The Hawaiian gazette., 1900-04-06
THE COURT
Of CLAIMS
Its Complexion is Now
Objected TO.
BUSINESS MEN PROTEST
Chamber Of Commerce Says That the
Commercial Community Should
Have Had a Show
CFrom Thursdays DailyJ


adjudicated by business men and not
by lawyers. The Court of Claims as
named two days ago and as now sitting
is composed of five lawyers. A. Ma
COON, Lorrin Andrews, George A. Davis,
A. +. Judd, Jr and A. N. Kepolkai.
Yesterday the Chamber of Commerce at
a meeting in which intense interest was
shown, drew up resolution stating its
disapproval OF the court as at present
constituted, and directed that copy
of the resolution be sent TO President
Dole.
The following was the resolution:
Resolved, That the Court of Claims
as at present constituted by appoint
ments made by President Dole, does not
meet wltn tAe approval or endorsement
OF this Chamber, which is disappointed
that the CONNIE. cidl community of this
city should be entirely misrepresented
in that Court
The Chamber fully recognizes the
Importance of the Court being presided
over by some one of experience IN the
application and practice OF law, but
fails to understand the reasons which
seem to have rendered IL necessary that
the whole Court should consist OF mem
bers of the legal profession.
The meeting was me outcome OF in
diyidual Ieeling on The subject A num-
Der OF protests against the appoint
ments of the Executive had been receiY-
ed by the secretary of the Chamber
and the sentiment was unanimous that
a formal utterance of the Chambers
opinions should be made. Accordingly
yesterday forenoon a number OF the
leading merchants and business men
came together IN the rooms of the
Chamber. Those present were: 4. II.
Walker, Frank b. Auerbach, Il. C. Mac
farlane, W. NJ. Giffard, w. w. Hall,
Isidore Rubenstein, C. Bolte u A.
Parmeee, j. b. Atherton, A. b. Wood
representing Henry Waterhouse, Paul
Muhendorf, representing Allen & Rob-
inson, NJ Phillips, +. w. McChesney,
\. j. King, II. T.. Lang, representing
Il. Hoifschlaeger & Co., w. +. Allen,
A. Fernandez, representing the Hawai-
ian Hardware Company, c. w. Smith.
A. V. Gear c. NJ. Cooke. A. j. Camp
bell, +. J. Lowrey, James A. Spencer,
u. NJ. SwanZy and e. II. Bishop
The meeting was called to order by
President 4. X. WaiAer who stated its
object and made mention OF the receipt
by the Chamber of the written disap-
proval OF members to the court as
formed.
F. Al. Swanzy spoke of the general
dissatisfaction expressed at the APP
pointments made. II had been the i'm
preston down town that the business
men would be called upon in the forma-
ton of the court as their commercial
experience would have been of great
value in the determining of claims. He
did not think that all the members of
the court as at present constituted
were competent To pass upon all mat
tiers that would come up before them
He wished i understood that he did not
mean to question the integrity of any
member OF the court but he said that
the court should have been made up or
men from mercantile pursuits
A. V. Gear followed the ii st speaker.
lie said that as a member OF the Coun-
eli of State he knew that whatever ac-
tion was taken Dy the Chamber OF
Commerce would be given due consid-
GRAFTON by the legislative body now in
session. During many conversations |
he had had lately with representative |
business men he had not in n single in |
stance heard an endorsement OF the |
court as a body. He said that Pres dent |
Dole was on record as stating that some |
OF the members OF the court would be |
business men. He added that many |
opinions had been expressed In The |
Council of state meetings adverse to |
the conduct OF the court. One was that |
all the claims should be thrown out on |
account of the governments ability to |
pay and that there was a question in |
the minds of many as to when the |
claims would be paid. The court had |
no authority to lay the claims aud a |
do ~ a
meet the expenses of the court. People |
actually in need and suffering as n re-
suit OF the fires would have to wait |
all all the claims were adjusted and
The total sum allowed in damages by |
the court asked for from the legislature |
some six or eight months hence. He
asked that resolution be adopted |
either approving or disappearing of he |
present court and the conduct OF the |
same.
j. Is. Atherton said that he had failed |
20 lind any endorsements among the
business men of the appointments made
on the Court OF Claims. He thought |
that II no change could be brought
about by the action taken by the Cham
Der the least said about the court the
better. lie had nothing against the
characters OF the members of the court
Out they were men who had had but
little commercial experience and he
thought were too young to be CAPABLE
OF Passing upon many matters to be
Brought before them. He wanted 10
zee no delay in the payment of the
claims and thought that the Council OF
State should have the power to 4, ST
npon the immediate payment OF aT.Itls
made by the court Hearty applause
greeted Mr., Atherton at the conclusion
Of his remarks.
D. M. Swanzy then introduced the
resolution already given. After its
reading the resolution was generally