The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1895-08-06
.. F. yoss,s Hawaiian Comments.


quently scandal.
Only a few days ago The Post
published the fact that a scandal in
the Punahou College was exciting
the missionary as we'll as other social
elements OF the islands, and now
comes the news Of peculiar pros
ceeding in the judicial department
which has been causing no end oil
comment among the citizens OF
Honolulu.
In short, Judge there has been
discovered sitting in his own case,
and in violation OF section OF the
Hawaiian constitution which de!
clares that "no person shall sit as a
judge or juror in any cause in which
his relative by affinity, or by con-
ssnguinity, within the bird degree,
is interested, either as plaintiff or
defendant, or in the issue OF which
said judge or juror may have, either
directly or through some relative,
any pecuniary interest"
The foregoing provision would
appear plain enough to avoid misin-
depreciation, even by the Supreme
Court of Hawaii, but private letters
received here from Honolulu reveal
the presence there OF judicial scan
dial which ranks close second TO any
thing OF a similar character that has
occurred there.
The judiciary OF those islands has
apparently evinced even more sensi-
tive solicitude for its reputati N
than for it's character, and, while
morbidly sensitive to any criticisms
upon its integrity and capacity, has
not scrupled on occasion to counsel
acts positively for hidden by consti-
tutional and statutory enactment.
The case in point is one that has
excited widespread interest among
the more intelligent islanders, but
owing to the strict laws governing
contempt proceedings, the papers
there have not cared to discuss the
matter with their readers, knowing
that yawning prison or a heavy
6he would await the publisher.
There is in Honolulu a corpora
ton of sugar boilers and general
importers and merchants existing
under the name of G. Brewer g. Co.,
in which the Judd family and their
innumerable relatives have long
been largely interested. At the
present time Chief Justice Judd and
his siste Mrs. a. A. p. Carter, and
other close relatives own very
large, il not controlling share Of
the stock Of the company.
One of the latter's chief assets is
its ownership in the capital stock of
the Waikiki Sugar Company, a cor
poration operating the largest plan
tation on the island of Maui except
the colossal Spreckels plantation.
Claus Spreckels is he owner of large
interests in the famous lao valley,
extending from the seashore to the
top OF the glen at Wailuku, Maui,
on either side of which is situated
the above mentioned property of
the Waikiki Sugar Company.
Recently a dispute arose between
the Waikiki Sugar Company and
the Spreckels interest over the ques-
ton of water rights, the former
having appropriated certain Of wa
tors which Mr.. Spreckels, in oom-
mon with hundreds of Hawaiian
"Kuleana" holders in the valley,
thought pertained to his or their
land and to which the big Sugar
Company had no right. A restrain
ing suit was the result and the COM
pany entered a protest against the
Water Rights Commissioner OF that
district toying the case though it
was shown that he owned no land
affected by the suit.
Chief Justice Judd wrote deci-
sion sustaining the objection and
then W. o. Smith, the present At
torney- General, secured the appoint.
ment of young Honolulu attorney
to the place of the Water Rights
Commissioner.
To the great surprise, however, the
new Commissioner rendered deci-
sion sustaining the contention of