The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1912-09-17

grant ships was very bad The Cover
nor replied that many Of these tn,ngs
could not be helped. The agent in
Europe chartered the steamer The
Offices of the ships w,re responsible 4.
in measure for bad conditions. TIE
Secretary said this frequently happen
cd. The last contract, so the Governor
said, was better than the othe o.
The Secretary then went into som
of the details respecting the lose sus
tanned by the japanese contractor for
feeding the immigrants, due rarity to
the immigrants having 90 be fei for
long period while detained In auarsn
tine by the federal Officers. His ioss
was about $4,000.
The Secretary inquired If the Terri
tory was not morally responsible. The
Governor stated that the federal au.
lhorities had not required large enough
bond TO cover the expenses and the
steamer had gone away.
Attorney Olson enlightened the Sec.
rotary on this point. The japanese
contractor made n mistake. his est.
mate of expenses not being large
enough. The contractor was paid the
actual amount that was figured. When
the ship sailed away there was not
enough money. The only thing remain
ing was to libel the vessel but it was
ont of American waters. The difficulty
Of the board of immigration was that
the members had been advised that
they had no power to pay the bill and
would have been personally liable un.
der the daw had they done so.
Governor Frear stated that the
board had obtained legal opinion of
the attorney general as to whether it
could reimburse the contractor and re.
ceived a decision it could not legally
pay money of the Territory to him.
There is difficulty about chartering
vessels. Lately, the board has been
unable to get one at all at reason.
able figure. He also explained that the
immigrants were passed by federal
health officers at ports of departure.
Secretary Fisher suggested that one
of the difficulties to successful transpor.
tation of immigrants was that of at
tempting to bring them in too large
lots. The Governor said there was NJ
question about that. That IS what the
board wants to do-bring them i'll small
er lots, the same as they have been do.
ing with Russians. "We hope as soon
as the Panama Canal is opened to do
away with chartered vessels and get
the benefit of regular steamers" said
the Governor. "Otherwise the expense
would bankrupt us.
The Secretary called attention to the
, so-called Misrepresentation made to
the Russians. The Governor said one
of the troubles probably was the higher
cost of living in Hawaii and might be
due also to the fact that confusion re-
suited from the Russians believing the
rouble the same as dollar.
p Banker Defends System.
L. Tenney Peck, who threw much
light on the plantation agency system
and who defended the Governor from
the charge of having favored the inter
ests, was the next witness. The details
of his statement viii be published il
this paper tomorrow.
Of for other Island. ;
This afternoon, the investigating
party sails for Kauai on chartered
steamer, to return to Honolulu on Thurs
day morning. On Friday at noon the
party leaves for Hawaii and Maui, tt
return Saturday, September 2s.
In the party will be Secretary Fisher
and his private secretary, Governor
Frcar and his private secretary, Dele
gate Kuhio, G. W. Ashford, C. R. Hem
enway, c. II. Olson, stenographer an(
representatives of The Advertiser and
the Star Bulletin.