The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-09-22

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Company for $780, F.rrmun.a Fund.
$1,000, Royal Insurance Company s,stIU
policies Wyr. noted and The award was
made subject tp the segregation OF
these policies. less amounts received
from the Insurance companies by Oh.
claimant ON account of the fire. MI
SIS imam made the same point as Judge
Whiting, questioning Mr.. Mapfarldup
as to the stock being new and the
terms of the policy as To- exemption
clause. MIR. Silliman claimed that the
Commission acted arbitrarily i'm de-
Quoting paid policies without looking
that an assignment had been made to
the insurance company which would
throw the loss on the claimant. The
policy had clauses which were ambgu-
Gus excepting loss by unusual fire. The
company made no fight but made pay
ment and accepted an assignment He
contended that discrimination had been
made.
An American claim was called for.
The claim of w. II. Hoogs and p l..
Weaver for $4,000 for a building with
an award of s. 400 was selected The
building was but six months old, a
photograph was exhibited. The build
ing was a tenement house appraised a I
$1,000, having been built when material
was cheap.
Senator Burton asked if any distinc-
ton was made regarding accidental
fires or fires in the district ordered
burned. The answer was NO"
Attorney Bigelow for Kinney, Ballou
& McClanahan brought up a japanese
claim of sea- 600, the award being $50.
No evidence aside from the sworn af-
fidavit of the Japanese claimant Was
taken, the claimant being an absentee.
Mr.. Macfarlane stated that the Com
mission had decided in these cases,
where properly approved through the
consul to make the awards at 90 per
cent. Often absentees were found to
have waited until obliged to leave for
other islands in search of employment
leaving powers Of attorney.
Senator Mitchell asked if the Terri
torial Government had assumed the
claims and what disposition had been
made of the S140 600 received. The Sem
ator read the Territorial act appropri-
ating $l,5OO0OO for the fire claims, to
which all interest received from bonds
should be applied.
Returning to his question, Senator
Burton asked why no destruction was
made in allowing claims of accidentally
and ordered burned districts, and if the
city of Honolulu had had sufficient fire
protection, would the fire have spread.
Commissioner Macfarlane said that
the appliances at hand were unable to
protect the fire. Senator Burton open
ed that if the city would not protect
itself, the payment of claims by the
general government would be a bad
precedent.
No distinction was made as all was
result of the Board of Health's fire"
said Mr.. Macfarane, adding that a fire |
department of twice the present efiici- |
ency could not have stopped such a |
blaze. No destruction had been found !
that the government had been given |
benefits of doubts.
r. ID. Sillman said that he was pres |
ent in the condemned district on the |
day of the fire and described its start |
on calm day. The fire chief. now |
dead, had stated his intention of burns |
ing against the wind. The wind sud- |
denly veered to trade winds unusually |
at that time of year in a sudden gust
very unusual occurrence This !
change of wind with the catching of !
the steeple of Kaumakapili church, and /
consequent diversion of hose, was the
cause OF the fire getting away. He
did not think that insufficient firep ro- |
lection was the fault, but rather the |
unexpected accidents of wind and stee- |
pie catching. The water supply was
ample and one of the engines burned !
before 1t could get away. This last re- |
mar kWaS in answer to Senator Bur
tons insinuation regarding the fire
control.
Senator Burton cross-examined as to |
the course of the winds and thought /
that trade winds were usual winds, ev- |
cry day winds. Mr.. Silliman insisted /
that trade winds were not usual at that |
a quarantine district there was a gem
eral fear of pulling down buildings for
FEAR of germs. He testified that he
himself saw four dead, germ carrying /
rats in one ROOM
senator Burton thought paid firemen
were not afraid Of germs and that in
suthcient efforts at protection were
made.
In response to Senator Mitchell Mr..
Siinman stated that his claimants were
all regular clients They expected to
get 612 per cent. Mr.. Bigelow stated
that his firm represented all Japanese
claimants but two Their general terms
with claimants We're to receive less
than 612 per cent where awards reach
ed $2OO,OOO or when not reaching that |
amount a lump sum.
DR.. Wood, testified as president of
the Board of Health, during the plague
epidemic. He made a brief state
ment. The map held by Senator Bur-
ton was made by the witness, showed
the distractions of condemned and un-
condemned property destroyed by lire,
also the limits of the Quarantine dis
-rict and Chinatown, as kept unde~
surveillance by the Board of Health
Inc map was included as testimony
Inc witness started from the lrst |
iase or plague the young Cninaman {
employed by Wing Wo Tai, on Deem
Der ~, and the spread of epidemic. ]
hague was reported on December L. I
I've having been found dead in one 10 {
'ality lie described the limits. III. {
general population and building char t
.cter OF Chinatown where the Asiatics
lVed where they work as opposed u
americans. Honolulu was unsewered.
n the congested downtown district.
Win differences of soil the cesspool
ystem was dangerous though not 50
n outlying districts where there was
ub stratum of black sand.
casual observers could not imagine