The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-11-14
THE FIRE CLAIMS COURT
Appeal Made to the chamber of Com.
mcrce-A Committee Appointed Co
confer with other Organizations.

At yesterdays meeting of the Cham
her of Commerce the subject of the Fire
Claims court was discussed. Governor
Dole was present by invitation Of th,
president of the chamber and presented
the matter. The appropriations for the
commission had been so divided by IN,
Legislature that while some funds Were
exhausted others were scarcely touched
But without some funds being advanc-
ed the work of the commission would
have to cease after November 10.
The Chamber directed its president
and secretary to confer with the presl-
dents and secretaries Of the Merchants
Association and the Planters Associa-
ton to see what could be done.
Governor Dole first read "a letter from
Chairman MacFarlane OF the commits
sion setting forth the situation.
1T seems TO me- continued the gov
ernor. that the commissioners have
done very satisfactory work in this en-
terprise They have been well organic
ed. harmonious and very industrious i'm
carrying on the work. They have work.
ed nights as well as in the day time.
and when it is understood that there
are 1000 claims before the commission
the amount Of work is apparent. The
work could never have reached the
stage 1t has now unless it was so well
organized and systematically carried
on. The commission has shown great
deal of intelligence and ability and has
gone on rapidly in the hearing of claim
ants.
1T seems to me that II the work of
the commission is terminated, when
so nearly finished, when a few weeks
will clear all the questions, and few
months will adiudicate them. that IL
would be a great public misfortune for
IL to come to an end now. | think the
Chamber of Commerce and the Plant
ers' Association will be interested in
seeing it accomplish its work.
1.-THE work has certainly had its eff
fects on the labor conditions here, es-
pecially where Japan is concerned. It
has given the japanese government
confidence in the just and equable dis
position of these claims. The work of
the commission has created confidence
in this direction. and is associated di-
rectly in promoting the interests OF the
laboTing community.
at the work is discontinued for the
present and taken up two years or
eighteen months hence, there might not
be the same men in commission and
the work would again be more difficult,
as the present members understand all
questions which have so far arisen per-
fectly. I think the delay in the work
would prejudice the final satisfactory
adjudication of these claims.
"There are great interests involved,
and there would be great disappoint-
ment that this matter should come to a
standstill until new Legislature had
acted upon it. 1t might have some pre-
judicial effect on the labor conditions.
as far as Japan is concerned. l would
like to see the Chamber of Commerce, IL
the members see their way clear as
body, to act with the Merchants Asso-
citation to raise this money, and take
the guarantee of the government to pre-
sent the matter to the first Legislature
sitting, and ask the Legislature to APP
propriate the amount with interest. 1t
is practice very common in the past
ten years. Many advances have been
made, and all have been paid back. The
last legisla ture, regarded as an uncer-
tain one, ! think did not hesitate to APP
propriate money for advances of that
kind in a previous periods. 1t seemed
proper for me to come to such body as
the Chamber of Commerce, which has
always been cordial to the government,
and always ready to give it cordial and
reasonable assistance"