The Hawaiian gazette., 1905-01-31
PRATT'S NOMINATION
AWAITS FURTHER NEWS
(From Saturdays Advertiser)
(Mail Special to the Advertiser


(Mai Special to the Advertiser.)
WASHINGTON, d. c.. Jan. 16.-The
hitch In the nomination of Mr.. j. G.
Pratt az postmaster at Honolulu re-
ferred to in my cablegram OF a few
days ago. came very unexpectedly.
About a week ago Secretary Loeb
| stated at the White House offices that
the President had ordered the nominal
tions both OF Mr.. Pratt for Honolulu
and of Mr.. Desha for Hilo.
These nominations" added the sec
rotary, twill probably reach the Sem
ate by Monday"
l. That was exactly a week ago, hut
three or four days after Mr.. Loeb's
statement. hitch became apparent.
as the nominations did not reach the
Senate. Finally that of George l..
Desha for Hilo was forwarded to the
Senate, Satw day, the 14th. BY that
time it had developed that the post
office inspector. detailed to make an
examination of the situation at Homo
lulu, as stated in my letter of several
weeks ago, had reported by cable He
informed the Postoffice Department
that Desha was "all right" but this {
he could not recommend Pratt becau..
of dishonest real estate transactions"
AS President Roosevelt, I'm ordering
the nominations, had written: Appoint
Pratt If there is nothing against him."
Postmaster General Wynne refused to
send the nomination in and took the
papers to the President at the next
Cabinet meeting.
The facts have stated above are all
still of a confidential character here in
Washington. What the outcome will
be cannot be stated with any certainty
just at this writing. The situation has
been brought to the attention of Secre-
tary Atkinson. who will confer with
the President about 1t very soon. Mr..
Pratt is also aware of the reasons for
the hold UP of his appointment. He
stated frankly he was well aware of the
old case that had been raked up against
him, and that, as attorney for man
engaged in realty transactions of a
POSSIBLY questionable nature, he, him
self had been forced to assume part of
J the odium. 1t is not improbable that
Mr.. Pratt will visit the President and
make complete statement of the
charge brought forward by the inspec-
tor. He is willing to do so, but will I'M
doubtedly act on the advice of Secre-
tary Atkinson. The entire Wyoming
delegation of two Senators, Warren and
Clark, and Representative Mondell. are
behind him and have Endorsed him for
the Honolulu postmastership.
If it is finally decided to have the
| u. Al
arrival of the inspectors report on Mr..
Pratt, no nomination for "A Honolulu
postmaster can be expected for several
} weeks, perhaps not till after Congress
sdjourns. An investigation, with OPP
portunities for a hearing OH one or
both sides, is the usual course in such
, matters. Much will depend ON what
Secretary Atkinson decides to do. The
inspectors report against Mr.. Pratt
will be by no means final, although 1t
will have great weight.
Delegate Kuhio, who has supported
Postmaster Dat for denomination, has
not thus far been informed of the rea-
sons for the hitch in the case. He has
noted the failure of the appointment to
reach the Senate and was around to
|
Saturday.
Late this afternoon, shortly before
the mail is leaving, l learn that Sec
ietary Atkinson received a couple of
lcablegrams from Governor Carter about
the nomina.4Cn of Mr. Pratt. While
expressing unwillingness to embarass
the administration these cablegrams
reaffirm confidence in Mr.. Pratt's in
tegrity. They also contain a reference
to call from Mr.. Desky, who assumes
all the blame for the real estate trans
actions and exonerates Mr.. Pratt from
any culpability.
Today Mr.. Atkinson has had talk
with Secretary Loeb about the case.
He received a note from Mr.. Loeb, set
ting forth briefly the reasons why the
appointment has not gone in. Later
he will probably talk with President
Roosevelt. Mr.. Atkinson and Mr., Pratt
also went to see Postmaster General
Wynne today and had long talk with
him about the case. Probably the pa
pers in the inspectors report will be
awaited, but the best opinion is that
Mr.. Pratt will receive the nomination
In the course of a few weeks.
DUTY ON PINEAPPLES.
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
Armstrong has Informed Secretary
Atkinson of the intention of the De-
partment to stand by the decision of
Judge Morrow in the United States
District Court of California, which vir-
tually reduces the duty on imported
canned pineapples, containing added
Sugar. This is of considerable i'm
portance to the pineapple industry in
the Hawaiian Islands. Mr. Armstrong
said an opinion of the Attorney Gen
eral has been asked and received. adj
vislng the Department to proceed on
the basis of the recent decision, rather
than to wait till after the case in ques-
ton has been decided by higher
court.
Heretofore the duty on canned pine
apples mas been one cent pound.
plus 80 per cent ad valorem, sufficient
to protect the Hawaiian packers from