The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-11-17
UNDER THE OLD REGIME.
now THE DEAR PEOPLE WERE
CINCUED.
why Johu y. Colburn waited So Long
for Ills Money for supplies Tor
the Board of Health,

IL is generally known. especially
among old residents here. that there
was more or less crookedness in
certain quarters in the matter of
furnishing supplies to the differen
departments under the Royalist regime
Only few days ago the STAR called at
tention to the fact that giant powder
for the Street Department. for which
$40 per case was paid under the previous
administration, is now costing only u
| little over 80 Another instance has
recently come to the notice of the STAR
in which the Board of Health was vic
| timized and the public made to pay for
supplies which were never received.
During several years previous to May.
| 1892, it had been the custom of the Board
of Health, instead of asking for tenders
for supplies, to distribute the orders for
them among the different firms For
instance, in the matter of furnishing
feed for the team employed by the
Board of Health, it was the custom of c.
b. Reynolds, the then agent of the
Board, to distribute the Boards patron
age among the firms engaged in sup
plying feed for three months at time.
until all had had their turn. Among
the dealers in this commodity at thai
time was one John F. Colburn, who, for
reasons best known to the Board and
Mr.. Reynolds, was studiously ignored in
the distribution of patronage, probably
| for good and sufficient reasons. Any
how, Mr.. Colburn got no patronage
until April and May, 1892, and none
after that up to the time he received a
contract which called for weights as de
| liyered
David Dayton became president OF
the Board of Health in September
1890, and during his incumbency re-
peatedly urged the claims of Colburn
for share of the patronage, but with
out avail. until April, 1892, when an
order was given him. Prior to the de-
livery of the feed ordered Mr.. Reynolds
procured IA pair of scales and had them
taken to the barn occupied as stable
for the Health Office team. When the
first lot of feed was delivered at the
barn it was weighed by Mr. Reynolds in
til presence of l.. l.. La Pierre and y
native named Kali The first item in
the bill was five bales of hay. The
actual weight of the five bales was
| 1881 pounds, but Mr.. Colburn had
charged in his bill 1865 pounds, or more
than 100 pounds per bale over the cor
rect weight Five bags of bran were
next put on the scales and weighed.
The result showed 800 pounds, but
Mr. Colburn's bill called for $50 pounds.
Three bags of oats weighed 534 pounds,
but were charged for at 900 pounds.
Before using the scales Mr. Reynolds
had taken the precaution to have them
examined and tested by the Marshal.
They were found to be correct.
Mr.. Reynolds communicated the re-
suit of the weighing to Mr.. Dayton, the
president of the board, and asked him
to personally attend the weighing of
the next bill from Colburn. This he
consented to do. A direct request was
made to Colburn on this occasion to
send his bill with the feed, in order
that there might be no mistake. This
was done. At this weighing David
Dayton, G.. b. Reynolds, L. l.. LaPierre
and Kali were present. Six bales of
hay were first put on the scales, They
tipped the beam at 1904 pounds, but
Mr.. Colburn had charged for 1885
pounds. Five bags of bran, which
weighed according to the bill 325 pounds.
actually weighed only 314, and two bags
of oats charged at 800 pounds weighed
only $40. The prices have not been
mentioned as they cut no figure in the
matter and were not disputed, although
they were high, as was usual for any
thing furnished the Government
When the bills came in to be audited
and allowed Mr.. Reynolds refused to
approve them on the ground that the
weights were false, and continued to do
| SO until lHe tlille OI MS It5iBndlioH III
December last. After that time and
while Mr.. Dayton was acting not only
as President of the Board but also as its
agent in Mr.. Reynolds place, the latter
approved the bills and they were paid,
The above is IA simple statement of
facts which can be proven at any time.
They are known to many now.
John f. Colburn was Minister of the
Interior under the late Queen and is now
anxious to have the job again. He is a
fair sample along with the late Premier
who used public funds in the hands of
Consul Mckinley to pay the expenses of
his family abroad, of the kind If public
servants the Monarchy foisted and
would foist again upon the honest
people of Hawaii.