The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-04-04
Chamber of Commerce and Mer-
chants Association Unite Up
on Resolution,
Will Send Representative to Washington to
Urge Appropriation -Mackay Cable
Project Is Endorsed

said about having Congress aid the
Territory. but nothing definite had yet
been accomplished at Washington The
time was getting late and action
| should be taken to bring the matter
/; squarely to the attention of Congress.
steps should be taken to send a repre-
sentative of the Chamber of Commerce
and the Merchants Association to
Washington to push the question from
now until the end of the session. Mr..
Cooke presented the following resolu-
tIon:
Resolved. That II is in the sense of
the Chamber OF Commerce that il is
expedient that a special representative
or representatives be chosen to proceed
| 10 Washington, ID. c., to present, in the
| proper quarters, the Importance of the
measure authorizing assistance by the
| Federal government in the payment of
the so-called fire claims resulting from
I the efforts to suppress the epidemic Of
i bubonic plague in 1900; and be it fur
ther
Resolved. That a committee OF three
be appointed to confer with the Mer-
chants Association upon the subject.
with power to act on behalf of this
Chamber in the choice of such repre-
sentation and the compensation to be
paid
Chairman Cooke said that as Mr..
Haywood and George Carter were in
Washington, they probably could be
instructed to act for the two local or
ganizations and thus save the expense
OF sending a representative from Ho-
nolulu. Mr.. Spencer stated that at the
last meeting OF the Chamber he was
instructed to write to Mr.. Haywood
requesting him to look after such a
matter should II be brought to WASH
irgtoD. and assist in pushing 1t
through
J. 3. Atherton said that whatever
action was taken there must be a bill
introduced In Congress. 1t was sug-
gested some time ago that the customs
house receipts at Honolulu be remit !
ted to the Territory for three years, !
which would probably amount to |
enough in that time to pay off the |
claims. He thought this unconstitu-
t:onal. The government could not di- |
vert customs duties for any such pur-
pose. The matter would have to be
brought in regular channels and any
thing done for these Islands must be
by Congressional action. Such mat
ters as these would not necessarily
have to go through the Hawaiian Del
egate in Congress. but could be done
by any Senator or Representative.
IF we had a Delegate in Congress
who really represented our interests"
said Mr.. Atherton, II have no doubt
but that the bill could be pushed
through. think they would be willing
to assist these Islands IL that is pos
sible. and the only question is how
and made the most of there"
j. p. Cooke said that Delegate Will
cox had promised him to take up this
matter willingly. The bill would have
to originate in the Ways and Means
II would naturally come
through Mr.. Wilcox. but he was sick
and unable to attend to any public
and it was doubtful whether
he would be able TO attend to ii at all.
B. F. Dillingham; said that the mat
ter was of sufficient Importance to be
acted upon Immediately. and the best
possible effort should be put forth by
should be sent from Honolulu to
on this mission, and have ;
nothing else to do there. He knew that
Lhere was no authority vested in the {
administration or any branch of the {
to divert the customs re-
-eipts but he thought il quite possible {
he thing could be done by Congress. ,
II the action were taken the receipts ,
or two or two and half years would -,
make up the amount This matter
should be presented clearly TO the
Senator's and Representatives. The
natter should be brought to them per-
'onally. He did not believe anything
,ould be done by Mr.. Wilcox. He
hought a committee should be ap-
pointed to carry out the resolution. 7
The. resolution was then voted upon b
nd passed unanimously. The chair c