Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1904-09-23

The Merchants Association met In
special session yesterday afternoon
The two matters before the Association
were that Of making an appropriation
TO assist in compromising a secretary
to Delegate Kuhio at Washington and
the matter of recommending a site for
o Federal Building at Honolulu.
The secretaryship business came up
In the form Of report Of a joint com
mittee Of members of the MerchantS
Association and members of the Cham
Der of Commerce. recommending that
Geo. d. Mcclellan be endorsed as the
Delegates secretary and that the AGso.
citation give the sum Of $50 per month
toward the payment of his salary. The
report of the same committee TO the
Chamber of Commerce had been adopt
ed at a meeting of that body and a
sum of $50 per month voted. Congress
allows only $1,000 per year as compen
sation for secretary and the move.
ment on foot here Is to raise this to
$500 per month in order to give the
Delegate the assistance Of competent
and experienced man. Delegate Kuhio
was SO pleased with the work Of Nc
Clellan, who had business before Con
gress last winter that he desires 20
take him along In an official capacity
this session.
The Merchants Association as body
has been and Is firm believer in J g.
Pratt as man who Is able to do ~
much or more for the Territory al
Washington than any other man. Con-
seQuently when the subject came up.
Mr.. Pratt's name was suggested and
several urged that he be substituted in
place OF Mr. Mcclellan. No objection
was offered to Mr.. Mcclellan by any
member, his ability and fitness for the
position were generally recognized. At
the same time members Of the Associa.
ton who were In touch with Mr.. Pratt
work at Washington in connection with
the Fire Claims, felt that such fine
record was the highest recommended
ton that he be returned.
Fred Macfarlane said: at seems tn
from Congress s1,0OO,OOO when none Of
us had hopes, that he is the man bes,
able to assist the Delegate in looking
otter the interests of the Territory.
understand also that there are letters
In town from Senators and officials In
Washington asking that MIR. Pratt 10
sent as Kuhio's secretary. The belief
seems to have been formed among the
friends of Hawaii at Washington that
Mr.. Pratt would greatly strengthen
our representation there. Since We
are to put up money for the compensa
ton Of the proposed secretary, II ap
pears to me that We should have some
thing to say in choosing the man"
| W. W. Hall said he had been in close
touch with Mr.. Pratt while he was o.
Washington on the Fire Claims bust
ness and doubted II there was another
man who could do more for the Terri
tory than he Mr.. Hall was careful I,
state that he had the highest opinion o.
Mr.. Mcclellan but thought Pratt woul,
better serve the interests of the Terri
tory.
w. W. Harris said that the business
bodies had better not send any one I'M
less that was agreeable to the Delegate
He understood that Mcclellan was Ku
HOS choice and that ought to end II
After general discussion. Messrs. "
W. Harris, Fred Macfarlane and G. II
Angus were appointed to confer witt
Delegate Kuhio on the subject and RI
port to the directors Of the Merchants
Association.
The public building matter wa
brought up by statement by Pres
dent Geo. w. Smith. Mr.. Smith said
"As a matter that will be OF interes
to the merchants | desire to say that
have been informed that the bill for
Federal building introduced by on
Delegate last winter. has been take
up with the Treasury Department an
will be pushed forward vigorously.
J Federal official in this city has bee
asked to ascertain the number of squar
feet of floor space required by the di
ferent Federal officers In the city. TIL
customs. internal revenue, judiciar.
war. naval. postal and other depar
ments are all to be given space unds
one roof. Business men now must 4,
together and recommend a site. Tn
Is something that should be settled 1
that our Delegate may be able to go
work upon 1t as soon as he reacht
Washington. The communication r