Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-03-16

= Honolulu, T. H., March 10, 1917. =
= Board of Harbor Commissioners =
= OF the Territory of Hawaii. =
= Honolulu, +. Fl. =
= Gentlemen: In reply to your =
= communication OF the 18th inst, =
= inclosing resolution of your =
y board to the effect that We be y
= notified at once that the steam y
= ship Pommern and the steamship \
= Setos may remain at their res y
= pective berths at Piers and is, =
= provided that the masters, off y
y GERS, crews and other persons 4
= now aboard said ships be imme- =
= diately withdrawn from said =
= ships and said ships placed in :
= care OF watchmen provided by y
= and under the control of your y
= board, We beg to advise you that =
= such action would be an abandon =
= ment of the ships by the owners =
and inconsistent with the rights =
= and privileges granted 10 the YES =
: sells by the United States govern \
: ment, and for these reasons, as =
\ agents of the owners, Wc cannot =
: consent to the proposal.
We would state that we arc =
= willing now. ash we have baan. at =
, all times since the ships nave y
been in the hafbor Of Honolulu, =
to cooperate with your board, and =
! with the other authorities. in any =
reasonable plan that may be =
suggested whereby the ships in y
question will be afforded safe y
! anchorage during the time they y
; have the status OF refugee YES. =
; sells.
Very truly yours. =
y II. HACKFEID & CO., LTD. =
BY F. w. KLEBAHN =
This reply was received after =
: the board took action this morn \
ing to move the Pommern, out =
side. =
Taking the stand that II. Hackfeld
& Company, Ltd, local agent for the
German merchant steamers,
has broken its promises By refusing
% sign the $5o0.0D0 indemnity bond,
.he board OF harbor commissioners this
at special public meeting
ordered the Ponlmern moved outside
he harbor within u hours from the
lire the harbormaster serves notice;
also voted to have the harbormaster
place such mornings on the Setos as.
win prevent her leaving her berth, and
PASSED a resolution asking permission
rom the; army engineers office to
irive "dolphinsr in Rotten Row pre-
iaratory to mooring both steamers
here so they will not continue to be
/ menace to the waterfront.
The meeting came TO order at 9:15
his morning. after no reply from H
1ackfeld & Company or its attorneys
n answer to the @ultimatumn served
m the agents late Thursday afternoon
~ the board. as published in last
evenings 6>o'cloek extra edition OF the
star Bulletin. had been received.
1T Is now e:15 and we have not
lad a reply from Hackfeld's,r said
Chairman Forbes as he called the
Meeting to order, with every member
present except w. H. Mcclellan. who
vas said to be On the sick list. I'VE
ave put in good deal Of time trying
o get some action from the agents
md all concerned. but owing to Hack
eld's refusal to sign the bond we
ave not advanced far at our last two
reetings L would like 70 ask the
members IL 1t is not possible to agree
nd to take the Pommern and Setos
where they will be as little menace as
'ossible to the territory
Commissioners Tom Church then
poke in favor of quick action. He
aid r. w. Klebahn. manager of Hack
eld's shipping department, had given
he board his personal assurance that
10 further damage would be done the
'essels, but that under questioning an
our later had admitted that his as
urances could not be guaranteed and
hat orders for the masters to scuttle
he steamers might come again and
.e would know nothing OF them.
I'VE have received no answer from
Iackfeld,. said Church, and | Tan
lot help but feel that they will not
nswer and that it would be rseless
CT us to wait further Big things are
kelly to happen and happen quickly.
think We should take some action
light now
lsckfeId's Charged with unfairness
II fully agree with Mr.. Church,
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