The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-06-04
WILL PAY
MERCHANTS
Fire Commission
Charges a
Fee.
COURTS LABORS
ALMOST DONE
The Claimants Must Pay Fee for
Awards Which Goes to Ex-
psnse Overdraft.

the court OF ure commissioners COM
pieted their iabors yesterday morning.
and will file their awards as soon as
the remainder OF the certificates have
been signed. AS a inal climax TO their
iabors the commission devised a way
by which they will pay back the $4,000
borrowed from the Honolulu merchants
a few months q TO carry the work
OF the fire court to the end. This will
be done by a charge Of a small fee to
each claimant when he receives the
certificate OF award.
Following the completion of their Ia
bors yesterday morning the fire com
mIssioners called upon Governor Coop
CT and so reported. receiving the
thanks OF the acting executive.
Notices OF the awards in a good nan
cases are already in h hands OF Audi
tor Austin. and az Dor as they are
announced by the fire courts the GER
tifcates will be given out. The awards
will be announced within a few weeks.
and only n small number will be given
out each day. so that neither auditor
nor commission will be overworked. All
the ward have now been signed ex-
cepting five books by Commissioner F.
J. Tesla. j. c.. Pratt. who is now in
Washington. has not signed. but as IL
requires only a majority OF the sigma
lures OF the commissioners to make the
award legal and binding, there will be
NO delay because of his absence. The
commission examined over goo claims.
and the total OF the awards Will reach
into The prfItfnnG Tho annrnnrf.sfnr
made by the Legislature was but 81. 500
900. but the awards OF the court will be
more han that sum it is thought. as
Commissioner Pratt has asked for an
appropriation from Congress OF s., 000.- !
900. This was the aggregate OF the
claims filed. but the court reduced this
amount considerably. and IL would not
De a great surprise il the final figures
showed that the total awards were
within the estimate OF the legislature. |
or at least not in excess OF 50. O00. 900.
The certificates of award will now be
placed in the hands OF the auditor. who
IN turn will make out the warrants
upon the treasurer. These warrants
will be payable in one. two and three |
years respectively. so that as a matter
OF fact the claims are not payable for
one year yet.
Undoubtedly. however. the warrants
can be discounted at the local banks. |
as has been done in other cases.
Following the signing of the records
OF judgments the commission went into
executive session. when the following
resolution was introduced by Commits
sioner Kepoikai. by which IL is hoped
to secure a sufficient return for the
payment of the expenses of the COM
mission in excess of the appropriation:
Tha the chairman be and is hereby
empowered to oversee the clerk in COM
pletinS the records and other clerical
work OF the commission: To make up a
financial statement OF the receipts and
disbursements OF the commission: to
make up a general report OF the work
OF the commission To the governor: To
issue certificates OF awards To claim
ants and to collect "a Zee for each GER
tihcate Of award based upon the fol-
lowing schedule:
Awards Of $50 ana under .-........$O %
Awards OF 800 and under ........ 80
Awards OF $500 and under $1,000. 1 90
Awards Of $500 and over .......... I 90
And from the proceeds of the above
and any other funds OF the commission
to liquidate all outstanding obligations
OF the commission. including the ad-
vanccs Ia the commission by the mer-
chants 81 Honolulu to the amount OF
5000. and interest thereon at the rate
% s per cent per annum together with
such other expenses incurred and nee
essary e. be incurred Incident To the
closing up Of the work u his commits
sion.
The resolution was seconded by Com
missioner Lovckin and passed. all vot-
ing In favor of II excepting Commits
sioner Tesla. who offered the following
amendment:
Awards 81 so and under ..........sO %
For every $50 or fraction thereof
from $50 To- $500 %
Awards Of 500 To- $500 ...-.. so
For every 500 or fraction thereof
from 500 10 $500 ........... 50
For every 500 or fraction thereof
from $500 and upwards 1900. -
There being no second the original
was adopted. An estimate OF
returns under the fee rule has been
made. and the commissioners expect
TO be able TO pay from IL all the ex-
penseS OF the court in excess Of the
appropriation. including the $4,000 Dor =
rowed from Honolulu merchants.