The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-08-22
Second Edition 8 p. mi.
Fire. Claims Bill

States of certain Joint Resolutions,
adopted by your associations, under
date of April 9TH, 1902. having regard
20 the matter of securing the aid of
Congress for the Territory of Hawaii,
in the payment of awards made, and
at that time about to be entered up of
record by the Fire Claims Commission,
and estimated at about S2OOOO 900, but
since determined by adjudication to be
81 l,475, 000
AS. also, the presentation of Joint
Resolutions calling the attention of
Congress to the isolated condition of
the Territory of Hawaii as for tele-
graphic and cable communication, and
the urgent necessity for establishing
and laying a cable from the mainland of
the United States to Honolulu, / beg
to submit the following statement:
On April 9th, l took passage on the
steamer Alameda, arriving at San
Francisco on the 14th, whereupon l i'm
mediately sent kilograms to the Hon.
Robert Wilcox, Delegate in Congress,
informing him of the nature of my
business and that I was on my way to
Washington as the bearer of Joint
Resolutions of the Chamber of Com
merce and the Merchants Associa ton,
to secure aid from Congress for the
Territory in paying BubOnic Plague
fire claims losses, and that / desired
to confer with him in regard thereto.
kilograms We're also sent at the same
time to Hon. s. B. Dole, Governor of
the Territory, then at Washington,
stating the object and purpose of my
coming, and asking that in case he
would not be able to await upon my
arrival, to take the matter up with the
President and the Chairmen of the
Committees, giving to them his views
on the matter: also to the honorable
Senators c. d. Clark and f. E. Warren
and to Congressman Mondell, with
whom l was personally well acquaint-
ed, and who had expressed a willing
ness to assist Hawaii to secure aid
from Congress to satisfy the fire claims
losses, and whose service it was ex-
cedingly desirable to secure owing to
the lateness of the session and the in
capacity Of the Delegate, whose health
had been, and at that time was in a
somewhat precarious condition.
Shortly after my arrival in San Fran
cisco, presented letter to one of the
leading business men, Mr.. a. G. Rulos-
son, of the firm of Baker & Hamilton,
stating to him the object of my mis-
sion to Washington and requesting his
assistance in securing the influence of
business men in San Francisco on be-
half of the Territory of Hawaii.
After securing this support, l hasten
ed to Washington, arriving there on
the afternoon of April 22nd, being met
at the depot by Robert Wilcox, Edward
. S. Boyd, A. c. Gehr, j. A. Breckons,
and others. Mr.. Boyd stated that Gov
ernor Dole was desirous of seeing me
as soon as possible at his hotel as he
intended leaving Washington that
| night or early the following morning. /
therefore called upon Governor Dole
, Immediately and learned from him
that he had talked with President
a Roosevelt, and members of Congress
f respecting the fire claims matter, but
that nearly everyone thought it was
: too late in the session to accomplish
. anything; also that Mr. Thurston had
l in company with Mr.. Caypless, and
r think Delegate Wilcox, called upon the
. Secretary of the Treasury and other
government officials, and explained tC
them the situation in Hawaii growing
out of the losses by Bubonic Plague
, and the necessity for securing Congress
: sional legislation, and had prepared a
= very carefully drawn bill to be present.
y ed in case it should be found to be sat
= isfactory.
l gave Mr. Wilcox a copy of the ke
solutions, of which l was the bearer
n and stated that as a member of the
A Commission, having personal knoWl
q edge of important facts, l hoped to b
4 of assistance to him in the presentation
. of the matter to Congress. He express
p ed a desire to do everything he cOulC
: in the matter, but remarked. 81 an
: afraid it is too late to accomplish any
thing at this session; l have already IN
troduced a bill which has been referre,
n to the Committee on Territories, bu
= they have done nothing with it,"
told him | would confer with Mr.. Mon
Of
: ming, and Senators Clark and Warren
n as well also Assistant Attorney Genera
u Nandeventer, with whom l had CORES
3 ponded in regard to securing aid from
Il Congress and who had promised thei
Il assistance, as to what in their opinion
would be the best plan for us to adopt
O and after obtaining the same woul
e confer with him in regard thereto. Fl
e said that this plan was perfect
agreeable to him; that he was reall
sick and could not personally atten
to matters"
A day or two following, and afte
q having conferred with Congressma
Mondell Metcalf and Cushman, an
p Senators Warren, Clark and Perkins,
: saw Mr.. Wilcox and explained to hir
that through the courtesy of Senate
/ Clark / had made the acquaintance @
- Senator Foraker, Chairman of the Sen
ate committee of Pacific Islands an
HOfIo RlcO Wnlcn committee ma
charge of all matters pertaining to Ha
l. wall also, that Senators Warren, Clar
II and Perkins, and Mr. Mondell and tn
ii members from California, would d
n everything they could to assist us /
IS securing relief for the Territory; tha
ID in their judgment the best course
Of pursue was to take the matter up wit
!. Senator Foraker, II it could be so a
ranged, as it depended entirely upC
% him as to whether or not the matt,
= could be heard at this session.
NJ After he had read over very car
fully several drafts of bills, prepare
with the kindly assistance of AsistaI
n Attorney General Vandeventer, for II
I'd payment of fire claims losses, one pr,
ye Vlding for the diversion of the custo
A.
I'd CONTINUED on page fve.)