The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-11-23

''Ill confess that I do not like the
smell of those Honolulu land deals"
said the Meddler. They may be
all right but to try and rush them
through without anyone but the prin-
cipals knowing about them is what
scratches. Take the price asked by
Mr.. Irwin for the King street property
as an instance and it is hard to tell
what the government will be paying
for corner lots before it gets through.
To me it seems preposterous that the
sum of two hundred thousand dollars
is asked for a narrow strip of land
just because the government thinks it
needs it. 1t seems to me, also, that
the property on the other side of the
Judiciary building would answer the
purpose just as well and I guess it
could be bought for less money
'T suppose Mr.. Irwin figures in the
cost of the opera house at about thirty
thousand" said the Early Riser. "and
IL
government takes that particular lot
it will mean that Honolulu will be
without an opera house, for you can
safely wager all your coupons that
there is no one in Honolulu that will
build another. That place has never
paid interest on the investment and it
probably never will at the rent charg-
ed for it. 1t is like the hall we have
here; as soon as the Elks got in and
fixed UP the place the rent went up
to twenty dollars a night and other
halls are now taken in preference
Il think we should have something
to say about the exchanges OF Hawaii
lands" said the Kicker, eve want i'm
provements here and there is 20 money
in the loan or any other fund to pay
for them. If they will give us a
chance at the Waiakea and Paauhau
lands perhaps we may have more land
for our city park and for widening
our streets. They want big armory
down in Honolulu and we will be glad
enough to get a small one but I have
mt heard of any land being set aside
for it so far. I would rather the gov
eminent would show less haste in the
settlements and allow Hawaii to have
a show in it,
Hawaii, and more especially Hilo,
is not winning friends in the govern
ment in the action, or threat, regarding
the payment of taxes" said the Early
Riser. IF you have read the Homo
lulu 2aTers you noticed that we are
ridiculed for threatening to refuse
payment. I find that we can catch
more favors by diplomacy than by
kicking"
1--WE are not after favors,'' said the
Meddler, I'VE are after Justice"
Call it Justice, them said the
Kicker, I'VE don't get even that"
and you won't if you keep on in the
same way" said the Early Riser.
You must handle those fellows
down there with gloves or you will soil
your hands with the soup they will
hand out to you. You must not for
get that they hold the reins; the Leg
1siature did nothing for us and prob
ably never will SO all that we NAV ex-
pect is what they dole out to us as a
favor"
All but you must not overlook our
Board of Supervisors" said the Cheer
ful Liar Honolulu will not have the
same cinch on US in the future as in
the past"
And the Supervisors will have about
as much to do with the lands as we
now have" said the Kicker, that part
of the Territory belongs tof the Terri
tor1al Government to administer and
our Supervisors will not get a smell
of 1t. The land exchanges will all be
made by the Superintendent of Public
Works and just here let me say that
the custom of making transfers quietly
did not originate with Mr. Cooper.
When Boyd was in Office he made deals
with his friends that Will not bear the
lime light; not crooked work, perhaps,
but instances of rank favoritism to
friends of the Superintendent"
Honolulu seems to be going dippy
over the election in East Hawaii" said
the Meddler, "and I do not wonder