The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-04-12

now to pursue Is to relegate the whole
question to the next Legislature and IL
1t wants to pay the claims 1t can de-
wise ways and means to do il. Coun-
cilor Achi has changed his opinion; he
said at first that to pay all the claims
would put the country into bankruptcy.
but now he is perfectly willing to pay
all-he Is out for the whole goose. And
now, p. G. Jones wants to modify his
views. have heard him state privately
or publicly some time ago that he did
not see why the government should pay
for losses incurred by the accidental
fire on January 20. when -"
Jones Fires Up.
The flow of oratory from Robertson's
lips was suddenly interrupted by a
gesture by Mr.. Jones who strongly OBJ
jected to such a statement. He remain
ed standing, and Robertson took the
cue and sat down to give the surprised
councillor a chance to talk.
Jones agreed with Robertson in some
things, but a great many of his ideas
were at variance with his views. He
thought also 1t would be good plan to
leave the entire matter to the Legisla-
tuer to fight out. He felt that when
Hawaii was territory the Governor
should call the Legislature together at
once, and the matter of whether or not
the claims are to be paid, be gone over
carefully. He had not found citizen
who believed that payment should not
be made for losses. How much was to
be paid was another question entirely.
Defines His Position.
IL wish to place myself squarely on
this statement" said he, that don't
believe. nor have ever advocated any
| consequential damages. l believe there
| is a certain class of damages which
should be considered l don't claim
they should be paid, but they should be
considered. / think so now. | think
the matter should be gone into by the
court if appointed.
THE people say we refused to appro-
pirate funds for the expenses OF the
Claims Court, or endorse the Exec
lutiye's action. The Minister of Finance
Yesterday said that we had been going
along on revolutionary lines Ions
enough, and that we ought now to &c
down to legal bases.
IF calling for justice for our fellow
man Is revolutionary, then ! want Il
be written down on the pages of his
tory as a revolutiopist. 1t is not be
cause we cannot afford it, but L be
lieve it is a duty resting on us TO pa!
these claims If they be honest.
IF that is revolutionary, l want !
to be written on my tombstone, Hi
facet Revolutionist!' A roar o
laughter followed this sally, and TIL
speaker seemed relieved. He did no
believe any man in the community be
lieved it good logic to say that tn
Claims should not be paid becaus'
there was no money available. 1t wa
absurd. He then read the article o
w. r. Castle, which appeared in tn
Advertiser lately in regard to the pay
ment of claims. He had been accuse
of using harsh language. III he did n
was willing to make a public apology
He had used earnest speech, and IL n
did not agree with the Executive, h
thought he had a right to speak earn
, estly.
, II would like to draw contrast {
. some of Mr.. Robertson's conclusions.
: he said. Take Kaumakapili Church
for instance. I don't care two rap
) for the legal responsibility OF the bus