The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1861-02-28

' H.. L. llAtlts - ~ " e tAlEdtL IL Sdult Abl
the peru-al Of our readers.
The u =. Hospital System at the Sand
witch Islands.
One Of the most high-handed schemes by which
the [. ;. COnsuls at the Sandwich, Islands have
for a long time enriched themselves al the ex-
pense Of government, has lately been brought 70
light by q special commission sent there Tor the
purpose. The matter was first brought 70 light
through a correspondence in the Aha California.
Our own correspondent at Honolulu, (and a
member Of the Board Of lnyestigatiOn,) forward
81 Us by last steamer, a full account Of the
commission and its results: but, owing 10 the
crowded state of our columns, We passed II over
u our excellent neighbor of the Journal, in
whose columns IL made its appearance ON Thurs
day. Our Government, as well as our large
commercial interest, are under many obligations
70 the holiness Of the parties who took the inl-
t~iative in disturbing this foul nest Of wrong and
corruption
SINGULAR DEVELOPMENTS OF FRAUDS CONNECTED
WITH THE SANDWICH ISLAND CoNsULATEs.
There has been much complaint for several
years past among the ship owners of New Bed
ford, Nantucket, and other whaling ports, at
the unconscionable exactions Of the COnsuls at
= the Sandwich Islands. Some inquiries were in
stituted, and it was found that the government
was also. in all probability, q sutferer-the hos
pitfalls at these i.lands costing more than all the
others III foreign ports. y commission was dep
utized to examine the affairs Of these cOnsulates,
and the fact has been fully developed that frauds
of the most startling character have been per-
petrated, by which government has been swlnd-
led to u large annual amount. We are enabled
by the courtesy Of our contemporary the Boston
Commercial Bulletin, 10 present our readers with
the following report forwarded by the Bulletins
correspondent at Honolulu, who was a member
of the Board of Investigation into the United
States Hospital system Us p%racticed at the Sand
witch Islands
IIoNoLrLU, Oct. %. 1860.
The attention Of this community was first
called to certain frauds perpetrated upon the
government by the cOnsulates of Honolulu and
Luhaina. 10y IA correspondence that appeared in
the tia California of the Goth April last. where
in the correspondent of that issue alleged that
an Investigation into the affairs of the cUnsulates
and hospitals at these islands was being proceed
Cd with hy the Hon. James W. Borden, United
States Commissioner al these Islands. pursuant u
instructions from the State Department, arising
from the fact that for Il long period anterior
thereto, complaint had been made against the
system Of the administration of the affairs of the
t.. :. Consulatcs and Hospitals at the Hawaiian
Islands. and particularly in reference TO the
enormous expenditures of the fund appropriated
by Congress for IN" relief of sick ana disabled
American seamcn IN foreign countries. 1t APP
pears by the report of the Comptroller Of the
Treasury that the support OF seamen at these
consulatss had cost the government for the past
three years more than all Of the other ports of
the world.
Subsequently, instructions were sent by the
Secretary of state tn tine Secretary of the Navy,
requesting the dispatch Of Il vessel Of war 20
these Islands to further the examination So pre-
viously instituted as | nave above noted. Pur-
siant u said request. the sloop-of-war LeraHf,
under command of Captain William f. Hunt.
L. :. y, was dispatched from Panama on the
lst day Of MAY and arrived at this place on the
18th day Of June last. On the 22d day of June.
Commander VIM. L. Hunt, T.. ;. y. as Special
Commissioner 70 investigate the affairs Of the
T.. :. Consulates and Hospitals at Honolulu,
Lahaina. and Hilo, and Hon. j. ". Borden.
|. =. Commissioner, as Associate Commissioner,
entered upon the duties assigned them. In these
proceedings they were protraetcd III cOnse-
qucnce Of many hindranceS thrown Ia their
way in obtaining evidence and making the ne
crs-ary examination. Ii Is a notorious fact
that although many ot our citizens deprecated
the system which has been 50 long pursued by
the cpnsuls in the expenditures of the fund
80 wisely Appropriated bv Congress for the relief
of sick and disabled American seamcn, and the
eXaction of Illegal fees and unjust charges from
scamen, they nevertheless seemed determined and
did in = measure thwart the commission in
cXpediting the examination, and resort was
finally had 20 the High Court of Chancery of
the Kingdom for and the issue 10y it of Il Letter
Rogatory for the examination of witnesses.
On the first day OF August the commission
NtliCu ibI IailAtId. MAtit III Sliii' 'aiAi'A ltitF
though in a greater degree, existed to Il complete
efficient prosecution Of the duties devolving
upon it. The removal, at the request of the
vice consul at that port. of u large number OF
the inmates of the hospital to distances far re-
mote Gin MANY instances over 80 miles there irom)
it necessary for the commission to 90 to
great trouble and expense in procuring their at
tendance before the board, which obstacle could
have been easily prevented had the vice consul
Mt Lahaina. or those connected with the consul
late. aided the commission, as expressly request
ci BY DISPATCHES from the Department of State.
The examination was concluded at L4lhaina on
the 25th Of August, ut which time the COM
mission proceeded To Hilu. where the inycstiga-
was closed on the 18th ultimo, and imme-
iiatciy upon the adjournment of the board the
L,rGHf sailed for Panama.
The result of the examination. or even q sum
mary of the proceedings, would, | am assured,
too much upon the columns of Your val
liable journal but nevertheless, believing that
m informal notice thereof will be interesting to
the American nation at large, and to the ship
pin. rtcrcst of the United States in particular.
| beg rcavc - trespass on your columns to some
nxtcnt, though a. briefly as the circumstances of
the case will admit.
The testimony disclosed the long mooted fact.
that th, cOnsulates 81 Honolulu and Lahaina
have Il l. rye patronage. and that, therefore, the
9" illegal practices Is Consequently
very great that the Offices of physician and pur-
ycvur. highly Lucrative positions, and the profits
If each cxccrdin. the salary Of the consul many
thousand dollars. were in the consuls' gift that
possessed the power To cmharTass the opera
lions Of merchants and shipmasters doing bust
with them. and that. therefore, the corrupt
md uuwarrautatlc practices Of the consuls had
heretofore winked ut by them. they sub
10 unjust ana Illegal czactions rather
han incur their gnmIty. /
In connection With ihc Hospital Department
# these ports. it Wa apparent that well seumen
iad been admitted into the hospitals and made
charge against the government for medical
Tendance. and tho practice At the same time
ynni.ed al by corsuls Of Honolulu aud Lahaina.
n ono Inst.nca-the wrecked ssamen from three
ss>sls a, Houolulu-the government was charged
y the consulate the sum of Sl0Oj for medical
treudanoe alone. Shsn az the same time the