The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-08-25
TAX OFFICE
SENSATION
Money Collected
Not Turned
In.
PRATT FINDS
| IRREGULARITIES
Deputy Assessor Thompson and J
Woodward Suspended Pend
ing an Investigation.

Irregularities in the Honolulu tax OF
fee which caused the suspension of two
employees have been under investigation
now for over four months, and action
of some kind will be taken by Collector
Pratt very soon. Though a considera-
BILE amount of secrecy has been main
tanned in regard to the matter there
appears to have been enough suspicion
TO have warranted the suspension pend
ing this investigation of Deputy Asses
sor Alec. Thompson and one of the
clerks in the office Joe woodward.
From what can be learned through
outside sources it seems that ABOUT
four months ago one of the employees
of the tax office found personal tax
receipt near the hshmarket, which |
aroused Assessor Pratt to action rms
receipt was not from the series then IN |
use, but for the year following, ana |
had been signed by either Woodward or |
THOMPSON, the latter's name having
been attached, though he denied the
signature. Both men were called be-
fore the assessor and explained the
matter, though not in a manner salts
factory to him. Thompson at that time
was sent to take charge of the EVA
office and Woodward was also taken
! off the personal tax collections ana
given something else to do. The men
who took their places discovered Wneh
they began collections that some one
| had either pocketed amounts collected
or there were gross. irregularities OIL
some sort Many of those called upon
for the five dollar tax insisted that they
| had already paid it, and pulled out re-
ceipts to prove their assertion. Among
the Chinese particularly there appear
ed have been collections not on the
books, some of them saying they had
paid money to either Thompson OF
woodward, and at night or after once
Inours These taxpayers had not peen
ientered on the lists at the tax of1ce,
land there was no indication in the
books of payments by any or them.
Both Thompson and Woodward We're
lagain confronted with what were call
ed irregularities on their part or proof
of wrongful collections, but neither
would admit having done anything
wrong and both were suspended pend
ing investigation. Thompson claimed
that if there had been any irregularlty
it was on the part of Woodward, Wnlie
Woodward said that Thompson was re-
sporsible for the matter. 1t Is SAID that
two of the blank personal tax receipt
books are missing, which would 1nol-
cate the collection of about $1,000 II all
the blanks had been used. Whether the
amount collected is in excess of this is
not known.
Assessor Pratt, when seen in regard
to the matter. stated that there was
no shortage in the tax office as far as
he knew, as he had balanced both the
books and cash every night and there
HAD never been found a discrepancy
He admitted that two of the employees
of the tax office had been suspended
number of months ago, and an investl-
CATION has since been going on. Inc
evidence so far attainable had not II
! his opinion been sufficient to JUSTIFY
further action, or to convince him o.
i the guilt of either of the parties sus'
4 tpended. He stated further that there
I had appeared certain Irregularities fol
& a number of years, but as far as NJ
{ had learned there was nothing more
4 by him had been turned over to the at
d torney general for investigation. Mel
Their Mr. Dole nor Mr.. Douthitt woui'
give any further information on tn
s subject, beyond the statement tina
y there have been Investigations in tn
8 attorney generals department, bu
8 what the results were or what actor
i was to be taken were withheld.
6 Mr.. Thompson has been in Pearl Cit
q during the investigation. while Wood
81 ward is at his home on Kinau an
81 Punchbowl streets. Thompson is re
ss ported to have returned here but
q short time ago, and has been empioye
81 in the city.
s. Whether the losses would fall upo
Il the individual taxpayers or be charge
81 to the Territory is still an open ques
IL ton. Those who paid the personal ia
Il to the two men under suspicion hol
"a receipts, under which they could n
!. doubt claim protection, while the a.
n SCISSOR might wish to repudiate them.
RI | --~<>%-----