Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-04-10
IS
NOT POSTED
ON VISIT
Treasury Dept. Representative
Declares He Wots Not of the
Federal Building Site
QUARANTINE ISLAND HIS.
+ OBJECT POINT, HE SAYS
But May Receive Instructions
Whiie in Honolulu to Attend
to- Time-Worn Subject >

Il know nothing about your federal
site natter" declared J. w. Roberts,
an architect of the architectural diVi-
sion Of the treasury department, who
arrived here this morning by the Ko-
Iea, presumably for the purpose of
looking into the time-worn subject
with view to recommending one of
the several locations proposed.
MY business, so far as | know q.
present" explained Mr. Roberls, has
enly to do with some buildings on
Quarantine island, in connection with
which ! was here last spring. had
intimation also that l might be re-
CURED to go to Hilo in connection with
the Hilo federal building II | am %
pass upon this Honolulu site matter,
as you tell me, shall probably re-
ceive instructions concerning it after
j land. / know nothing at all about it
at present"
1t is practically certain that Mr..
Roberts did receive his instructions
ON the site matter shortly after he had
come ashore 1t is understood that
they were waiting for him in the office
of Customs Collector E. r. Stackable,
and that Mr.. Roberts is already en-
gagged in getting a line on what is
expected OF him. Collector Stackable
declined to. discuss the matter, stat
ing that Mr.. Roberts would have to
speak foAs himself Thus far Mr.: Rob-
berts has declined to BE seen on the
subject
Confirming the rumor that the treas
ury department would send repre-
sentative to make final selection of
the site for the federal building, in
conformity with the expressed wishas
CT the community, when at recent
meeting OF the local commercial
bodies it was decided to agree to dis
agree, and to pass the buck up to
Washington, President w. R. Earring
ton of the Merchants Association re-
ceived the following cablegram from
Delegate Kalanianaole on April I'd:
Roberts leaves on Korea to review
whole federal site situation and report
back to the treasury department"
1t was, of course, presumed here
that Roberts was coming here for this
express purpose, and general satisfac-
ton was manifest over the possibility
of finally getting some action on an
apparently never-ending matter. But
if this is so, according to Roberts him
self. he has yet to hear of it.
1t seems to be rather taken for
granted that should Mr.. Roberts pass
upon the matter, that the Mahuka
site will be eliminated, largely from
the fact that it will require another
appropriation by Congress 10 purchase
the Front street frontage of business
blocks which were condemned for the
purpose some 18 months or more ago.
Also that, District Attorney McCarn,
it is reported, has advised Washington
that the prices allowed by the juries
in the condemnation cases are exces-
sive. The government has two years
from the time of Judgment award in
condemnation proceedings to exercise
its option, and there yet remain
from four to six months in which the
property in quest on may be taken
over
Mr.. Roberts was much interested in
hearing from the, Star-Bulletin that
the contract for the erection of the
Hilo federal building had been let to
the Campbell Construction Company
of Salt Lake City at its bid Of 1885,
522, news of which; was cabled here by
the Star-Bulletin's Washingtt cor
respondent on the day Mr.. Roberts
sailed from San Francisco. lie was
somewhat skeptical as to the anthem
ITCHY OF the news at first, rot having
expected the awarding Of the contract
so soon. He thinks it very probable
that he will be called upon to repre-
sent the department in the matter
while he is here