The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-07-16
INSURERS
WILL GET
NOTHING
Fire Court Makes
Its Awards
Known.
TOTAL IS MILLION
AND ONE HALF
Kick on Fees-Some OF the Big
Awards-ProVisO in Certih.
cate Causes Trouble.

THE Court Of Fire Claims yesterday
gave out the Judgments for losses
b incurred during the sanitary fires.
The total amount of the awards
made is a trine less than the appro-
priation of a million and One-half dol
claims against the Government. There
were altogether 6.VO claimants who put
in bills amounting to 33,20e, eoe. though
neither the total number of claimants
was awarded damages, nor the full
amount of the claims allowed.
The Fire Commission denied access
to the books of the court both TO news
papers and attorneys interested, who
had not paid the fee demanded for the
certificates, and several of the attOr-
neys were quite wrought up over this
refusal Chairman Macfarlane explain
ed this action by saying that the judg-
ments had not become public records,
except to the parties interested and
they would not until the commission
had turned its books over to Treasurer
Wright 1t was added also that the
clerk. j. NJ Riggs, was to be on duty
but a few days. and ne will require the
use of the books all the time, in order
TO complete the report TO Governor
Dole.
About half the number of the GER
t!icates were given out. mostly to the
attorneys of record, and Clerk Rfggs
took in something over $2f09 in fees.
This charge Of the commission was
source of more dissatisfaction than the
big cuts in the claims. and IL will prob
ably find its way into the courts. A
charge OF - rents was made for all
wards amounting TO less than $50: from
$50 to 800 50 cents: from 800 10 $500
81, and over that amount. "a. Many of
he fees were paid under protest, and
IN appeal VIII probably be taken from
he action of the board. About $4,000
will b. realized from these fees. which
s somewhat in excess Of the amount
from the merchants $4,000 To
the work OF the commission
,fter the appropriation had been ex-
lausted Kinney. Ballou e. McClana-
IAN paid $1,000 iu fees. and there is a
har@c Of $2l00 against Whiting d Rob-
nsun before they can get the certifi-
ates coming 20 the Chinese claimants.
rhe Chinese Consul viii furnish the
equired amount today, however and
he certificates viii be handed over.
DECISIONS OF THE COURT.
Two important decisions Of the Fire
'uurt are made apparent by some OF
he awards given out. The first is that
b. fire insurance companies are
warded nothing, the court holding
nat IL mad no jurisdiction TO allow any
9irrrr i'm
uring the fire. The second ruling is
bat the owner and not the tenant.
cases Where buildings built on leased
round were burned down. IS given the
ward. In each case however, the
,mpany or man not given the award
as a lien upon the claimant who Is
.ven certificate.
The decision Of the court in reference
awards made on property upon
hich insurance had been paid is puz-
ing To claimants and attorneys alike.
ne various insurance companies which
I'd risks On the property destroyed by
der Of the Board OF Health. and who
al paid the amount Of the losses. put
claims 20 the amount OF S200. 900.
lm@ OF the companies protected them
Ives by requiring each OF those to-
hom they paid money to surrogate
the company any amount which they
i2h. receive from the Government
aWing up ii contract TO that effect.
8ch of the claimants. when proving
g claim, was asked whether or not
surance had been received on the
operty destroyed.
The INSURANCE companies were not di-
ely allowed one cent by the r'ire
,uTt each Of the certificates being
4rked mo award" Instead. claim
ts who had received insurance money
.eived certificates subjec. to the lien
the insurance company Wbl-h had
fuS:ed the loss.