The Hawaiian gazette., 1890-01-28

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Opposition as the "Re-actionary Party
is because OF the bad public record OF
some of their leading candidates. Mr..
John Z. Bush is their representative
journalist; one OF their leading stump
speakers, a confidential member OF their
inner council, and heads their ticket for
! Representatives for Honolulu. he IS
the most prominent and active leader
among them.
Mr.. Bush has been in public life for
the last fifteen years, as Governor OF
Kauai, Minister of the Interior and Min
lister to Samoa, and his public conduct
in all of those positions is known to the
members of his party, and knowing what
it was, they have made him their leader.
We do not propose to inquire into any
unsavory details of private life, but it is
due the voters of this country that they
should know the character of the public
acts of those who now ask for their
votes.
The following are few Of the public
acts of Mr.. Bush while in office.
On the Sth of August, 1882, he was
appointed Minister OF the Interior which
position he held until July 26, 1888.
Mr.. Bush has repeatedly made the
statement that the reason he resigned
was because he would not comply with
| the wishes of Mr.. Gibson and Mr..
Spreckels, and that for conscience sake
he sacrificed himself.
The size and tenderness of Mr.. Bush's
conscience can be judged from the fol-
lowing incidents, which are simply sam
pies of his official methods.
The Report of the Fin nee Committee
to the Legislature Of 1884 includes the
following concerning Mr.. Bush's admin
istration:
CONTRACT WORK
In examining the expenditure under
the special appropriation for bridges and
landings and government buildings, your
committee find that the manner in
which contracts we're made and APP
proved must be characterized as dis
graceful.
LANDINGS.
l. The contracts to build landings at
Honokaia, Honomalino, Honokaa and
Kahololele were given to Messrs. Law
renee and Freeth on specifications drawn
up by themselves. The contracts were
signed by John E. Bush, Minister of the
Interior, without the approval of the
Superintendent of Public Works. and
without any effort to reduce the cost by
allowing competitive bids. MIR. X.
Sterling, Superintendent of Public Works,
stated to your committee that he had
made estimates OF the cost OF these land
ings before the appropriations were
made, but in each case the contracts
were made at higher figure than his
estimate, and on completion the work
was not as good as provided for in his
estimates.
BUILDINGS.
.. A contract was made with +. b.
Thomas to build kerosene oil store
house for 81 500. In addition to this
Mr.. Thomas vas paid $2l6 for stones left
by him on the ground, being the debris
left by his stone cutters, and stones
hauled by him in excess OF that required
to complete his contract. Also the sum
of 81 ,069 was paid to Mr.. Lazarus for
hauling Gil loads of stone. Besides this
in order to complete the cement floor it
was necessary to spend 1914 for labor
and material. 1t is difficult to say where
so many loads OF stone could have been
put. The price paid for hauling this
stone was $1.75 per load. Responsible
parties have told your committee they
would have been willing to do the same
hauling for 81 per load. The estimate
made by Mr.. Sterling for the cost of this
building, including the cement floor,
completed was $4,250. The actual total
cost paid was $1,000. This estimate was
handed in to the Minister OF the Interior
before the contract was made.
PALACE WALL.
3. A contract was made by Mr.. Bush
with Mr. Thomas to rebuild the wall in
the rear of the Palace for S2,S7S, and
work was accepted and approved by Mr..
Bush, and the money paid, while the
wall stands to this day in an unfinished
condition and the terms OF the contract
unfulfilled. The cost of this wall was
estimated by Mr.. Sterling at 81 800 COM
pleted.
BRIDGES.
4. A large number of bridge contracts
were awarded by Mr.. Bush to James G.
Hayselden, without calling for public ten
ders. The following is a list of the con-
tracts:
Waikane bridge. ....$ 2,200
Hr;Jra