that the Govern
ment had washed it's hands of the mat
ter leaving II for the next Legislature
to decide.
Mr.. Swanzey asserted that some law
yers had given their opinion as to the
strength of the claims against the Gov
eminent intimating that the Govern
ment was liable for the claims in any
sense. Personally he said he did not
care what the attorneys had to say In
regard To the matter. The whole thing
to him savored of the Governments
becoming angry at the claimants and
those pushing the claims, and stopping
action.
The commercial interests of Homo
lulu and the Islands in general had
sustained a great loss in Chinatown
and elsewhere and he felt it was the
bounden duty of the Chamber of Com
merce as a body to make a thorough
investigation. While allowing such i'm
portant matters at home to drag along,
the Government was sending repre-
sentatives to the Paris and other ex-
positions, which he considered was en-
tirely unnecessary.
He offered resolution to the effect
that the Chamber of Commerce make
a direct inquiry of the Government as
to what action, If any, 1t intended to
take relative to an adjustment of the
fire claims. Furthermore the Chamber
of Commerce should make an inquiry
as TO whether the Governor intended
to convene the Court of Claims. Ac-
cording to Mr.. Egan the change of
Government to a Territory made nil
all previous action in regard to the
formation of the Court Of Claims as
first composed.
The presiding officer, w. NJ. Allen,
stated that the Court of Claims was
prevented from holding its sessions as
ordered by the Governor by the refusal
of the Council of State to make appro-
priations of funds for it's maintenance.
Mr.. Swanzey made another appeal
for his resolution, speaking strongly in
favor of the motion to ask a reply from
the Government. Mr.. Anterior offered
an amendment that all reference to the
Court of Claims in the resolution be
omitted. Mr.. Swanzey refused to ac-
cept the amendment and asked that the
resolution as a whole be passed. The
amendment however was carried and
the resolution thus amended was voted
upon favorably.
WE. Allen, vice-president, presided
at the meeting, Of which James G..
Spencer was secretary. Others present
were j. y. Atherton, F. NJ Swanzey, f.
A. Schaefer, II. A. Parmelee, c. L.
Wight, j. J. Egan, II. A. Isenberg, A.
b. Wood, ]. p. Cooke. s. f. Damon.
Mr.. Allen stated that President T..
Rain Walker was unable to attend the
meeting on account Of illness.
For the ensuing year the following
officers were elected: President, w. r.
Allen: vice-president, ]. f. Hackfeld;
secretary and treasurer, James. G..
Spencer; arbitration committee, ]. r.
Hackfeld, c. NJ. Cooke, ]. B. Atherton
and II. L. Waity.
Secretary Spencer read the treasur-
er's report for the past year in which
balance of SS53.61 was shown to be
on hand. and receipts for the entire
year 81 410.53.
The secretary's report was also read
showing that outside of the regular
and annual sessions, six special meet
ings had been called. Included in his
report were those of Ed. Towse and
Daniel Logan, representatives who had
been sent to the Omaha Exposition
last year. Among other matters at
tended to by the Chamber of Com
merce was the appointment of VIM. G..
Irwin, as commissioner to the Paris