The Hawaiian gazette., 1905-11-14

without comments Under the liquor
act no new licenses shall be issued
without the written consent of ma
jority OF the property holders within a
certain distance from the premises for
which a license is asked. We find on
evidence submitted that this proviso
has been violated in the specific cases
before us and we found n true bill
against one of the persons who made
the wrongful declarations for perjury.
The other periurers are without the
jurisdiction of this court. but should be
prosecuted when possible. We find
that the declarations were made on a
form not in agreement with the provi-
sions of section of act 81, requiring
the written consent of majority of
property holders,'' the form used
and furnished by the Treasurer for
such purpose substituting therefor the
words property holder or occupant.''
We believe the act does not intend to
give the right of petition in favor of
liquor license in country districts to
occupants" these having the right to
sign such petitions only in certain
places in the Territory specially named
in the act.
Our legal adviser, County Attorney
Willard, informs us that he has been
advised and authorized by the Terri
torial Treasurer to bring civil suits for
the cancellation of a number of these
licenses, hut ms the county might have
to bear the expenses of such actions we
would respectfully suggest that no pro-
ceedings be taken in those cases where
the petitioners limit their consent to a
certain term, soon to expire, as such
lipnnSpS rpunirp a nntitinn for
other or renewal license, so we are in
formed In cases where consent of pc
titioners is given without the stipula-
tion of limited term, we would recon-
mend that strong endeavors be made to
have the Territory institute and pay
for the proceedings necessary to have
the more Objectionable licenses can
celled.
CORRUPT OFFICIALS.
Charges of misconduct having been
made against certain public officials
the grand &ry investigated such
charges and true bills were found
against several of these public officials
FOR various offenses.
During our investigation into mat
ters pertaining to the police depart
ment in certain districts we found that
in one district the deputy sheriff and
two policemen are closely related by
ties of blood and marriage. We do not
think such conditions tend to guaran4
tee an honest conduct Of public busi-
ness and we would suggest that in ap-
pointing public officers their relation
ship to other officers in the same dis
trict be carefully considered. We re-
gret to state that in our opinion part
at least of the police force of this
island is utterly unfit to hold their re-
sponsible and honorable positions.
POLICE AID GAMBLING.
We have a great deal of testimony
to show that policemen not only do
nothing to convict the keepers of
gambling houses, but actually frequent
such dens during the time gambling is
carried on, nay they even keep watch
outside and invite those they know TO
go in and join the game. In regard to
some of the Lihue police it has become
so bad that numbers of Japanese wit
nesses testified before us that they had
no fear of the police, as they knew and
believed from the conduct of the po-
lice that they were in the pay of the
owners or keepers of the gambling
houses. District magistrates likewise
in some cases, in our opinion, have been
appointed to an office the dignity of
which they seem to be quite unable to
understand We sincerely trust that
the next grand jury will continue such
investigations in other parts of the
county.
The grand jury inspected the Jail at
Lihue in company with Jailor Lowell,
and made thorough examination of
the premises. We found the main
building, eating house and storehouse
clean and well kept the prison yard
was in excellent condition and the pris-
oners and other inmates most orderly,
all of which reflects credit on the jailor
and his assistant. We agree, however,
with former grand juries that many
improvements are needed to make the
jail secure and fit to be the principal
house of detention in the county.
SCANDALoUS INHUMANITY.
We regret to report that the matter
of the detention of leper suspects dur
ing the time of their being in custody
of the police prior to being sent to
Honolulu is still in the unsatisfactory
state, the public has so often com
planned Of During our inspection OF
| the Lihue Jail we found two leper sus-
pects-one of them apparently in an
/ advanced Stdte OF tne ulSease-lVInR Oh
the grass in the jailyard and, although
they were at the time not mingling
with the prisoners or other people,
they were not segregated in any way.
We were shown cell in the Jail
building supposed to be headquarters,
but would not be certain that other
prisoners are not placed in the same
cell. The jailor reported that with the
exception of blanket and the usual
prison food no other necessities of life
are provided for these unfortunate peo-
pie, not even mosquito curtain. The
grand jury feels strongly on the injus-
tice done to our leper suspects in treat
ing them as common prisoners, and we
regret exceedingly that this question
has never yet found a proper solution.
We likewise consider it wrong that a
person during the time of his imprison-
ment should run the risk of being in
fected with that malady. We consider
it most Objectionable to allow such con-
ditions to exist and fervently hope that
the authOrities will Mt last arise 70