The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-12-11
ARMY DEAD BEATS
Trying to Get Pay From
First New York.
Governor Roosevelt Writes that
the Honolulu Claims Are
Without Merit.

George Lycurgus and MadeirOS d
Decker TO collect what is owing them
by the notorious First New York Reg
iment, but, as might be expected, with
success. Readers of the Advertiser
will remember the scandalous conduct
of the New Workers, who evidently
though that Hawaii was the enemys
country where they could indulge their
predatory instincts TO the full. How
they overran the city and its suburbs,
how they tore up private gardens and
truck farms, insulted citizens and con-
tracted debts which they never in
tended TO pay, is a story which will not
soon be forgotten.
Counsel for the creditors having
made unavailing efforts to get the
by appeals to the War Depart
ment and the regiment itself, recourse
was had to United States Senator
Clark, the staunch friend Of Hawaii at
Washington. Senator Clark took up
the matter with the following result:
Mr.. Geo. Lycurgus, Honolulu, H. l.
Dear Sir: | find it impossible to do
anything TO your advantage in relation
TO your accounts against the New York
soldiers. The General Government ev-
identity settled with the New York
troops on the basis of NOTHING DUE
YOU according as reported by the
colonel of the regiment, and as the or
ganization has been disbanded it would
be next to impossible to get anything
from the State, as the officers claim
that there is nothing owing. l enclose
you herewith the report made by the
colonel t the adjutant general as to
your claim, and two others, on August
31st. On this report, which Governor
Roosevelt enclosed to me, the State
declines to do anything. Governor
Roosevelt, in giving his view of the
matter, says as follows:
GOV. ROOSEVELT'S LETTER.
State of New York, Executive Cham
Der, Albany, November 10, 1899.
Hon. Clarence D.. Clark, Senate
Chamber, Washington, D. C.-Sir: In
answer to yours of the I'd inst. | en-
close a statement of date August 31st
by the colonel of the New York regi-
ment in question. At that time l made
a full and detailed report of the whole
matter to the War Department, which
was presumably satisfactory, as moth
ing since has been heard of the mat
ter. OF course, as the troops were vol
. III IO INV VI NhS
Government, and not of he. State of
New York, and as the regiment has
now been d~isbanded, there would be
absolutely no way of collecting the
debt, even were the debt proper. But
it appears that the accounts are not
just and correct, and that they should
not have been paid either before or
after the regiment returned from Ho-
nOlulu. Most certainly | should do
anything for the honor of our service
that was possible, but it is not pos
sible to make an adjustment which will
be at least partially satisfactory to
Mr.. L%ycurguS,' when the claim of Mr..
Lycurgus is without merit. You will
note that the colonel says hat nothing
is due to Mr.. Lycurgus for bathing
privileges, and that all of the compa-
MES saved one used the baths one
month, paid for their use, and notified
Mr.. L%ycurgus that they would pay no
longer"
/ am afraid that under the circum-
stances it would be a waste of time to
attempt anything further, although, if
you can suggest any way by which |
can still help you out, or any other in
formation, | shall be glad to do any
JlllLS l. pOSSIOly tdh III youl Chdll.
Very sincerely, c. d. CLARK.
COL. STACKPOLE'S REPORT.
The report of Colonel Stackpole of
the First New York is the one upon
which Governor Roosevelt based his
conclusions. Colonel Stackpole asked
explanations of the Honolulu bills of
his line officers and these promptly
contradicted what the local claimants
allege. Captain Palmer reported that
Lycurgus' bill for contract bathing
privileges was wrong because his COM
pany did not use such privileges to
any extent. Lycurgus' books show that
the men used them for two months
and there are witnesses ready to swear
that the books are correct. Captain
Roach of Company c says that the ac-
count of one McGue, which he had
guaranteed, had been settled. Lycur-
gus books show the contrary, and the
proprietor of San SOuci exhibits a let
ter of Captain Roach suggesting that
McGue pay Lycurgus through him at
the rate of So per month. Roach now
claims that he settled the account for
S11, McGue paying so and Roach 81.
In the case of Lieutenant Smith of
Company G, who owed $40, the lieu
tenant testified that he had paid his
personal account. Mr.. Lycurgus cha1-
lenges him to show a receipt. It is said
that Smith left here in debt to one of
the clubs. Company F claims that it
paid for bathing privileges one month
and refused to continue the arrange
men. Lycurgus denies it. The same
is true of Company G. Captain Tomp-
kins of Company NJ informed Colonel
Stackpole that he had sent on a draft
of $40 with which to take up his note.
Lycurgus says that 10 draft came and
that the note, sent on for collection,
was protested.
1t is on evidence like this that Col
onel Stackpole, in his report to the ad-
jutant general Of New York, declares
that nothing is due Mr.. Lycurgus for
bathing privileges. Colonel Barber"
he says, made the arrangement with
Mr.. Lycurgus upon his own response
bility. Regarding bills from Madeiros
e Decker, 1 am convinced that the ma