The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1902-11-28
OFrom Thursdays Daily)

The grand jury made a final report
to Judge De Bolt yesterday Of the re-
suits OF its three weeks investigation
of Territorial affairs. The report dealt
with number of interesting subjects.
chief OF which were OF course, the in
vestigatlon into department bureaus.
The report is rather peculiar, in that
though ii mentions a number Of alleged
offenses or Irregularities, there l. an
entire omission of specific reference to
the alleged guilty parties.
The system of auditing is criticised,
as is the method in vogue in the Public
Works Department, while suggestions
are made to the Senate to investigate
further into the escape of Treasurer
Wright.
Criticism is made also OF the publica-
ton OF newspaper reports Of the grand
jury proceedings.
The report in full is as follows:
Honorable John r. De Bolt, First Judge
Circuit Court First Judicial Circuit.
Sir:
The Grand Jury duly empanelled and
sworn and charged before you on the
third day of November, 1902 having
ended its duties, beg to submit the fol-
lowing general report:
THE Deputy Attorney General has
brought to the attention of the Grand
Jury 81 cases, all of which have been
carefully considered and in IS cases
true bills of indictment have been found
and in the remaining thirteen cases
no bills have been returned, the evil
dence presented not being considered
sufficient to warrant conviction on the
respective charges preferred.
THE Grand Jury, under the general
instructions contained in your charge,
has felt constrained to investigate the
following matters and to submit its re-
port on the same:
Treasury Department: 1t has in
vestigated the alleged embezzlement in
the Treasury Department and a true
bill has been found against the Treas
urer. In this connection the Grand
Jury would call attention to the fact
that the Chinese fund from which the
money was distracted had been with
drawn from deposit in a bank and
placed in the hands of an official not
under bonds and without sufficient
guarantee for its safe keeping.
In the matter of the escape of the
Treasurer, all available evidence has
been obtained, and 1t appears to the
Grand Jury that due precautions were
not taken to provide against the escape
of William II. Wright after he had ad-
mtted deficit in the funds under his
charge. However the action of the
government appears to have been
prompted by the desire to recover to
the Treasury the amount in default
h.a,. ha, fob t, he
delinquent official. This Grand Jury
recommends that the Senate, now in
session, Immediately make a thorough
investigation as to the responsibility of
any government official in allowing the
escape OF the Treasurer.
Public Works Department: In the
investigation of this department, the
Grand Jury have returned true bills
against the Superintendent of Public
Works and the chief clerk. A proper
system of checking accounts and au-
diting of the same and the regular
transfer OF the cash to the treasury
according to law should have prevented
Irregularities in this department.
Investigation indicates that great
latitude has been taken in the awards
for tenders on advertised bids, and that
the law has not been strictly followed
in such matters.
Auditors Department: The Grand
Jury has examined very thoroughly the
system and practices OF this department
and finds much to criticize.
THE books of the different bureaux
have been audited infrequently and in
the case of public accounts cash has
not been counted to verify the balances
reported on hand. Cash has not been
turned into the treasury at the stated
periods required by law. Evidence
shows that the auditor has during the
present year absented himself from his
Office an undue proportion of business
hours to the detriment OF the public
service. There seems no system for re-
porting to the auditors department
either sales. transfers or exchanges of
land by reason of which moneys are due
to the government, and that statements
are not furnished the auditor OF such
transactions, whereby he may be able
to verify collections due the govern
ment. The registrar OF conveyances
should make statements at least once
month to the auditor, OF all sales and
transfers of government lands that may
be entered for record, so that a check
may be had on all departments that
have il in their power 10 DISPOSE OF
public lands, and all such departments
should make "A statement to the auditor,
at least once a month, Of all land trans
C.,..r....(ooo.Ioo .o.C.)o.p..y.,..CS {
estate Of James II. Estill were APP
proved.
A motion for new trial has been
filed in IN. case Of H. Kin Wal, fined
500 for selling liquor without a license.
An affidavit Is filed by w. +, Hasson,
H. which he says that he advised the
defendant that he would get into
trouble with the United states authori-
ties for keeping beer In his store ice
box, and that defendant thereupon Sc
cured "a license