The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-02-02
DRINKING CLUB CRUSADE
HIT LIQUOR JOBBERS HARD
Fact Brought Out in Shaw Partnership Litiga-
tion..-Etilo Branch Ordered Continued
Pending the Conclusion OF Suit.

1t is now a matter of judicial record
that the recent crusade against drink
ing clubs was a staggering blow to the
LIQUOR jobbing business of Honolulu.
SeeIey I. Shaw, head of a firm holding
a liquor jobbing license, testified to
that fact before Judge Robinson yes
terday afternoon.
The matter in court was that Of the
dissolution of the partnership of S l.
Shaw & Co., with questions of the re-
ownership and of the HilO branch up
for adjudication. G. A. Davis and A.
NJ. Brown represented Mr. Shaw, who
petitions to dissolve the partnership.
w. w. Thayer was present acting for
Mr.. Smith, attorney for ]. S. Canario,
the Hilo partner. Frank E. Thompson,
receiver. appeared in person.
Mr. Davis wanted to shut down the
Hilo business, including a saloon at
Olaa. forthwith. 1t came out in sort
OF running argument that $716 was lost
at Hilo and S255 at Olaa last year.
Mr.. Thayer said arbitration was
pending, therefore he thought the bust
ness ought to remain in statu quo a
reasonable time.
II offered to arbitrate myself, and
drew the papers," interjected Mr.,
Davis, adding, They're trying to get
the jurisdiction away from this court"
Mr. Thayer wanted to have the job
ber's license of the firm, which expires
this month, renewed to preserve con-
tinuity of the business.
Mr. Davis objected to giving a credit
of $21OO for supplies to the Hilo branch.
Mr.. Thompson stated that the request
for such a credit had already been de-
MED by him.
I'VE are making money here. We are
losing there. We want to stop it, Mr.
Davis said this, offering to produce an
unbroken line of authorities against
continuing a losing business in a re-
Ownership. If the business was to be
continued temporarily the credit should
be limited
Mr. Thayer opposed the closing of
the Olaa saloon and advocated the
sending of supplies from the firms Ho-
nOlulu store to Hilo
Mr.. Thompson, answering the courts
question, said the wholesale depart
ment showed profit. This did not
agree with a statement by Mr.. Shaw,
through his counsel, that the firm was
losing there.
Mr.. Shaw, however was put on the
witness stand. Examined by Mr..
ho ha1I &c
jobher's license for three years. The
Territorial fee was $500, the Federal
1925 a year. AS up to Dec. 81 last
separate accounts We're not kept, it
was impossible to say definitely wheth-
er the wholesale or the retail business
had made profit. But competition
was so keen that profits in the whole
sale business We're very small The
jobber's license did not help the retail
business. He could import retail sup
plies direct from San Francisco just
IS cheap. The retailers did not want
a middleman.
The jobber's business was very much |
affected. Mr.. Shaw testified. by the |
abolition of the liquor clubs around |
town. He did not desire to have the |
jobber's license renewed. BY dropping |
that department the rent would be de- |
creased $35 a month
Mr.. Shaw, cross-examined by Mr. |
Thompson, said he knew by the prices |
of goods there could not be profit in |
the wholesale business, but he did not |
know it as a matter of figures. His |
explanation of any apparent profit was |
that the retail end was charged too |
much for the goods. They carried |
about $4,000 worth of stock for the re- |
tail business. and $4,000 altogether |
He could place all the wholesale stock !
now on hand.
Questioned by Mr.. Thayer, the wit |
ness said he would not require a book
keeper for the retail business having
kept a saloon for thirteen years with
out one. The wholesale business cost
$4,000 year in expenses with nothing !
for himself.
Mr.. Thompson, in the conversational !
argument, stated that as receiver he
had segregated accounts of the whole
sale and retail departments and the
books showed a profit on the whole
sale business.
Judge Robinson thought it was a
duty of the court to continue the bust
ness in statu quo unless it was clearly
shown that there was an actual loss.
He was inclined to think that the job
ber'S license should be continued When
he mentioned a credit to the Hilo
branch. Mr.. Davis renewed his objec- =
ton to $210O credit The court