The Hawaiian gazette., 1905-03-24
Honolulu, Hawaii, March II, 1905.

Governor or the Territory of Hawaii.
Dear Sir: l thoroughly under stand our
official relations and the fact that, IL
the time ever came that you were dis
satisfied with the administrat tion of my
department you would, not hesitate to
inform me to that effect, and would
expect me to act accordingly i.
You now state that the time has ar
rived. Upon this point 1 have nothing
to say.
I would like, however, to point out to
you that myself, my department. and
some of my employees are under char
ges which must be met in honor. and
I would ask that 1 be allowed to re-
tain my position until have been able
to clear the department., myself and
those who are dependent upon me, In
cluded In the report of the committee
on public expenditures, before which
have had no hearing. never having
been notified that such an investiga-
tion was being conducted. Immediate-
ly after this. 1 will be prepared to lay
my resignation before you.
Very faithfully yours,
(Signed) ALATAU T. ATKINSON,
Superintendent of Public instruction.
1t does not appear that Governor Car
ter answered this letter. any more than
that he wrote anything to draw it out
There is, however, an intimation that
the governor had personal conference
with the superintendent. Also, it is
probable that there may be some cor
respondence that has not seen the
light. Anyhow, on March 20, three
days later, Mr. Atkinson wrote again,
as follows:
His Excellency. Governor Carter
Dear Sir: Referring to our conversation
of March 49, I have the honor to say
that, under existing conditions. It
would be unjust to the officials of my
department were 1 to bow to your re-
quest for my res 'gnation. Ger. n
vague statements have been made con-
cerning my department and commit
tee of the legislature, after partial
hearing behind closed doors, where /
was unrepresented and permitted no
opportunity to defend my department,
has made certain report. Under these
circumstances, / request that a full,
free, fair, open and impartial investi-
cation of these matters be had II
upon such investigation, conducted
with reference to the established prin,
ciples of fair play, any one in my de-
partment, or myself, should be shown
to be guilty of any irregularity, moth
ing further could be said. But I submit
to your sense of justice that no man
should be condemned unheard.
Very respectfully,
(Signeda ALATAU II. ATKINSON
Superintendent of Public instruction.
1t was in response to this letter from
the Superintendent that Governor Car
ter wrote the following:
A. T. Atkinson, Esq, Superintendent
of Public Instruction. Dear Sir: Mr..
A. f. Judd has kindly consented to per-
sonally represent me i'm making an in
vestigation of the Department of Pub
lie instruction. In a letter to him,
1 have set forth the lines on which l
wish the investigation made In order
to not too greatly inconvenience you,
and to avoid conflict or overlapping OF
any way interfere with the investiga,
ton which, 1 understand, is still being
made by the joint committee of the
two Houses of the Legislature.
I have asked him to investigate the
conduct of yourself, the Secretary. ano
the School Agent, and / trust that all
of you will give him the consideration
that l am certain you would show to
me, and in every way facilitate the
securing of the real facts in connection
with your department.
Will you kindly notify your subordi-
mates, and suggest to them the i'm
propriety of using their official posi-
tions to in any way influence the
course of the investigation.
Very sincerely yours.
(Signed) G. r. CARTER,
Governor
Apparently upon receipt of this let.
ter granting him what he had asked
Superintendent Atkinson concluded tc
resign his position, forwarding the fol.
lowing letter to Governor Carter yes
terday:
His Excellency, George r. Carter
Governor of the Territory of Hawaii
Dear Sir: Having received notice tha
there will be a full. free, fair. oper
and impartial investigation of the Off
cial acts of myself and my subordi
mates, 1 am prepared to carry out m.
promise to you. and resign.
L do hereby tender my resignation
to take effect upon the appointment o
my successor.
The above is upon the full under
standing that the promised investlga
ton shall be held and continued to tn
end. Yours very truly,
(Signed) ALATAU T. ATKINSON,
I Superintendent of Public Instruction
After this. with the letter acceptin,
the resignation which heads this arti
Gle. Governor Carter closed the cor
respondence. The chapter OF the inves
tigation now begins.