The Hawaiian gazette., 1906-03-16

well was referred to the committee on
ommerce, manufactures and agricul-
ture.
A letter from the National Business
League had been received that morn
ng. 1t urged the Chamber to make
renewed efforts in Washington on be-
daf of the Consular bill The Senate
1ad taken all the meat out of It. as 1t
deprived Senat tors of so much patron
age TO dole out. 1t was requested that
etters be sent to Hawaii's representa-
tive in Congress and to Speaker Can
lon on behalf of the bill
1t was a fight of the merit system
vs. the spoils system" the League
wrote, and advised the Chamber that
letter-writing was an efficient means
II influencing legislation.
The Chamber had previously sent
forward a resolution favoring the bill.
AS the letter had just been received it
was concluded that there was yet time
to do something. 1t was referred to
the same committee as drafted the
original resolution.
Private Secretary Mcclellan wrote
informing the Chamber that he had
obeyed its cabled instructions to urge
the proper authorities to direct the
earliest possible expenditure of the ap-
preparation of $4,000 for improve
ments at Quarantine Island. He had
seen the chief engineer of the War De.
partment and there was some doubt
| about going ahead without calling for
bids. The question had been referred
to the Attorney General for an opinion.
Mr.. Mcclellan also reported on duty
performed in having letter presented
to Secretary Wilson relative to agri-
| cultural work in the Territory.
Mr.. Spalding reported he had done
nothing on the committee of which he
| was chairman relative to a change of
| floors for the Chambers rooms in the
Stangenwald building. He would ask
if Mr.. Peck could give the meeting any
information.
Mr.. Peck replied that nothing was to
be reported except in a tentative form.
Mr.. Smith went away to Washington
leaving the impression that Smith &
Lewis would take the entire floor on
which the Chamber was located But
he had departed in company with the
agent for the Judd building, Mr.. Peck
remarked smilingly, and now it appear
ed that Smith & Lewis would stay in
the Judd building in consideration of
| solid floors being placed in their suite
In answer to Mr.. Spalding he SAID
| that when the elevator service was per-
fected the rooms above would probab-
| ly rent as readily as those below, if
not be even in more demand
"The opportunity, then, is at pres.
ent closed?" Mr.. Spalding inquired.
"Forthe present, Mr.. Peck replied
''or until we get a chance of renting a
large portion of this floor. The ex.
pense of changing the Chambers loca.
tion would be large. The Stangenwald
building is not a money-making propo
sition just now.'
| Mr.. Morgan wanted more time for
the committee on the oil-handling ques
tion. Captain Fuller, the harbor mas
ter, Mr.. Berg of the Underwriters and
Mr.. Hudson of the Hawaiian Electric
Co. were going to make an investiga
tion.
After the meeting had passed mo
tion to appoint a committee for raising
$500 additional for promotion work
as separately reported by the Adver
tiser, Mr.. Peck asked Mr.. Wood what
proportion of tourists arriving here thi:
winter had registered for the Orient.
Mr.. Wood said the proportion was
large. Many of them could not gel
away when they wanted, as the steam
ers were full. This was the result OF
heavy advertising by the big trans
portation companies. One of the chief
inducements they were offering now
was the stop-over at Honolulu.
Mr.. Spalding said that during his
early membership in the Promotion
Committee complaint was made tha,
the Pacific Mail Co. was not working
in the interests of Hawaii. Mr.. Nc
Candless knew of one case where thu
officers of steamer worked to preven,
passengers from stopping over Fol
some time the Committee worked uphill
against that sort of thing, securing lit
tie or no redress. but of late he believ
ed there was n change for the better.
Mr.. Wood, having been misunder
stood at first, now answered Mr.. Peel
again, saying he estimated the proper
tion of passengers stopping over from
the trip to the Orient to be about .;
per cent.