The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-08-23
OPPOSED To
SPECULATION
Why Fire Claim
Warrants Are
Held.
PRATT TELLS OF
WORK AT CAPITAL
CompIimented by Many Members
of the Association for His Per.
formance of Duties.

| Fire Claim payments will be endan-
gered by speculation in warrants, ac-
cording to the opinion of those who
should know, and this fact has; had
much to do with the refusal of the
government to issue the evidence OF
award. These facts were brought out
at the joint meeting of, the Chamber of
Commerce and the Merchants Associa-
ton yesterday, after Joseph G. Pratt
Washington and what he accomplished
and the general discussion of the af-
fairs connected with the fight for the
payment was begun.
| The meeting was a large and repre-
sentative one and the presidents of the
two organizations, w. G. Irwin and F.
w. Macfarlane, Jointly presided, while
James Gordon Spencer was secretary.
When the meeting had been called to
| order Chairman w. w. Hall of the
committee in charge of the work of
sending the delegate to Washington
read a report showing that there had
been collected $4,000 and paid out
$3,016, and referring to the report of
Mr.. Pratt for details of the work at
Washington. complimenting the dele
gate highly. The report having been
accepted and the committee continued,
for the purpose of permitting work this
fall if such thing is deemed advis-
able, Mr.. Pratt was called upon to read
his report
This report was largely a historical
document, telling of his departure in
the Alameda, his stay in San Francis |
co and with more or less detail ac-
counting for his time in Washington
and his labors with Senator Clark and !
Warren and Representative Mordell of /
Wyoming, for the appropriation. He
gave the various points covered and
his negotiations to secure the assist
ance of Wilcox, who was then too i'll
to aid. He described the hearings of
the senate committee and closed with
paragraphs, indicating the good feeling
there.
In addition Mr.. Pratt said that he
had heard the suggestion that in the
would buy up the warrants and the s
money not go the people who need it.
Upon this Mr.. Pratt said he telegraph
ed here suggesting that no warrants
ssue- Mr.. Irwin said that the banks
had the same idea and had urged
against issuance
Senator George r. Carter said that
lie wanted to give testimony as to the
of affairs in Congress, when
dr. Pratt had to fight for recognition,
sreat questions being constantly be-
ore the two houses. He had done WELL
DR.. Carter said, for the outlook for any.
egislation was bad. 4
A report was asked of the commit
ee having in charge arrangements for
ne entertainment of the visiting COM.
MISSION of senators, and Mr.. Cooke
tated that the committee was in favor
having only an excursion to Waia-
Ia and luncheon at the Haleiwa hotel !
n addition, of course, the committee.
insisting of the officers of the organic
tons, would hold themselves in readi-
ess to furnish any information that .,
light be wanted. -
Chairman MacfarIane said that ba u
IRE adjournment there should be some
ttention called to the plan of the Mer-
lants Association for the raising of
md for the exploitation of the advan-
lSeS OF Honolulu as a tourist resort |
e SAID he heard from San Francisco
lat there We're now there from 80. 900
100000 visitors, and some of these
lght be induced to come here. Secre-
ry Harris of the Association had the
port of the committee in pamphlet
I'm, and distributed many Of these.
1t was understood that the Mer-
lants' Association would meet next
eek for the purpose of commencing
e canvassing of the city for the
nds for the tourist agency. Also it
as urged that the Association might
Ike different view of affairs and de-
led that there should be some formal
teri a inIlant Of Tho -