The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-05-21
BRINGING kEA
BIRDS To
OAHU
A Public Official
Talks About
Report Coming on the
Case of George
Davis.
(MaiI Special to the Advertiser.l

WESTINGHOUSE L. ~, .4hdy 49,
| It. S. Palmer, chief of the biological
division of the Agricultural Department
was asked today about the importation
of the destructive Kea birds into Ifa-
waii from Australia, as told in an issue
Of the Advertiser not long ago.
'What, are they bringing Kea bird:
| into Hawaii ?" he asked, as he wa:
handed clipping from the Advertiser
relating how Prof w. T. Brigham had
brought in three of those birds.
The files of his Office were searched
but it developed that, nothing had been
heard from Hawaii about iInportations
of biological specimens since January e
last. 1T may be that protest IS on the
way added DIR. Palmer, but we have
heard nothing of it yet. DR.. w. E. Bry-
an, who IS the special agent of the Agri-
cultural Department and issues permits
for the inlportations of animals and
birds, is now in this country. He is at
Minneapolis just at present and is ex-
pected here in Washington before many
days. In his absence he has designated
some gentleman to act in his place. Ha-
waii IS so far off that we do not know
much about conditions there and rely
largely upon the good judgment of our
special agent in granting permits. .
Would You regard the importation
Of Kea birds into Hawaii as a menace
to the sheep industry there?' he was
asked.
Il think there is no danger from the
importation of three birds, he replied.
TN the first place am certain, without
having the facts in the case before me,
that the man to wnom the permit has
been issued, fully intends to keep the
birds in captivity. The Keas are SO
valuable now that any man IN Hawaii,
who would go to the trouble and ex-
pense OF getting specimens, could not
afford to liberate them. Then again, if
they were liberated, / do not believe
there would be any danger of the birds
pTopagating from such a plant Even
If two of the three are females they
would not be enough to make the propa-
CATION of the keas on the island at all
probable.
At the same time, out of respect for
the public sentiment on the islands,
which is very pronounced against the
importation of any birds, reptiles or
animals that can be at all injurious, I
should be very careful about bringing
anything that comes within that category
into the islands
DIR. Palmer added that the Depart
nent was very much interested in Ha-
wall and wanted to keep thoroughly
qualified agent there to prevent any inn
portations of injurious animals from
which there would be any danger at all.
The special agent does not report to
the Department except once in a month
or two. The last report showed that
Prof. Brigham had imported kiwi bird,
which is bird without wings, but no
apprehension is felt about that variety.
GEORGE DAVIS'S4 CASE.
The Department of Justice has the
papers in the case of George Davis and
some action is expected in the course
of few days The papers have been
fully considered by Assistant Attorney
John w. Trainer, who has reached a
conclusion to be reported to Attorney
General Knox But as Mr. Knox has
not yet considered the case the Depart
ment officials refuse to divulge what the
action taken is.
Mr.. Davis has written bushels of let
tiers here regarding his disbarrnent 1t
is apparent that at the White House
there is not much stock taken in his
complaint. He learned that one of the
prominent White House officials is a.
Freemason and based his plea for relief
largely on fraternal grounds. However
kindly Mr.. Davis's brother masons in
Washington might feel for him, they
will not, while in official positions, at
tempt to do for him more than even
handed justice Possibly before this
letter reaches Honolulu, there may be
some report to make by cable. While
DavIs's appeal has made some impress
sion IN certain quarters it is not be-
lieved that the Department of Justice
or the President is likely to afford him
any material relief
1t was stated at the White House
today that nothing yet has been done
in the matter of judicial appointments,
further than what has already been an
nounced
The board of appraisers of the Treas
ury Department have sustained the pro-
test of Y Takafuwa and others in Ho-
nolrlu against the assessment of duty
on Midzuau1e, a japanese product, con-
sisting of sweet heavy syrup made
from rice and barley and used
in the manufacture of confectionery, as
food for invalids and children, in dye
ing and for household purposes in place
of sugar. The product is held to be
dutiable at 20 per cent. ad valorem as the
importers insisted it was.
ERNEST G. WALKER.