The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-11-17
THE FIRE CLAIMS.

The effort get the Fire Claims through Congress again
going be made When these claims up the last Of the
session they nearly passed. but OF the frequent
slip which ntervenes between and lip The matter taken
in the session Precious time which should
have been devoted to this object had been wasted Advocates
had not been point OF fact this most important matter had
been neglected
There no need to go into useless recriminaons The neg
ect the part of the Delegate who seemed to be utterly
able to realize what important thing these Fire Claims to
the poorer classes of the community and the small traders
One can this in Delegate Wilcox attitude to Mr. Pratt who
went press the claims and in his early speeches just after
his the Islands 1t also be in the attempted
defence which after the importance OF the measure
finally became patent to the Delegate.
When Mr. Pratt forward, the mercantile community here
realized that the Delegate had done and would do nothing
further the claims The people suffering for the need Of the
money So the position that the merchants subscrb
ed the money send Mr. Pratt and what could be done Mr.
Pratt and he landed put himself in cOmmunica
ton with the Delegate He later the Delegate Washing
was practically to go ahead Delegate
we'll enough attend such matter. Mr. Pratt did ahead
and nearly succeeded but the Delegate decided leave
Washington before final action was taken Though he
cold upon work Mr. Pratt his presence
the floor OF the House might have saved the tem but Delegate
Wilcox wngng his way homewad to meet his Waterloo,
and the item struck out
When the Delegate returned to Honolulu in
political meetings when he thought that he held the electorate
i'll the hollow ohis hand and talking of blackhearted mis-
sonares snakes and hurting low uperaon at the Governor
and the executive he took occasion aude the fire claims
attempt part of the baChearted snakes to baCkma
Uncle Sam He found however, that he barking
the wrong the poorer natives who to be
compensed and he promptly changed his tune Having seen his
mistake he made OF those marvellous flip flaps for which he
has become celebrated and declared that he would have got
who had prevented him. and of course the merchant missionaries
who fault Fortunately Mr. Pratt presented his report
the mercantile body which had him and the Delegates mis-
. statements refued.
This affair had influence upon the election 1t would have
paid the Delegate if he had been able here
with the million dollars distribute among the needy 1t would
have been far profitable than he had got amway
Pains blanket franchise through But he did do that
The fire claims question stands far better basis than
before Mr. Prat work has not been lost and
people understand the fire claims and the foundations upon
which they based than did when the campaign for their pass
age began The subcommittee OF the Senate which visited the
members supplied with very complete information They
only received this direct information but the subject
very thoroughly discussed in private conversation with some Of
. our most prominent men. .-.ss
The objection after the for the existence of the
fire claims clearly understood and acquesced the
fear that the money would go the pockets of the real
claimants but would be taken by SPECTATORS Such idea
had been thrown by Wilcox and clear that had had
evil influence. Even fool what a wise
may have taken weeks and months But that
hoo also laid and WcoX remark has sped into the en-
PITY air. i
The road clear and may expect that if Delegate
Wilcox raises opposition makes mistakes and
even refrains doing anything thai the item will pass Con
gress speedy relief be given people who have truly suffer-
ed The incubus which have been suffering from in Wash
ngton will removed but before his eegaon to the
position of nnocuou which will be his political fate
some good may accomplished by Others and the fire claims
most nDOr auta of LEGISLATION. :!