The Hawaiian gazette., 1903-04-14
MERCHANTS
WANT THE
TOURISTS
Plans for Speedy
Action by Its
Committee.

center was brought before the Cham
Der of Commerce and the Merchants
Association Saturday and strong Ian
guage. which may lead to decided ac
ton, was uttered in both bodies. TIL,
Merchants declared that in the even
of failure to come. to an amicable agree
ment with the Shippers Wharf Com.
mittee, then they must take UP the
matter independently and push II
through. The whole subject was
brought up in the following letter from
Chairman F. C. Smith of the Tourist
Joint Committee, submitted to the two
bodies:
| "At meeting of the Joint Tourist
Committee, held on April 1, the chair
man was instructed to notify the
Chamber of Commerce and Merchants
Association that the Shippers Wharf
Committee report that they have no
funds available for the use Of this COM
mittee.
you have selected this Joint Touris.
Committee for a specific object of the
utmost public Importance. Its proposed
work appeals to every individual prop
erty owner, merchant and those who
depend on general and diversified pros
perity.
PLANS ARE READY.
"The Joint Tourist Committee has
formulated plans for the active and
vigorous promotion of tourist travel to
these islands, Sufficient and reliable
funds are required for this purpose. 1t
is impossible to base our operations
solely on private subscriptions. No
more practical, proper and tangible
basis than the tonnage tax could be de-
vised, supplemented by private sub
scriptions which might then, with con-
sistency, be sought. The tonnage tax
is voluntary and public spirited
contribution of the merchants as rep
resented in the Chamber of Commerce
and Merchants Association, whose ex-
pressed desires should have great
weight.
1.-TWO months of valuable time have
already been lost solely on account of
lack of revenue, and we trust your or
ganizations may be able to devise the
ways and means to furnish the avail
able funds"
AS soon as the letter from Chair
man Smith had been read it was NOV
ed in the Chamber to lay it on the
table and thank the committee. The
IlSHl we ny w.
who asked the Shippers Wharf Com
mittee for information as to what steps
We're being taken to secure repayment
for the Quarantine wharf, and if that
money might be had by the Tourist
Committee. All that could be learned
was that the committee did not feel |
that the money raised for quarantine
purposes could be expended for other |
purposes.
After deal of talk on the same lines, |
on motion of McCandless it was voted |
that the Tourist Committee should be |
asked to hold meeting with the Ship |
,ers' Wharf Committee, for the purpose |
Of reaching a joint understanding. On |
his basis the matter was closed for the |
present in the Chamber.
MERCHANTS WANT ACTION.
AS soon as the letter had been read
n the Merchants Association, Mr..
told what had been done in
he Chamber and declared that in his
opinion it was simply a case of whip
ling the devil around the stump, that
I was not the intention of the COM
nittee to permit the Tourist Committee
o get any of the money, and he ia
'ored the pressing of the recommends
ion of the Governor for an appropria-
ion, and every merchant working for
his nucleus for the fund.
C. S. Wight said that the money came
rom the merchants and he thought the q,
roper course was to make a request
nd then demand for the money or a
hare of it. Macfarlane said that he I
ad tried to get information from that
Wharf Committee, and it was useless.
w. w. Hall said that he would favor
trial of the plan to get together first
nd that failing then the merchants
hould act. He said that the merchants
ould refuse TO pay the tax, for they
ad the advice of lawyers to that eff
sct Wight and Capt. King both took
his view and Rothwell made a long,
ear statement of the case, saying that
here should be an argument presented
lowing the determination of the mer-
nants and the reasons why the tourist
roposals must so through. He also
bought further payment of the tax
light be the result of the disagree
ent.
After further argument it was de-
ded that the committee should be
wen time for a conference with the n
lippers, so that action may be had fl
ter, the sense being that the mer- ~
,ants will take up the subject and
indle it. If there is no disposition on
lie part of the shippers Wharf Com p
ittee TO aid I'm the work T.