The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-07-22

After considerable correspondence
with the Department of Labor and
Commerce at Washington, United States
Shipping Commissioner Amy finally
succeeded in obtaining the prineely sum
of SIS with which TO rehabilitate the
shipping Office, repair the old furniture
and make the Office what it should be
a dignifed reception room for sailors of
the merchant marine and credit to
Uncle Sam. That the government still
lives at Washington was apparent yes
terday at Mr.. Almy's Queen street of
fee for the Office boy was really beau,
tifying the interior. With pots of var
nish the chairs We're made to shine and
the dusty-looking floor received a dark
stain coating which gave it a hardwood
finish Of course that was an optical
Illusion, but the looks went just the
same. Mr. Amy points with pride to
the furniture of his office. Almost ev-
cry piece is an heirloom, having come
to him through successive predecessors,
beginning with former Consul General
Provisional Government, or maybe of
the old-time monarchy. The book cases,
tables and benches bear evidence of the
culture of oldtime days, just how old
time, however. II IS difficult to say. sze
The Shipping Commissioner is also.
happy again over the return of Sailors
Union Joseph T. Liddy, he of the silver
tongue and the versatile pen. When
Mr.. Amy meets Mr.. Liddy in official
controversy it Is a case of Greek meet
Greek. The Shipping Commissioner has
ready wit and the whole category of
regulations and customs of the United
States TO back him up, while Liddy is
strong on dissertations concerning Jack
ashore and afioat, and embellishes his
with poetieal quotations
which show him 20 be on intimate terms
with Shakespeare and other ready writ
ers of former days When an argument
is concluded between the two gentle
men it is certain that the decision ar
rived at, whether it be in favor of Mr..
Amy or in favor of Mr. SLiddy, is the
only one that could be reached. But
the decision has this merit.
that the other accepts and there is an
end to it all
But whether the press is to have the
services of Agent Liddy to fill the col
umns of the newspaper IS a question,
for it IS said that Mr. Liddy, Just
before sailing from San Francisco, was
to keep out of the news
papers as much as possible. If Mr.
Liddv decides to adhere strictly to that
Honolulans viii miss some
really readable articles, for Mr.. Liddv
is champion, first last and all time. of
the merchant marine sailor. and his
readers learn much of the sailor 8 hard
life ashore and afioat.
However, the waterfront should con
slider itself fortunate in having Liddv
back, and Queen street will have its
own Orpheum when Mr.. Liddy really
decides to take the center of the stage.
MIx-UP IN THE HARBoR.
In the smallest part of the harbor five
vessels became somewhat mixed up late
yesterday afternoon and for a time
their maneuverings were watched with
interest especially by the representa-
tives of the harbormaster 5 office. First
OF all, a couple Of lines parted astern
on the hospital ship Relief This was
due largely to the manner in which the
vessel is mOored, her broadside being
kept against the off-shore wind. New
lines We're sent out and that pilikia was
pau. Shen the Iroquois, maneuvering
in the outer Eva end of the harbor,
rammed her nose into the mud flats
off old Sumner Island. She remained
there some time. As she swung clear
the collier Culgoa was swinging about