The Hawaiian gazette., 1916-09-15
TransContinentaI and Transpa-
Cific Rates To Honolulu Are
Discussed BY Merchants
RETAIL TRADES BOARD
WANTS TO HAVE RELIEF
Bankruptcy Law Which Unscru-
puIous Business Men Use To
Cheat Creditors, Debated

Transcontncntal and transpaciRc
frpiChts rates. and their relation to Ho-
nOlulu shipments were discussed from
every imaginable angle yesterday by
members Of the board of retail trades
# the chamber of commerce. 1t was
the regular meeting of the board and
the subject was brought up following
Il request by the chamber TO the Inter
state Commerce Commission to lend it's
help in adjusting what has been con
sidrring discrimination against Homo
lulu in the matter of shipments from
the Atlantic scabOard.
4 letter from the Interstate Com
mprce Commission was received recent
" stating that while that BODY had n"
legal authority to adjust the rates of
water carriers, it would use its moral
influence and cuJcavor to point out
ways Of bringing about more equitable
rates. The letter suggested that de
tail information regarding the commO-
dities shipped and the amounts be fur
niShcd the commission.
Committee Will Investigate
At the meeting held yesterday com
nittcp was appointed to make the
necessary researches and file report
that will be sent on TO the national
commission in Washington. This com
mitt"c is composed Of Ed. Towsp, chair
man; r.. A. Berndt and Raymond G.
Brown.
1t was brought out at the meeting
that freight from eastern points in the
United States could be shipped to ia
pan and China at lower rate than
freight to Honolulu. +. A. Berndt, a
member Of the committee, went into n
complete discussion of the freight rates
and showed that no lower rates could
br obtained until some agreement could
b" reached with the steamship com
panics. The difficulty, he said, was not
"ith the railroads but with the sea
carriers.
Another point brought out by Mr..
Rrrndt was that lower rates could be
obtained only when shipments from
various points in the States are con
c"ntrntrd at one point and forwarded
in heavy shipments. The committee
appointed will make an effort to reach
some agreement among the importers in
this city to establish such conccnt
ration point for the shipment Of freight
to Honolulu.
No Intention To Discriminate
Secretary Brown ted the meeting
that tn" publicity given the subject OF
freight rates in The Advertiser had
resulted in representatives of both the
Southern Pacific and the Santa Fp cal
ling on the chamber of commerce to as
sure that body that the railroads had
no intention Of discriminating against
-lonolulu and that they were prepared
to do any reasonable thing t. eliminate
amy apparent il ju.tice.
An interesting feature Of the meet
lag was the discussion Of the bank
ruptcy law which, it was claimed
while II hrIp in needy eases, was too
often only q convenience for unscrupu-
IOuS business men who took untuir nd
vantage Of tn" law. The subject Of
establishing a telephone credit cX-
change, similar to such AN arrangement
in lnrG" cities on the mainland, was
brought before the meeting. This cx
chang, according to Mr.. Bcrndt. en-.
;hl"d IL merchant to learn almost in
simultaneously the financial standing
Of his prospective buyer through the
use of priVat" Telephone exchange.
Series of Talks Planned
F"r the purpose Of bringing ont Iurg
or HttrrduncrS at the meetings Of the
emu Der e commerce, Il committee Will
try I" formulate some means whereby
members will take krrnrr interest
IN the meetings. 1t was pointed out
that every meeting should have \, me
particular topic to discuss and not be
merely general meeting. 1t was sug
g"st"d to arrange for II talk or II series
of talks on business and banking sub.
irtS by n. Il. Young, Of the Mcrcan
til" Reference Agency.
During the discussion of the bnnk-,
ruptcy law Secretary Brown announced
that il" had been making Il study Of
the subject and learned that during the
yrur ended Jan" 80, 1918, approximate
" $4,000 failures had been reported in
the United States representing an in.
dcbtcdnrsS If ,O5l 900, 600.
james ID. McInrrny waS.chuirman of
IN" meeting ard talks were made BY
I'd. T"wsr, ". r. harrington, f. A.
Bcrndt and Others