Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-01-29
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unless their discharge be permitted by
others than officers of the company.
No, refinement of the language of the
resolution Ut your Harbor, or the let
ter of your committee based thereon,
can lead TO any other conclusion.
AFTER due discussion and delibera-
ton, the directors of the company feel
that tho demand made by you cannot
be accaded to, and will briefly state
their reasons therefor.
Company Gives Reasons.
"AS a corporation the Inter-1sland
Steam Navigation Company owes du-
ty 10 both its stockholders and the
public. Exercising, as it does, powers
Of quasi-public nature, the duties
Dwell to the public should be and are
paramount, and any rights to which
the stockholders might otherwise be
entitled should be set aside where
str let observance of them would con-
flict with the rights of the public.
Where, however, a given course OF
action not only satisfies responsibility
to both stockholders and the public,
hut is of such a nature that failure to
follow it could rightfully be treated as
a violation cf duty to both, we feel
forced to adopt that course.
, Waving any rights of any nature
whatsoever which stockholders may
have. it. seems to US that we could not
carry out our obligations to the pub
lie by permitting your HarDor to in
sist upon its dep ands. The negligence
of a master or of a mate, resulting in
damage 20 person or property, Is in
law attributable to the company.
'The same negligence, resulting In
poor public service, is by the public
attributable to the company. For in
jury, either to particular individual
or to the public generally, the COM
pany, and the company alone, is held
responsible. 1t must follow that when
the company valves its right to select
the agents by whom alone its duty to
both individuals and the public can
be carried out, the public would have
righteous cause for complaint.
: Feeling thus, we cannot yield TO
the demand made, and therefore re-
fuse to enter into any such agreement
as is proposed.
con the part of the company, this is
not intended as a contest with the
principles of organized labor, with
which we are thoroughly acquainted,
and for which We have great respect.
1t Is protest against demand which
seems to us to be highly unreasonable,
as well and inconsistent with the spirit
OF fairness usually prevailing amongst
men, organized or unorganized, pos
sessing the intelligence required of H.
Censed masters and mates.
eff, after learning the attitude of
our company as set forth herein, you
should desire a conference, our board
will gladly appoint a committee to
meet committee of your Harbor.
Respectfully,
"INTERISLAND STEAM NAVIGA-
TON COMPANY. LTD,
by NORMAN f. GEDGE,
Secretary"
Attacks the Company.
The following was handed to the
Star-Bulletin by the Publicity commit
tee OF the Harbor at o'clock this aft
ernoon:
ITO the Public:
LAS the matter is of such great i'm
portance to the safety of the travel
ing public, We feel that it should know
of the present conditions existing
throughout the steamers of the Inter-
Island Steam Navigation Company,
Limited. Should at any time an acct
dent occur to one of the island steam
ers while under way in the channels
or along the perilous coasts of the
various islands, with the present
crews of seamen that the masters are
forced to take under the system that
the Inter-Island Steam Navigation 20.
has of employing its crews, serious
loss of life would follow, for the rea-
son that at the present time many of
the vessels are sent to sea with crews
incapable of manning a boat. In the
past three months there have been
many accidents to the boats as manned
by the present or other inefficient
crews. Two lives have also been lost
during this time, and thousands Of dol
lars worth of freight, as we'll, and