The Hawaiian gazette., 1906-01-12
pectfully submitted,
JAS. WAX EFlELD,
+. A. NJ 'lNERNY.
FRED l.. WALDRON
DIRECTORS ELECTED

DIRECTORS ELECTED.
The committee on nominations pre-
scented the following nine names fol-
election as directors for the ensuing
year, and they were duly chosen: Rob-
ert Cation, A. Gartley, L. II. Paris
Geo. w. Smith, w. f. Dillingham;, w
w Harris. w. Il. Lucas, w. H. Smith
G.. j. Waller.
The chair has called a meeting of
the directors for 1880 Friday morn
ing, at which time the officers will be
elected. 1t is generally conceded that
President Smith will succeed himself.
TREASURER'S REPORT.
The report of the treasurer showed
that the receipts had been $296354 and
there was balance of S754.36. Among
the expenditures We're those attending
the entertainment of the Taft party
and others.
CORPORATION EXHIBITS.
President Smith presented the mat
ter of the opposition of the merchants
to the corporation exhibit law. He
said it was a thing of prime import
ance and required prompt action.
Those who We're corporate bodies had
undoubtedly received from the Attor-
ney General the notice calling attention
to excerpts from the revised statutes
in regard to the annual exhibits, which
carried penalty of $4,000 for failure
to comply.
The same question was before the
merchants in 1904, the question then
being referred to a firm of attorneys
Later the Territorial Treasurer decided
to make test case and Benson, Smith
& Co. were selected as a corporate firm
to meet the test. Finally the Attorney
General, Mr.. Andrews, said Mr.. Smith,
undoubtedly felt that the Territory's
case was not strong enough and no
attempt was made to bring the matter
before the courts. At that time the
Code Commission was revising the
laws. 1t is now maintained that the
commission made such changes that
the government was empowered to en-
force the law, 1t being made a mis-
demeanor to fail to file an exhibit
Mr.. Smith said he did not believe
there was the slightest intention to
evade the law. If the exhibits were
kept on file merely for the use of the
officials, and not for the public, he
thought that no merchant would re-
was known that a man only twenty
four to forty-eight hours in the country
could go to the Treasurer's Office and
look over the exhibits, then It was
time for objection. The merchants had
no desire to make public the private
details OF their business. They had no
desire for a competitor to pry into
their affairs in this way.
The government may have the power
to enforce this law, and again It may
not have. 1t might be well to take the
matter into the courts and IL necessary
to the u. S. Supreme Court. co-operat-
ing with the Chamber of Commerce
and Planters Association.
Mr.. Wakefield then read the various
reports on previous attempts to have
the exhibits filed only for use of Of
fcials and their failure.
BOWEN DOESN'T AGREE.
w. A. Bowen of Castle & Cooke
arose to object to the course of the
Merchants' Association In protesting
against the exhibit law. He favored
IL through and through. The corpora
ton exhibit law did not require the
details of business to be spread on the
blanks, but only the lump sums HeI
thought this was right, and as he rep
resented eight plantation corporations
and filed exhibits. be felt that IL his
corporations could do this the others
could also.
He looked upon this law, IL obeyed,
as a protection to the interests OF the
community. He did not think It was
In good form to evade the law. Hell
thought the association was making a
grave mistake In objecting to the pres
ent law. He believed that It would
bring about worse conditions than at
present. The opportune time was TO
present such changes as desired be-
fore the Legislature. He was consist
snt with what he preached and refer |
red to the corporation exhibits he
would file.
The people had given those who |
formed corporations. certain privileges.
ana IN return for these privileges the
corporations should be glad TO makel
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