Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-04-10
ROBERTS 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
While in Honolulu to Attend
to Ti1e-Worn Subject

81 know npthiRg about your federal
site matter, declared ]. w. Roberts,
an architect OF the architectural diyi-
sion Of thu treasury department, who
arrived here this morning by the Ko-
Iea, presumably for the purpose OF
looking into the time-worn subject
with a view to recommending one of
the several locations proposed.
My business so far as know at
present" explained Mr. Roberts, has
cnly to do with some buildings on
Quarantine island, in connection with
which I was here last spring. / had
intimation also that / might be re-
quired to go to Hilo In connection with
the Hilo federal building II ! am -
pass upon this Honolulu site matter,
as you tell me, I shah probably re-
ceive instructions concerning 1t after
Il lapd. know nothing at all about 1t
at present. .-:...... y.
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 for himself Thus far Mr.. Rob-
berts has declined to be seen on the
subject = So ~ =
+ Confirming the rumor that the treas
ury department would send a repre-
sentative to make final selection Of
the site for the federal building, In
conformity with the expressed wishes
of the community, when at a 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-
ceiyed 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-
tion was manifest over the possibility
of finally getting some action on au
apparently never-ending matter. But
if this is so, according to Roberts him
self, he has yet to hear of it.
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 to purchase
the Front street frontage of business
blocks which We're condemned for the
purpose some Is months or more ago.
Also that District Attorney McCarn,
it is reported, has advised Washington
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 question 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 it's bid of $685.
522, news of which was cabled here by
the Star-Bulletins Washingtt cor
respondent on the day Mr.. Roberts
sailed from San Francisco. IIe was
somewhat skeptical as to the anthem
ITCHY of the news at first, not 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.