The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-09-26

Auditor Austin still held the fort this
morning. He was at his desk in the
Auditors office, claiming to be auditor
denying the power of the governor to
suspend or remove him until after u
hearing, or that the governors COM
municaition declaring his suspended
had any effect.
Deputy Auditor Meyers was at his
accustomed work as deputy auditor, he
having made no effort to take possess
sion of the office as auditor by tenn
porary appointment under the letter
of Governor Dole written yesterday.
His position in the matter was that he
had not been put in possession of the
office, and therefore could not assume
the duties or responsibilities of it.
Perhaps the most significant testi-
mony to the fact that Austin held the
fact was the attitude of the Treasury
department. At the treasury Austin
was recognized as the auditor.
II have received no official notice that
Auditor Austin has been superseded"
said Acting Treasurer Henry e. Cooper
land therefore l can recognize only the
regular incumbent AS soon as L am
notified by the governor of a change
of course 1 shall follow the governors
lead. 1 know of no effort this morning
to put Mr.. Meyers in possession of the
auditors office"
Governor Dole was down at his office
very early this morning but returned
home shortly after 8 o'clock. His pri-
Vate secretary said no further action
had been taken by him in the Auditor
matter.
of very great concern to every employe
. of the government and discussion of the
question is rife among them. The inn
portance of it lies this, that it is now
near the end of the month. 1t is the
time when salary warrants are being
prepared. Any question as to who is
the auditor just at this juncture, might
delay salary warrants for a few days or
4 & week or more and this fact is one that
? causes much interest and apprehension.
Il am here, claiming to be auditor, in
possession of the office, auditor by APP
pointment, confirmation and commits
sion, the work of the office going on as
usual" said Herbert c. Austin. II
have received no further communlca-
tion from the governor than his letter
81 yesterday in response to mine I
have made no answer yet to his charges
in the letter of yesterday because he
has set no time for an answer or
hearing on the charges. l have no
doubt he will. 1t seems to me that he
should and that until he does l am not
called on to make any answer. L hold
luG pOSlllOI lhdI Tie 6ONClll llOl has llo
power to remove or suspend me until
after charges made and a hearing on
them Mr. Meyers is still acting as
Deputy Auditor, and has made no er-
fort to take possession of this Office as
auditor, he has not been put in pos
session of it, and until he is, l under
stand will not claim to supersede me.
81 am particularly strenuous on the
point that l cannot be suspended until
after charges and hearing on them,
because of the present state of the pub
lie mind, growing out of the scandals
already made public in the Treasurer's
and the Public Works offices. To sub
NIT to suspension without a hearing
would be to give rein to all that gossip
and malice could invent. That is
great deal more to be feared than any
thing / am guilty of or that can be
proved against me-"
Following a number of conversations
between Governor Dole and Auditor H.
c. Austin, the latter wrote a let
ter to the Governor in which he quoted
the section of the audit act giving the
the auditor. This section is as follows,
the Organic Act giving the Governor
the power the Executive Council had:
THE Auditor General and Deputy
Auditor General may be suspended or
removed from office at any time, by the
Executive Council for incompetence,
misbehavior, abuse of authority, mall