Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1903-07-17

=. The Builders and Traders EN-. "
2: change last night endorsed the |:
:; petition Of the Merchants AssO. {:
:; citation 10 the War Department in |:
;: the matter of making Honolulu u
:: port Of call for all Army trans. u
:: ports Doth coming and going by {:
:; authorizing the forwarding of the {.
J: letter TO Secretary Root which .:
e appears below. Contrary to the %
:: custom usually taken by the pub. !.
.. lie bodies of this city. the Tx. %
:! change unanimously authorized q
- the publication Of the letter by ::
- the press without waiting to even .:
:; mail It first. This Is perhaps the :,
- first time a Honolulu paper has :;
=: been able to say that tine follow. I:
3; ing will go forward. The EN- ::
:! change feels that transports call. q
:: ing at Honolulu would be a bCne. ::
:: tit to all Honolulu and that Homo. ::
q iplu people and the general public {:
:: ri the nation are entitled to know .:
- what Honolulu thinks about the ::
:: matter and why ii thinks so. q
The letter Is as follows:
Honolulu, July l6. 1903.
TO the Hon. Elihu Root, Secretary oil
War, Washington. d. c.
Sir:-The Builders and Traders
Exchange OF Honolulu. Territory Ol
iiawaii, would respectfully petition
that the United States transport ser
Ice continue to forward its steamers
Via the Honolulu route to and from the
philippine Islands and the Orient.
The inducements TO the Department
IN evidence are, the favorable weather
conditions by this route, cable Commu.
faiCatiOn at three Pacific island sta
riuns, free harbor and dock facilities
ample depth of water and safety, am
ole facilities for repairs, coal supplies
.gnh particularly the upbuilding and
maintaining of resources for repairs
and supplies In this most strategic
point in the Pacific and by retention
here in time Of peace OF the skilled me
chanics and labor necessary TO serve
the needs of the United States 10
time of war.
In turn, we, citizens Of Honolulu
employ ninety per cent, OF the skilled
labor. believe we should be entitled IA
all possible governmental support In
maintaining an aggressive, up.to-datG
community, such as will enable us ia
strengthen the position Of the United
States to far greater degree than any
other city Of its size under the Amer
ican flag. Certainly the patronage o!
the government may be OF more thar
temporary benefit to both itself and
the citizens of Honolulu in continuing
-he transport service via the Honolulu
route.
Very respectfully.
THE BUILDERS AND TRADERS
EXCHANGE.
By its President,
A. GARTLEY,
The matter of Kapiolani Maternity
Home employing a contractor who
himself is said not to be a citizen
W. NJ. Campbell-and who Is known
10 employ no citizen labor whatever h
his construction work, to put up Ger
tain additions on their premises, wa!
thoroughly discussed.
II is claimed that a part OF the innd'
used for the support and maintenance
oi the Maternity Home come from thu
Hawaiian Treasury and that therefore
the contract comes under the new CitI
zen Labor Law which the Exchang
drew.
If this contention should prove true
it is possible that the contract Is void
as the law says any violation of tn
citizen labor or eight.hour provision
will nullify any contract for which pull
lie money is paid, and any contract no
carrying these clauses Is void, whicl
would mean the Auditor could not pa,
warrants drawn for the purpose o
paying for such improvements.
The entire matter was left In tn
hands of the Legislative COMMITTEE
with instructions to confer with tn
Territorial officials on the question.