Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-03-12
HARDCR BOARD TO
TELL IN SECRET
WHY SHIPS STAY
Executive Session This Even
ing viii Give Information on
German Steamers to House
Military Committee

!.
Al z:30 this Afternoon the inVesti.
eating eomrittee appointed ry the
hsrbcr board 20 make thorough ex-
animation Of the German refugee rner-
chant steamers Pommerp and setos
to find whether there are any expio-
sives aboard or whether any prepara-
thong have been made TO sink the YES
sells at their berths began its work.
On the committee are, for the harbor
board, Commissioners c. J. Mccarthy,
W. n. Mcclellan and T. NJ. Church.
For the harbormaster's and pilots Of
flee are capts. William r. Foster, har-
bormaster; N. A. Madsen and John E.
tiagIund. For r.. Hsckfeld q Company
are {. Kopke, {. peinat and r. Walk.
The engineer included in the connnit-
tee Is Richard Leach.
At an executive meeting to be held
at 7:30 O'Clock this evening the mill
tary committee of the house expects
to receive from the harbor board
complete answer to the question why
the German refugee ships have not
been removed from Honolulu harbor,
as requested in house resolution 40.
The board has not yet given the
committee a complete answer" says
Committee Chairman Evan da Silva.
There are one or two points to be
cleared up. This probably will be
done this evening"
Chairman da Silva declines to dis
cuss the executive portion Of meet.
ing this morning of the harbor board
with-the committee He says every
thing that happened will remain Sc
cret, at least for the time being.
There are some reasons why we
have not moved the German ships
that could be told the committee in an
executive session." Chairman C. r.
Forbes of the harbor board said at
today.s meeting. The board has de-
manded q bond of H. Hackfeld & Co,
and has taken other measures to safe
guard government property. These /
do not care to discuss unless the at
torney-general thinks it proper.
There are reasons why one or two
conditions that exist should not be
made public. The board proposes to
make public all matters pertaining to
this question except one item, and
that deals with certain federal iuris-
diction and responsibility and should
not be made public" Forbes added.
Deputy General A. G.
Smith said he had nothing to say.
Commissioner Wakefield was then
called on to outline the actions that
have been taken by the board regard
ing the German ships
At this point the doors we're closed
and the meeting became an executive
session.
Commissioner James Wakefield said
later:
I'VE told the committee all we could
say or tell relative to safeguarding
the interests OF the territory and other
property owners on the Honolulu
waterfront, territorial. private. con-
signees and consignors of cargo.
The commissioners, all of whom
were present with the exception Of
Col. Mccarthy. made a complete oral
statement to the committee outlining
all the harbor board has done relative
to the German ship situation"
Commissioner Wakefield added that
the 100000 indemnity bond. the form
OF which was approved Saturday by
the board Of harbor commissioners, as
already published in the Star Bulletin.
was to be signed this afternoon by the
local agency for the refugee vessels,
H Hackfeld e Company. ..-,