The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1892-01-29
Mr.. rAuRSr0N'S REPLY 70 MR.
ASAFORD'S CHARGE OF ASCEPT-
ING A BRIDE WHILE IN OFFICE.

was minister OF the Interior by CIV
ing me five shares of Oahu Railway
and Land Company stock, in ex-
change for which l gave the Railway
Company "one-half the harbor of
Honolulu"
Mr.. Ashford stated on the floor of
the last Legislature that he told a
wllful falsehood concerning the treaty
to the committee of citizens appoint
ed by the meeting at the Chinese
theatre.
A man who will falsify once will
do it again, if he thinks that circum-
stances require it.
Evidently Mr.. Ashford thinks that
circumstances do now require fresh
assortment of falsehoods, and he has
invented the one above set forth as q
sample.
When the charge was first made l
had intended to reply upon my own
reputation and that of Mr.. Ashford as
being sufficient reply, until l had
time and opportunity TO make full
digest from the records and cores
pondence of the Interior Department
concerning the transactions between
the Railway and the Government
while 1 was Minister of the Interior;
but as the interests of others may
be affected by delay in publishing
a denial, l hereby state that the
charge made is untrue.
Without going into details l will
state,
/. That while L was in office no
grant of land, or other privilege, was
made to the Railway by the Govern
ment, except under authority of the
statute regulating the granting of the
rights of way and station grounds to
railroads, upon Government lands.
2. With the exception of an acre
and fraction adjoining the King
street bridge, no land has been grant
ed to the Railway on the harbor side
of the road leading from King street
to the prison, and this small piece
that was granted to the Company
was subsequently surrendered to the
Government and purchased by the
Company from the Government at
public auction.
3. All of the land lying south and
east of the Prison road, owned by the
railroad, and constituting the "Ter-
minal Division" was purchased by
the company from the owners, who
were first the Government, as to the
acre above mentioned; second, the
Bishop Estate, and third, the You
mans Estate. The lands acquired by
the company from the said two
estates front on the harbor; the piece
obtained from the Government does
not.
4. The Railroad Statute authorizes
the granting in fee simple to the rail.
road of wharf and landing sites from
Government lands, as well as lands
for other purposes. Under this pro-
vision, Mr.. Dillingham;, on behalf of
the company, applied to me as Minis
ter of the Interior for the grant of
wharf site extending out into the har-
Dor, upon which to build wharf. 1
declined to give it, stating to him that
l thought the Government should re-
tain the ownership OF every foot of the
harbor frontage. He then asked for
permission to dredge out strip some
30 feet wide lying between the COM
pany's land and deep water, this strip
being from 3 to 6 feet under water.
declined to consent to this either, as
it would thereby give the company
control of the water front. He claim
ed that he had the legal right to en-
force both propositions. l replied
that | would use the full power of
the Government and carry the mat
ter through all the Courts to prevent
it. | offered, however, to give him
permission to locate Il wharf, which
was needed for immediate use, and
TO ntilize the 60 foot strip without
charge, upon condition that the Gov
eminent could take possession at any
time upon giving 80 days notice and
paying the cost of the wharf and ell
ings, if any. After several months
negotiation, an agreement on these
lines was drafted by myself and sub
mitted to Mr.. Ashford, as Attorney
General, for suggestions. With some
slight amendments, it was approved
by him. He was at this time bitterly
hostile towards myself and the other
members of the Cabinet.
This is the only transaction be-
tween Mr.. Dillingham; or the Railway
Company and myself concerning the
wharf size or any land adjacent to
the harboP.
B. Besides refusing to acGede to
Mr.. Dillingham's request concerning
the water front, | also refused to
grant him more than about one-half
of the land that he applied for for
station and yards upon the site of
the old fish pond lying mauka of the
prison. Mr.. Dillingham; expressed
himself freely at the time, to the eff
feet that the company was not get
ting the assistance from the Govern
ment that he had right to expect,
and by law was entitled to.
6. Each and every transaction be-
tween myself, as Minister of the In
terror, and the Railway Company
was, before completion, submitted to