The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-09-25
ONDFOROFFICIALS


charge of the money. w. II. Wright
was not under bonds. The Treasurer,
who was appointed by the Governor
and endorsed by the Senate was a de-
faultcr, and had confessed To Secretary
II. T.. Cooper that he had appropriated
some SIS 900 The defalcation was dis
covered on Tuesday the money being
taken from the Planters Chinese fund.
Senator Mitchell conducted the inqui-
sition. I
There was no law to make the Treas
urer give bonds. The First National
Bank holds part of the planters fund.
The Governor thought that from recent
events it did not look advisable for the
Treasurer to be without bonds. Usual
ly bonds had not been given as the
Registrar was directly responsible for
the public moneys. The Governor did
not think the Treasurer had access to
the cash. He thought the Governor
should have something to do with the
appointment of the Registrar of Public
Accounts, and had thought he had an
understanding to that effect with Mr.
Wright. This was disregarded.
Governor Dole stated the appoint
ment of Mr. Wright with Secretary
Cooper, the search on the Alameda ana
the determination that Wright had
left. No warrant had been issued.
b. Haywood Wright's case was
brought up. Governor Dole stated that
he thought the man should have given
bonds, that he had been arrested but
not indicted James II. Boyd, head of
the department was now on his way
back from California. There were also
two other cases in the Assessors office
of small defalcation.
Auditor Austin was called and asked
to furnish a statement from the detail
/ IF n N
the Board of Health expenditure dur
ing plague time. These were in all 21,
| 600 vouchers and the Auditor thought
such statement could be furnished by
next Tuesday, before the Commission
left.
Senator Burton appointed A. S.
| Humphreys in charge of the investi-
cation of f. S. Boyd. The witness
gave the revenues from the crown
lands from 1898 to September /, 1902, as
1882, 37S.O6. A blank lease was shown
On January 18th, 1903, 920 6S3 acres
formed the crown land area. The 1894
report of the Commissioner of Crown
Lands was filed as testimony anu also
the reports of the Commissioner Of
Public Lands for 1867, $3.50, 1900. In
answer to Senator Mitchelrs question
the money acquired from the leases
had been put to the public improve
ment fund. E. S. Boyd estimated
roughly the present value Of the crow
lands at 100000. The year previous
to the change, the revenue was $36, 600.
Mr.. Boyd brought forward maps IN
| answer to Samuel Parker's question On
Hawaii lands and read the account of
| the lease auction and it's terms. Mr..
| Parker asked several questions as to
| the propriety of setting apart this land
| but Mr.. Boyd not being in Commission
| at the time, the discussion dropped.
| Mr.. Boyd concluded by stigmatising
remarks made against his incumbency
as qualified to have removed him fr1In
Office if true. He challenged their YER
ity and submitted that the homestead
matter was of great Importance. Sen
ator Burton asked for valuation of
! all public lands.
Henry Hapai, Registrar of Public
: Accounts, was the next witness. He
| described the creation of the office,
! originally under the monarchy. He
was bonded in $4,000 to the Treasur-
er. He receipted for all moneys re-
| ceved. The Treasurer was not in
! charge of any moneys for which Hapai
gave receipts. He had the keys of the
safe and the Treasurer had no dupli
Gates, had no use of Hapais keys and
| no access to the safe. An average
daily amount in Hapais charge was
| S25OOOO. The largest amount that
might be in his possession at any one
| time was 5000 600. The Treasurer, on
! the same basis, had under personal
control perhaps $4,000 to 100000. The
| bond of 100000 was given to the Treas
| urer.
The witness did not know where Mr..
| Wright was. He last reported on Tues
! day morning. The shortage, according
/ n "a Acting Snrar \VaS
Witness had nothing to do with the
| Chinese fund.
! Asked as to the case of Thompson
and Woodward knew nothing but hear
| say. A. S. Humphreys asked Hapai
| how long he had been in the Treasury
office. bringing out the fact that he
was there befores annexation. w. II.
| Wright was Registrar of Public AC-
counts when made Treasurer. j. w.
| Pratt was appointed by the Treasurer.
| j. f. Brown came forward on a call
| for voluntary testimony. He thought
| public lands were overestimated as to
| homestead value. Much of 1900, goo
acres, at least 900 being positively
| irredeemable. 100000 was high graz
| ing and forest land possibly agrlcultu-
raj, though their availability was not
proven. 100000 acres remained He
went back to the first land awards of
1000 acres of the best land and some
$4,000 acres good land sold very cheaply
as low as 12la cents. Consolidation has
been constantly going on. Witness
believed in the present law as a friend
to the small land owner they having
been drawn with special provision for
conditions and looking to the protec-
ton of the native. Discrimination in
the choice of lands for hOmesteads
where some hope of return might be
looked for was, he thought, desirable.
The witness described the homestead
law which Senator Mitchell thought
much the same as the present Indian
laws on the mainland. Portuguese
wereN the best hOmesteaders.
Senator Mitchell asked various ques-
lions as to leases asking if Eva was
under lease. Witness stated the value
of the present public lands at $4,000, 0Os.
Senator Burton thought this very low
and witness explained that thousands
of acres on Hawaii for instance were