Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-03-24
BUSINESSMEN ASK UNCLE SAN To ]
DECIDE kNOTTY SITE QUESTION

mercial bodies and had been asked to
speak, was the first to open the sub
ject. His talked created very good
impression. He emphasized the fact
that he did not seek to get into the
federal site discussion. but that
the treasury department, indirectly
through the department of justice, had
asked him to look at the matter from
the standpoint of the government.
'I'll say frankly" he said, that
reported that the Mahuka site price
the enlarged Mahuka site, you UNI
tierstand-was excessive for the gov
eminent to pay unless that should be
the only site available. But, gentle
men, | shall not oppose the Mahuka
site to the extent of arguing with you
or the government. I can't conscien-
tiously say that it's worth $3.50, 900 to
go down there and move those build
ings and get that site. And give
you my personal opinion that the fed
EeraI building will not be put on the
Mahuka site as whole l don't be-
lieve the strip on Fort street will be
taken and paid fort will be an in
terminable job to get Congress to take
ali the Mahuka site.
Will Aid Action.
He also denied the published report
that he had suggested five or six
sites. !" Il said there were two or more
other lots available in case the gov
eminent wished to examine other
sites. don't want to take any active
part in settling the site unless the
government asks me to- He went
on to say that the department of jus
tice is anxious to see the matter set
tied when you've decided what you
want I'll join with you in getting it
through he declared, and said that il
that was done he believes it will be
only few weeks until action is Sc
cured in Washington. He also de-
clared amid applause that an appro-
priation of 100000 is not enough for
a federal building in Honolulu and
that he would be glad to join with
the businessmen Sin getting through
S250, 900 or 100000 more for a build.
ing
Judge A. A. Wilder was the first
to follow Mr.. McGarn. Judge Wilder
QCCldlCu Thai Willie lLC-t do OllS1LdtAy
lin favor of the MahulKa site he now
believes, as matter of good faith,
lin sticking to the Mahuka SITE AS
one of the attorneys for E. o. Hall e.
Son in the Mahuka site litigation
he said, .if the Mahuka site is not ta-
ken shall advise my client to sue
Nor the money expended in defending
the condemnation suits. / say stick
10 the original Mahuka site and shoot
| 4 up into the air if necessary
| He also told Of his experiences in
Washington, discussions with various
officials. and OF hearing the statement
there that f1onolulu can't seem to
agEe Qaanything. He said that Con-
Igressman RI gerald of New York,
chairman of the committee on appro-
lpriations, told him ihAts Gorisssls is
goingsto spend more money than NV
previous Congress has spent, and tha,
Senator Morris Sheppard of Texas had
expressed wish to do what he can
for Honolulu. He also said that he
had given r. w. Shingle letter OF
Introduction to Senator Sheppard and
warned Bob not to do any flim-flam
ming or I'd wise Sheppard up to him. Z
He had spoken to Secretary McAdoo
also, he said.
Favors Original Site.
L. Tenney Peck spoke vigorously in
favor of the Mahuka site, reviewing
the history of the various discussions
here for seven years past and bringing
out strongly the point that the govern
Iment has taken the Mahuka site and
the business community has develop
ed and bought surrounding property
believing that the good faith of the
government is behind that site. He
spoke of the First National Banks
purchase of a piece of property partly
! on this belief, of the Bishop street ex
tension, financed by public subscrip
ton so that the federal building might
have the street frontage desired by the
/ government
81 don't know that the idea of this
enlarged site has ever been before
4 any public meeting" he said, "but the
good faith of the government is on
the original Mahuka site"
George F. Davies spoke briefly but
much to the point in laying before the
meeting the advantages and disad
vantages of the various sites that
have been proposed Without ayow
ling favor for any site exclusively, he
indicated that from the standpoint
both of utility and beauty the Irwin
site is the most available He weigh
ed very fairly the points for and
against each of the locations, stating
in his opinion that the Spreckels site
sis the poorest Of the four on account
of its inconvenience and lack of any
advantages to outweigh this" The Al
len site, he considered. is compro
mise site In spoke in favor of sup.
port for the milford Robinson "city
beautiful plan. r.. .....- -tv:a.