The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-07-18
THE START.

| be few individual claims in which the
| claimant has left the country or is moi
particularly anxious to ascertain the
decision of the court.
There is still considerable talk as tC
| the cashing or discounting of the war
rants. Auditor Austin said yesterday
| that he would probably begin giving
| out warrants Monday evening, and
| Treasurer Wright will register them al
once, though the warrants will not
draw interest until after August 5th
The second and third certificates will
be given out at the same time, but they
date August 5th, 1903. and August 9Th
1904, respectively
Banks where certificates have been
| presented say they will not discount
them until the vexing questions involv-
! ed are finally adjudicated. In due time
/ the various banking institutions will
I probably get together and agree upon
a rate of discount. Nothing is likely to
be done, however. until after the war
rants have been registered.
A good story is being told in con-
nection with the charge of fees by the
commission and the refusal of the
court to give out certificates or permit
their inspection until the claimants had
paid this charge.
Judge Whiting who, with Judge Rob-
inson, represents nearly all the Chi
nese claimants to the number of over
5000, went to j. M. Riggs, clerk OF the
commission, on the first day the awards
were given out, and was refused per-
mission to examine the records until
he had paid the accumulated fees,
amounting to some 5000, upon the rul
ing of Chairman Macfarlane. The
Judge studied over the situation awhile
and then called on Secretary Riggs
again.
What is the charge on No. S4?" he
asked the clerk, naming one of his
claims from a long and imposing list.
Fifty cents" answered Mr.. Riggs,
after consulting his books.
What is the fee on No. 5s7?'' was the
next query of Mr.. Whiting
-Four dollars" answered the clerk,
still unsuspectingly.
Now please tell me the charge on
No. 1905, was the next question, as
Judge Whiting went down his list, not
ing the replies of the clerk as given.
Again Mr.. Riggs patiently hunted up
the certificate and gave the amount of
the charge which had to be paid before
it could be given out. Mr.. Whiting had
not offered to pay any of the fees. and
the line of people at his back was
steadily increasing. with a prolonged
clamor for recognition from some of
the claimants
tire list in that manner" asked the
clerk in despair. as the object of the
questioning was beginning to dawn
upon him.
That is certainly what we intend 10
do" replied the Judge.
But that will take all day"
Quite likely, and probably two and
three days; but we intend to stay here
until we get the necessary information.
Ycu know that is what you are here
for" the Judge calmly replied.
The cler kwilted then and gave per
mission to the attorneys to examine
the certificates on condition that they
not look at the awards. The fee cbarg-
ed by the commission had been noted
in one corner of the certificate. and
from this the attorneys computed the
total of the charge of the commission.
II amounted to $500. the figures given
by Mr.. Riggs, and was finally paid I'M
der protest.