The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1915-08-20

In obedience to the unanimous in
structions Wednesday OF the chamber
Of commerce, Edward I. Spalding,
president Of the Bank Of Honolulu, ap.
pointed a committee of fifteen yester-
day, to take up with the Matson, Pact
fc Mail Oceanic and American Hawa-
iian steamship companies the "ques-
ton Of the alleged congestion of pass
engeS traffic on ships plying between
the mainland and these Islands, and
report back rs soon as convenient to
this chamber as to such remedies as
may be offered"
There was some question yesterday
rs TO who was empowered by the reso-
luton as quoted here, TO name the
committee. Some thought It should be
President Waldfon Of the chamber,
others that il should be Mr.. Spalding,
who was acting as chairman at the
time the resolution was introduced by
L. Tenney Peek, and adopted.
Power Of Appointment
A search Of the minutes showed that
the resolution, both as originally In
trodneed and subsequently amended
and adopted, failed to name anybody.
Mr.. Peck, the mover, was then asked
whom he had intended to name.
why, the Chair" he answered
That settled it, and President Wal.
dfon asked Mr.. Spalding to go over
the list with him Of those present. As
far as possible, the committee was maae
up of those who attended the meeting
of the chamber on Wednesday and are
in touch with the circumstances out
of which the motion to appoint com
mittee arose. '
Mr.. SpaIding was asked yesterday
for his understanding Of the scope Of
the committee.
Powers Of Committee
"I take it, he said, "that the
powers Of the committee are defined in
and limited by the resolution which
created IT, The resolution says that
the committee shall take up the ques-
ton with the steamship companies and
report back ''.'N'
"Theh you take il that the only in
formation opel TO tae corimittee ns ia
actual conditions Is what II may oh,
tain from the steamship cOlcEaDiesf''
. gHThat is how I read the resol1
ton" answered Mr.. 6paiding. "The
chamber, OF course, always can enlarge
the powers Of the committee, IL when
the committee reports back. 1t has
been unable 60 obtain the informa
tion Il desires.'' '''
A Broader View .59
Mr.. Peck, the CHAIRMAN Of the com
mittee, took a broader view IF the
matter. r.. p .rf5
"What the committee viii d." he
said yesterday, cit win decide for It.
self, when IL gets down 10 business
and interpfets the resolution. OF
course I don't know what that viii lie
but ! do know what I intended When
moved the resolutiSa. -.
"Tt was no cut and dried resolution
that offered. It WIS composed OF
the spur of the moment after having
listened aeutely to all that hal beer
said. III.
''My idea was that IL perhaps woult
be more gracious and better romport
ing with the dignity or the chamber
to confer in q diplomatic way With th'
steamship companies. which havs" al
the power In their hands, before as
sailing them frem a political or lcgis
lative vantage. -,
Find Out the Facts
In other words, thought IL pette
to find out the facts rs accurately a.
possible and what remedies were avail
able before attempting coercion,
II wanted to ease the situation AM
rave the way for constructive work
The last time we took up the same sub
jet in that spirit We got splendid re
suits. ~ II : ~.
"The personnel of the committee /
certainly excellent. It is broad,
representatives ..r
Taking up the personnel, Mr.. Peck
Characterization of 1t would seem to b
forue ont. His own attitude speak
for itself, in what he said.
Mr., Breckons, who was the autho
and imports, asking them to reply Il
Ave questions, E.Tu.~ f.. a..
About half of those written to re
piled. The questions and a digest b
the answers received foilows;
All American steamers are with
dawn from the transpacihc routes
leaving this trafflc entirely TO foreigl
teamers, what viii be the effect O
M. Y r. t..I Vi 7. =. IN ~ Z ~,