The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1893-03-14
WHY HE WAS REMOVED.
Correspondence Between Minis
ter MaCfarlane and AS
SCISSOR Blown,
What About the Peoples Side Getting
a Hearing?

in the short tenure of the Macfar-
lane Ministry the Tax Assessor and
Collector for the Island of Oahu,
Mr.. G. A. Brown, was dismissed from
office by the Minister of Finance,
Hon. E. @. Macfarlane. Also, that
Mr.. Brown resisted his dismissal by
certain legal processes, which cuf-
minated in his getting a judgment
in his favor from Judge Frear. This
Judgment held that Mr.. Brown was
not lawfully dismissed because he
had not been accorded hearing on
the charges against him. An appeal
was taken from the decision of
Judge Frear, but at that moment
Mr.. G. N. Spencer, whom Mr.. Mac
farlane had appointed to the Office
and against whom Mr.. Browns suit
was directed, suddenly died.
Mr.. Brown seized the opportunity
and took possession of the Tax Office
with the consent of Hon. p. G.
Jones, Minister of Finance in the
Provisional Government. His only
legal claim lay in the decision of the
Circuit Court Judge, from which an
appeal had been taken as stated.
The lapse of this appeal through
the death of the appellant left the
issue that was of public importance
in an unsettled state judicially. Mr..
Macfarlane had given reasons &C
cording to the statute for his dis
missal of the Tax Assessor, sub
ordinate in his Department. If
those reasons were capable of proof,
and there exists sworn testimony of
their truth, then the taxpayers of
Oahu are insulted and outraged by
having such man as G. A. Brown
in occupancy of the position of Tax
Assessor and Collector. If Mr..
Brown was entitled to hearing to
save the Office and it's emolunents
to him, then the public ought to
have much greater rights of hear
ing in behalf of their interests.
Some of the alleged offenses of
Mr.. Brown while holding the office
were notorious. They were COM
mitted shamelessly in full public
view. His holding of a miserable
specimen of a legislator in virtual
custody, dragging him in de
bauched state between the legisla-
tive chamber and his house, was one
of the most conspicuous incidents OF
the attempt to put out the Macfar-
lane Ministry which succeeded. The
sworn proofs of other dishonorable
doings of this salaried public officer
are available for publication. In the
meantime the public may take the
reasons as given for Mr.. Browns
dismissal, and judge whether in the
case of their truth such man is fiji
to hold any public trust. The most
essential parts of the correspon-
dence between the Minister and the
Assessor are given below:
COPY.
Honolulu, H. l., !
October 18th, 1893.(
HIS EXCELLENCy
T.. =. MACFARLANE,
Minister of Finance,
Sir am in receipt of your let
ter of October 18th, stating that il
furtherance of public interests ant
for reasons which Her Majesty
Cabinet deem sufficient, you motif
me of my removal from the Office O
Assessor of the Island of Oahu, an,
demanding that | deliver the rec
ords of my Office to Mr.. T. A. LloyC
the Deputy Assessor and -Collecto
for the District.
In reply allow me to state that
am advised that no legal cause
stated for my removal, and as non
exists l decline to comply with you
request. l remain, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
G. A. Brown,
Assessor First Division Island {
Oahu.