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

tN' N'I'Ehl'. W o." NNI IIH auction
sale of leases generally Cd farnya' NIt-
ness saia DC was because of tine high
upset prices.
Senator Burton argued that tine Fed.
crH Government control would bee bet-
ter than local self government The
witness thought 10 might be $50 If pres-
ent laws We're retained. Loabeusteiu
and EmmeIuth We're shut out from
questioning Mr. Brown.
Senator Mitchell read resolutions
from the Territorial Republican Exe-
cutive Committee which We're asked TO
be placed on the Commission records.
Delegate Wilcox was called forward
while the announcement was read.
Delegate Wilcox said he would not
recognize IT, except as the action of a
few men. He would let the people an
swer and they would answer pretty
soon.
Curtis Iaukea appeared to show that
the crown lands were greatly under
valued. Witnesses rough estimate place
the value at nearly 5 20,0OO,OOO with
present value of cane and rice lands
taken into consideration. All public
lands he thought worth from twenty
five to thirty millions, dependent per-
haps on sugar
j. b. Anterior asked If Eva Plantl-
ton was not made the basis for all
taxation.
Secretary Cooper stated that he had
been commissioned this morning as
Treasurer. Under the law no bonds
We're required. 5000 600 to 500, 900 was
possible to be in the treasury at one
time for which Hapai was responsible.
In the old days the head of the depart
ment was a cabinet member and under
Hawaiian law, not changed by the on
IL toll &C
met minister was required to file
bonds.
on Tuesday said the witness he was
informed that something was wrong
in the Treasury department. On ipaN-
ing the Commission he asked Mr..
Wright who said nothing was wrong.
Thirty minutes later Mr.. Wright with
w. o. Smith and j. A. Magoon came
to the Secretary's office and stated
there was a shortage. In the afternoon
he outlined plans for returning at least
$4,000 of the amount.
Governor Dole was notified and Wit
ness placed in charge of the depart
ment. Wright promised to appear at
8 the next morning, but was not plac-
ed under police surveillance as no OPP
pOrtunity for leaving the territory
was available. On Wrights falling to
keep his appointment, the police were
notified, and steps taken to prevent
him leaving the country.
The Registrar of Public Accounts
was then asked by witness to send in
a statement which he did in two hours.
His accounts were shown to be correct
on the cash being counted. There was
a few cents shortage owing to the lack
of pennies in the country.
Following this, examination of
in1 nd IN, in
ing the Chinese laborer's passage mon
ey was made. The Secretary explain
ed the taking over of the moneys by
the Territory In this cupboard, treas
ury warrants amount ing to l3l,614.54
The balance was lacking in $lG949.9l.
in answer to Senator Mitchell's in
quiry the system of revenue collection
was briefly stated by the witness. The
tax collector gave a bond to the Treas
urer, but not required by law. All
warrants for disbursements were pre-
sented to the Registrar of Public Ac-
counts for payment.
Senator Burton referred to B. II.
Wright and asked who was now in
charge of that office. Mr.. Cook was
named. Wrights defalcation was
placed at $500. Witness had no out-
side information Mir, Wrights fnan-
cial condition called for $4,000 by
forced process on his estate Action
was being taken. Mr.. Cooper did not
know where the Treasurer was. He
had been seen on board the Alameda.
The Sheriff had searched without avail
The Sl4iOOO check has been forwarded
by the First National Bank to san
Francisco for collection. There was a
receipt now in the governments hand
ana Wright did not have the check.
nv wifi
stated that many Chinese were leav-
ing.
w. O. Smith stated that on Tuesday,
j. A. Magoon asked Mr.. Smith to come
to his office There he met Mr. Wright
who told him of his defalcation and
emphasized the fact that Henry Hapal
was entirely innocent of the matter.
j. w. Pratt was next called. He was
under bonds by law for 100000 to the
Treasurer as appOintive officer. APP
proXimdtely 100000 of taxes were col
lected. In the vaults under general or
ders from the Audit office, cashing in
was made once month and often.
Sometimes $40 900 in checks and coin
was in his hands at once. He never
cashed checks but endorsed them to
the Treasurer. The vault had a time
lock. Woodward and Thompson We're
in his office. They had taken leaves
from the personal receipt book. These
numbers were watched for and in May.
six months after the discovery a re-
ceipt higher in number than those in
use came to hand. Two hundred and
thirteen road, school and poll tax re-
ceipts were missing at a face value of
$500 apiece. Tracing matter the whole
Office was detained one morning and
Woodward identified by Chinaman who
had received receipts. Woodward
blamed Thompson, chief deputy, who
was under 10000 Both We're indicted
and are now out on bail.
Tom Fitch called the fact of the
Commission to the statement in the
Advertiser concerning the money OK
the Chinese fund He represented Chi
nese clients. The witness with his
clients thought under annexation the
Chinese were not obliged to be deport-
ed and were entitled to the money. Mr..
Fitch asked by what right the trust
fund moneys were diverted to war
rants and why the cash was taken from
the National Bank and placed into the