The Hawaiian gazette., 1917-03-16
commission BACKS
down WHENAGENTS
OF STEAMERS BALK
Board Issues UItimatum To Hack
field But Fails To Make Good
When Bluff Is Called
Declines To Remove Officers and
Crews From Setos and
Pommern

Pommern
Officers, crews and other persons on
board the German merchant refuge
steamships must be removed and
watehmen appointed by the board Of
harbor commissioners placed on board
in their place;
Or, the German vessels wiz be i'm.
mediately removed from the territorial
wharvcs where they are now lying and
viii be taken either 10 " Rotten Row.
or outside the harbor.
Such was the ultimatum delivered
by the board Of harbor commissioners
yesterday afternoon to II. Hackfeld &
Co.. agents for the German vessels
The harbor board gave the German
American company just about one hour
to make its choice. And Frederick
wilhelm Klebahn, who looks after the
shipping business of Hackfeld & Co.
lodged the Issue as well as won Beth
mann Hollweg himself could have done.
In other words, in a mastery manner
he did nothing and the harbor board,
followed up its brave words by doing
exactly the same thing. =
Nothing has, been done by the
barbor board. But 1t is announced
that something win be done this
morning-that the harbor board in
tends to hold ths Germans to strict &c,
countability and win refrain from no
word or deed necessary to make good
its threat.
issues An UItiniAtum N.t
The harbor board required, in its
communication to Hackfeld & Co.,
that an answer be returned by FIVE
O'Clock. The board wrote that unless
reply were received by the hour
specified, the board would understand
that the proposal was rejected. 9
And at five o'clock reply was re.
ceived from Klebahn. He wrote that
IL was impossible for him TO give an
answer by five O'Clock He had
brought the matter to the attention of
the attorneys for the firm and they
would give the matter prompt attcn.
ton. A-".1.. ~ a.t@
And the board because of the fact
that no quorum was present at the
second meeting, which had been called
for, five Q 'clock--did nothing.
Split In the Board
The board met at one-thirty O'Clock
yesterday to resume consideration Of
the ship situation. tt early became
evident that there was division among
the members. Commissioner Mccarthy
was firmly of the opinion, and didn't
hesitate to express it emphatically,
that under no circumstances should the
Pommern and Setos be permitted to re.
main at the territorial wharves. He
wanted them yanked out and placed in
Rotten Row forthwith.
The board discussed the matter for
more than two hours without being
able to get together. Mccarthy re.
fused to assent to the vessels remaining
at the piers under any conditions, but
he was outvoted. The following reso,
luton was adopted by vote of three
&c one: ~. 49,, #, w
"That the chairman be authorized to
notify II. Haekfeld & Co. at once that
the s. S. POmmern and the s. s. Setos
may remain at their respective berths
at Piers Nos. and IS, provided that
the masters, officers, crews and other
persons now aboard said ships be imme-
diately withdrawn from said ships and
said ships placed in care of watchmeh
provided by and under the control of
the board Of harbor commissioners. II
must be understood that the board Of
harbor commissioners in no wise in,
tends to waive its right to require the
removal of said vessels whenever, in
its opinion, the same may be necessary.
cit being further understood that,
in case the board decides upon. such re.
mOval, sufficient notice will be given to
he agent in order to allow the officers
and crews to return aboard said ships.
An answer to the foregoing resolu
ton is requested before FIVE p, m. TO
day, and in case such reply is not re
reived by five D. m, the board will un-
derstand that the proposal is rejected
Klebahn's Reply
And this is the reply which the
hoard received at five clock from
Frederick Wilhelm Klebahn, the popu.
Tar shipping clerk Of H. Hackfeld 4
Co: =. ..n.
At five minutes TO four o'clock this
afternoon we received your communica
tion enclosing a copy of a resolution
adopted by the board of harbor commits
sioners on this date relative to tn
Withdrawal of the masters, officers
crews and other persons now aboard
the steamships Setos and Pommern
and the placing Of such ships In care
Of watchmen provided by and under the
control of the harbOr commissioners
which resolution states that in case Q
reply is not received from us by five
p. ~. this day, the board will under
stand that the proposal is rejected T.
Is absolutely impossible to give thu
answer you require before FIVE p. m.
today. We have transmitted the reso
'ution to our attorneys for their advice
and they will give the matter prompt
attention. As soon as we hear from
hem, We will communicate with you.,'
Matter Stands Stili -t'IF&l.
And there the matter stands. II had
'cen agreed by the commissioners that
hey would be on hand at Eve 'eloek
o receive the reply from II. Hackfeld
Co., and act accordingly. But only
Norbes and Church appeared. Lacking
! quorum, Forbes announced that
peGial meeting Of the board would BE-
held at nine ohlock this morning Il
consider the matter.
IL is expected that an order will be
Sued to Harbormaster Foster TO re
move the ships from the harbor i'm
nediatcr, or at least Ito take then
way from the wharf. II is possibl