The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-10-22
TRUST WILL
Be ATTACKED
Bishop Estate MayEnter
Courts.
IN HOT WATER
:. w. MacfarIane's Statement Of
the Oppressive Methods
Used.


combine 20 sell only TO members of the
ring.
The financial backing of the great
landed estate may be used to bring an
action into the United States District
| Court at an early date.
From suggestions which have been
made to the Trustees of the Estate it
is quite likely that the plumbing COM
bine will be hailed before United States
District Judge Estee to explain why it
will not sell to all who desire to pur-
chase plumbing goods.
Lately the Bishop Estate prepared
plans for the plumbing of certain build
ings and bids were asked for from the
local plumbers. With characteristic
methods the plumbers put their bids at
a figure which the Trustees of the Bish-
op Estate then considered excessive
and exorbitant and all the bids were
rejected.
The Bishop Estate, wealthy as it is,
refuses to be robbed by trust which
is despoiling the community. The prin-
ciple of the matter is at issue as to
whether the combine can force the
would-be customers for plumbing goods
to buy them through members of the
trust who demand that they also put in
| the fixtures.
| w. o. Smith, one of the Trustees of
the Bishop Estate assured an Adver-
tiser representative that the Estate
would probably back a test case
against the plumbing combine and at
an early date.
! +. w. Macfarlane is also a victim of
the trusts arbitrary workings.
IL IL.
a concession which no combination of
corporations would have the temerity
TO demand. With the winter seasons
rains now at hand Mr.. Macfarlane's
residence alterations would have been
brought to an absolute standstill and
doubtless with considerable additional
expense to himself had he not reluct-
antly yielded TO the trusts demands.
The trust ordered him to pay ten per
cent of the cost Of plumbing material
which Mr.. Macfarlane bought two
years and half ago in San Francisco
for his house and which is to be used
now. 500
| II Mr.. Macfarlane had refused to
comply the trust would have compelled
every plumber in the city to keep it's
hands off the Macfarlane residence and
the building could not have been com
pleted. The carpenters are now wait
ing for the plumbers TO go ahead with
their work. When they finish the car
pcnter work will be brought to an end.
The plumber who made the demand
upon Mr.. Macfarlane did so at the in
stance Of the trust, directly or Indirect
~. The plumber is one of the oldest in
Honolulu and i'm past years before the
coming Of the octopus here, was re-
spected as one Of the fairest men in the
business.
In an interview with an Advertiser
reporter yesterday afternoon, Mr.. Mac
farlanc expressed himself on this vital
public question i'm the following words
The contractor who was putting up
the plant Of the Union Feed Company
was engaged by me TO make extensive
alterations TO my residence in Waikiki.
started him on putting on a second
story on this building. Yesterday he
b went 10 "a plumber 90 get a bid and
told the latter that l had purchased all
the plumbing fixtures when l was in
San Francisco two and "A half years
ago, as / intended at that time to make
these improvements.
The contractor told the plumber that
when making this bid he was to allow
for these fixtures that were TO be fur
nished by me which consisted of bath
tubs, wash stands, closets and general
plumbing and sanitary features, where
= upon the plumber told him that he
: would make a bid to do the plumbing
work on the basis Of wages that was
being paid plumbers when the work
was done.
His making this reservation as he
told the contractor. was that he did
> not know when plumbers wages would
be raised again.
HE then told the contractor that as
regards the plumbing supplies that
was going TO furnish that he would not
undertake to do the work unless l dug
: up ten per cent to him on the cost oil
the goods that had purchased.
THE contractor returned to me anC
said: You can have the plumbing done
: in connection with the goods you now
have here on the basis proposed by the
plumber. / would advise you to yielt
TO this demand as IL you refuse, thu
keeping of your men without being abl'
E to accomplish any work by reason Of
the delay in plumbing, will be very ex
pensive TO you.
What is TO prevent one of these fel
lows going down to a business mans
Office and asking him TO open his SAT-
and deliver to him the cash that Is il
Il? 1t Is just the same principle" saiC
Mr.. Macfarlane emphatically.
Il told the contractor that rathe
than delay the work at this time whel
the winter rains had set in and would
dscommode my family TO a great ex
4 tent. I would accept his suggestion.
:. authorized him to tell the plumber tina
I would accede 10 his demand. I ha,
e to commit myself thus far to make thi
demand part of the contract.
II II will tell you plainly that / have n
objection to plumbers getting as mucI
n as they possibly can for their services
That is not the point I raise at all, blu
II Is against their peremptory demands
and against any right of the plumber
to tell citizens where and how the,