The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-08-13
Johnson Checked Time Sheets, but Missed the
Errors--System lnexact and Must Be Aban-
doned--Trent's Statements Vindicated,

The report of Clarence White. Chief
Clerk in the office of the Superintend-
ent of Public Works, upon the Garbage
Department payrolls, was completed and
handed to Acting Governor Atkinson
yesterday. Mr.. White was instructed
to make his investigation because he
is in charge of the department during
the absence of Sam johnson. its Head.
The report shows, so far as the payrolls
are concerned, that too many SUNDAYS
We're given to the men in the depart
ment. Mr.. Whites figures of the ex-
cess are thirty-five. A total, of sixty.
six Sundays was allowed in the whole
payroll, which Mr.. Whites estimates
made a total payment of $3.50 at
the July rate of payment under the
system.
The explanation given of this is that
a clerk in the Garbage Department,
who had charge of the time sheet of
the men, was not accustomed to figur-
ing half months, and allowed the men
more Sundays than they were entitled
to. Sam Johnson, of course, checked
the time sheets, but it seems reasonable
to suppose that in the hurry of his
departure for Seagirt as suggested
by Mr.. White in speaking of his re-
port, Sam overlooked these discrepan-
cies. 1t is well, in this connection, to
bear in mind that the half-month sys
tenn was new to Sam Johnson, also The
Territorial garbage force had worked
all the time.
Mr.. White says that it is his purpose
to recommend the adoption Of a plan
of fiat rate of wage for the days work.
ed, and cut out the present system al
together. 1t is certain that under plan
that paid man for the days he actu-
ally worked, the present trouble would
not have arisen.
Il want to make one explanation in
connection with this report said Clar-
ence White yesterday. I'm the table
wherein the number of Sundays to
which they were not entitled are taken
from the time of the several men, the
total excess of Sundays is correct, but
it may be found upon examination that
1 have made slight errors in taking
the proper numbers from the different
men. That is a point upon which there
is room for such wide discretion that
it is quite possible no two men making
in the same way. That, how
ever, is a detail. The total taken away
is correct, as 1 have said, and the time
sheets are accurate transcriptions. But
time was overpaid, the men
in the department got it,
Mr. Whites report to the Governor,
in its full text, follows:
Honolulu, August r. 1905.
Hon. A. L. c. Atkinson, Acting Gov
ernor, Territory of Hawaii, City.
Sir: Complying with your request to
make an investigation of the Garbage
and Excavator Service. 1 beg leave to
submit the following report:
The Garbage and EXcavator Bureau
passed from the control of the Terri
tory of Hawaii July /, 1905. II was my
first intention to make a full report
for the period from July l, 1904, 10
July 81, 1905. But as no real issues
have been raised as to the management
of the Bureau by the Territory, l have
confined myself to a cursory examina-
ton of the payrolls sufficient TO show
that the methods and system in vogue
while under Territorial control are
identical with those pursued since the
County has assumed charge of the ser
vice. *