Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-03-09
HARDOR BOARD lSs
AGAIN CALLED ONl
GERMAN ship MOVE
Second KeIekoIio Resolution
May Bring Out Some State
ment on Reasons for Keep
ing Vessels at Piers; Talk
Of Legislature Asking Navy
Department to Allow Steam
ers at Pearl Harbor

TcqucbC washington 70 Odhc dCtto-h toi
the removal OF the refugee German
eehips from Honolulu baibor is a re.
port around the capitol developing
from the steps taken IN thu house by
The two Kelekolio resolutions.
This morning the house received q
report ON the first resolution Of In
quiry. the report throwing no Light on
the reasons why the harbor board bas
not moved the vessels.
The second resolution, adopted by
the house yesterday. has been sent
by the committee to the harbor board
and at 10 this morning Chairman
Forbes called special meeting oi
the board for l:30 this afternoon.
Al 1:45 the meeting had not begun
and II was said that Il would be u con.
ference between the hoard and the
house investigating committee.
Indications before the meeting were
that the discussion this afternoon may
develop some Of the now unknown rea-
sons for the harbor boards changing
its decision to send the vessels out.
side the harbor.
The second resolution In effect ie.
mands a statement OF tho reasons and
submission TO the house committee
Of correspondence relating to the
boards policy.
IN case the harbor board does not
feel able to disclo1e It's reasons, there
IN falk that the Legislature VIII take
The matter up with Washireton. In
fact. one proposal is that the legisla-
ture ask the navy department TO al
low the vessels 10 be sent to Pearl
II Is well known that the harhor
board would lEIe the vessels sent
there but that up TO the present the
navy department has not consented
TO the step, probably for strategic
reasons.
Strong Reasons Believed 70 Exist
That the harbor commissioners
have strong reasons for their policy of
allowing the Pommern and the Setos
TO remain at their wharves-- s--under
ss00.O0O bonds--is now generally be-
lieved.
II is also learned that the board has
carried out q policy Of searching the
harb0r and wharves to safeguard
against possible explosives. and so
far a. can be ascertained, the com
missioners do not fear that In case of
war the big refugee vessels win be
blown up at their berths.
One feature which developed today
was that the vessels agents. Hack
field q Company, In letter to the
governor--n0w part Of the harbor
boards records secuted the idea Of
any danger from explosives and offer.
ed 70 allow any duly authorized and
responsible territorial official or agent
10 make such Investigations aboard
the vessels as might prove this to be
a fact.
It is believed the board wilr act on
this offer.
House Proceeds With Resolutions
While members of the harbor board
are working out serious questions Of
policy relating TO the proposed moving
of the ships. legislators are carrying
out series OF steps aimed at calling
forth public statements on the harbor
boards plans and reasons for keeping
the German ships lying alongside ter.
ritoriai wharves.
RCRACoCutOeANC ACiCAOAAQ = AttoS IccO-
luton Of inquiry, introduced Eebru-
airy 26, was reported on this morning
by the house military committee. This
resolution requested the harbor board
to move the ships from the harbor.
Kelekolio's second resolution, intro
duced yesterday. demanded to know
why the vessels had not been removed.
That is now In the hands OF the mill
tary committee and was to 20 before
the harbor board at special meetina
at 1880 today.
The first resolution has 3ccasioned
much comment, and Il was said around
the Capitol that the military commit
tee had been tipped off, that the sub
ject ought not TO be discussed for
diplomatic reasons.
Unofficially, the Star-Bulletin was
told this morning by member of the
committee that inquiries of various
federal and territorial officials brought
out. in substance. the following an
swers:
"Please keep your hands out; dent
neddle.-oovernor Pinkham.
~We don't want to give you legal
opinion on this question st this time"
Attorney generals office.
"This 10 delicate matter."-capt.
Georoe r. Clark, U. S. N.
"We are not ready 70 act yet Don't
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