The Hawaiian gazette., 1905-09-15
TRENT AND
DOUTH|TT

Between two officers OF the County
government which side should the
County Treasurer defend? That is a
question which is uppermost in the
minds of County Treasurer Trent and
County Attorney Douthitt. the first a
Democrat and the latter Republ-
can. The County Treasurer yesterday
addressed the following communication
TO the County Attorney:
Honolulu, September 10, 1905.
L. A. Douthitt, ESQ. County Attorney,
| County OF Oahu.
| Dear Sir
have before me your valued favor
of 18th inst.
/ note that you say before you can
advise me in regard to the matter Of
the bill for injunction filed by Mr.. T.
Is. Mechanism as complainant versus
myself as respondent, you would like
to be informed as to the position L am
taking in regard TO blanket warrants.
| / had thought that my position in
regard to blanket warrants was suffi-
GENTLY known to be understood by
everyone; but to remove any doubt
from your mind am frank to say that
regard the blanket warrant system,
such as is now trying to be forced on
the County of Oahu, as evil and only
evil, and as a citizen and official I
hope that the county will not be sad
died with such an iniquity
With reference to the particular war
rant issued to Mr.. Andrew Adams,
manager of Kahuku Plantation. for the
sum of $14l.00 TO reimburse him for
moneys advanced to pay certain county
employees on the other side of the is
land, here are the facts:
An agreed statement of facts. as you
say. was pending, the purpose being to
test the blanket warrant proposition i'm
a friendly way. The Board of Super
visors passed the Adams warrant and
ordered it paid in blanket form, ig-
lnoring the pending agreement. 1t was
stated in the public press that the
Chairman of the Board intimated in
open meeting that II the warrant were
not paid. mandamus proceedings would
be instituted against the Treasurer.
4 I sought legal advice. Was told that
with reference to this particular war
rant it would probably be commended
that as Treasurer 1 occupied only a
ministerial position, with no discre-
tion. Was advised to pay 1t. Acting
on this advice, / told the County Au-
ditor that would pay the warrant on
presentation.
While I can not see what bearing
my personal views on blanket warrants
can have on the injunction suit of
McClanahan versus the County Treas
urer. have nevertheless attempted to
fully and frankly answer your queries,
land IL anything further is desired ! beg
you to command me.
Just now / am enjoined as County
Treasurer from paying certain coun-
~ warrant. i appeal to you as County
Attorney to advise me what is the
proper course to pursue in the matter
and shall be happy to have you APP
pear for me in court.
Awaiting an early reply, i am,
Yours very truly,
(Sig) RICHARD II. TRENT,
County Treasurer.
1T seems to me-" said Mr.. Trent
yesterday, that the matter of whether
or not the County Attorney should de-
fend fellow county officer in an in
junction suit ought to be settled be-
tween the two officers involved with
out newspaper controversy, at least
until after they have agreed to dis
agree. County Attorney Douthitt has
seen fit to furnish his communication
to me and my reply thereto to the
press before, in either case, usual ac-
acknowledgements of receipt had passed
ed in the Star, he is trying to cast
discredit on me by insinuating that
have been Inconsistent in my position
on the blanket warrant proposition.
leave it to the public to judge whether
l have or not.
Mr.. Douthitt pouts little because
I didn't go to him for advice with
reference to the Andrew Adams war
rant, when an agreed statement OF
facts on an alleged similar warrant
was pending, in which he was taxing
the side opposing my position. He says
he never advised the payment of q
blanket warrant except in a specific
case, which he mentions. He has
doubtless forgotten the written opin-
ION on the SUBJECT or blanket warrants
in which be said, 1t seems to me that
the County Treasurer can not go be-
hind the action of the Auditor or the
Board of Supervisors and refuse to
honor warrant presented to him
which is in due form, authorized and
ordered paid by the Board of Super
/. visors
MIR. Douthitt and the Board OF SUI
pervisors have sidetracked the propo.
sition to submit the question OF the
right or wrong of blanket warrants tc
the Supreme Court in a friendly sui,
on an agreed statement of facts by
the issuance of the Andrew Adams
blanket warrant. / am willing for tn,
test to be made on the Mechanism
injunction, and see no reason why any
one should object. Consistency Il
nothing more should move the Coun
ty Attorney TO fight the Mechanism
injunction. If, as intimated in tbs
Star Interview, he intends to declin,
to appear for the County Treasurer,
shall be sorry"
1