Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-03-09
IF HOUSE INVESTIGATION
Baked, TALK OF REQUEST
TO BE SENT WASHINGTON

TO BE SENT WASHINGTON
That the territorial legislature may
request Washington to take action fol
the removal of the refugee German
| ships from Honolulu harOOr is re
port around the capitol developing
from the steps taken in thc house by
the two Kelekolio resolutions.
| This morairS the house received a
report on the first res 1lLtlOn OF in
quiry, the report thro"iug no Light on
the reasons why the iarbCr board has
| not moved the vessels.
| The second resolution, adopted Ly
the house yesterday, has been sen;
by the committee to :hr harbor board
and at 10 this morning Chairman
Forbes called special meeting Of
the board for 1:30 this afternoon.
| In case the harbor board does not
feel able to disclose it's reasons, there
| is talk that the legislature will take
the matter. up with Washington. In
fact, one proposal is that the legisla,
ture ask the navy department to Al.
low the vessels to be- sent to Pearl
Harbor.
It is we'll known tina: the harbor
board would like 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 to Exist
That the harbor commissioners
have strong reasons for their policy of
allowing the Pommern and the Setos
to remain at their wharves-under
$500. 600 bonds-is now generally be-
lieved
IT is also learned that the board has
carried cut policy Of searching the
harbor and wharves to safeguard
against possible explosives. and so
far as can be ascertained. the COM
missioners do not fear that in case of
war the big refugee vessels will be
blown up at their berths.
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
ritorial wharves.
Representative Kelekolio's first reso-
luton Of inquiry, introduced FebrH-
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.
KelekoIio's second resolution, intro
dueed 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 90 before
the harbor board at a special meeting
at 1880 today. .
The first resolution has 0cc1sioned
much comment, and it was said around
the Capitol that the military commit
tee had been tipped off, that the sub
feet ought not to be discussed for
diplomatic reasons.
Unofficfa1ly, the "Star-BuIletin was
told this morning by a member of the
committee that Inquiries Of various
federal and territorial Officials brought
out, in substance, the following an
swers: ID" .'S I'll 10.
please keep your hands out; don't
rneddies--Governor Pinkhan.
we don't want TO give you legal
opinion on this question at this time"
Attorney generals office.
This is a delicate matter."-capt.
George n. Clark, U. s. NJ.
1--WE are not ready to act yet Don't
be too hasty.-Harbor commissioners.
The committee reported progress"
to the house today; but adds
that it is still in communication with
the harbor board Ito the end that It
comply with the intent Of the resolu-
ton or else state an ineligible, un.
derstandable, definite reason for not
so complying"
The committees report follows:
Your committee on health, police
and military to whom was referred
House Resolution No. 90, introduced
by Hon. B. H. Kelekolio, requesting
the board of harbor commissioners to
move certain refugee ships from Homo.
lulu harbor, begs leave to report dis
follows:
Your committee has had the res5
luton under consideration. 1t requests
the board of harbor commissioners to
move certain refugee ships from Homo
lulu harbor; the request is definite
enough. To the end that the intent
of the resolution be carried out, your
committee communicated with the
chairman of the board Of harbor CON-
mfssioners. and through him, with the
board. After much delay due to wait
ing for adjustments between the vari-
Gus departments involved in this mat
ter, your committee received a CON-
munication from the board of harb0r
commissioners, copy of which is
herewith attached, which your CON-
mittee feels does not meet the issue
squarely,
The resolution requests the board
of harbor commissioners to move the
ships; instead Of moving them, the
board decided to demand an in
demnity bend in the sum Of $500, 00o,'
and is now waiting for the attorney
general to prepare as soon as possible
a form of Indemnity bond in the above
amount
Your committee is Stin in rommnni
cation With the hoard az harhnr com