The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-06-22

own Investigations it became, in our
judgment, their manifest and impera-
tive duty so to proceed. The Board,
however. rendered valuable public serv-
ice by bringing the situation to the
notice of the Grand Jury. as it led TO
the finding of true bills in two cases.
GET RICH-Q COMPANIES.
The investigation in the affairs of
certain California corporation of
this character, which has carried on
a thriving business here. resulted in
the finding OF a true bill for gross
cheat. We suggest the advisability
OF calling the attention OF the next
Legislature to the apparent ease with
which such companies may establish
and carry on business in these Is
lands.
We therefore recommend that If our
present statutes are insufficient or in
adequate for the protection of our peo-
pie against all concerns of the get
rich-quick order new laws should be
enacted which will prevent not only
their coming in from abroad but also
their formation here, or continuance
here, if already formed. IF. however,
it is impossible to prevent the organ
ization and operation of such compa-
MES, then We believe they should be
compelled to deposit with the Govern
ment collateral amounting to a GER
tan percentage Of the business done
in this community as a protection to
investors; and further. along this line
we would suggest the advisability of
the Government providing for sys-
tenn of chartered accountants similar
to those that obtain elsewhere, whose
business should be, at stated periods, I!
to audit the books of all fiduciary COM /
panies
RAFTING ESPECIALLY.
Sundry other subjects, but especially !
that of rafting, and other forms of
gambling, received considera BILE atten-
ton from the Grand Jury but without /
at indictments. The charge
and reminder on the part of the Court /
that 1.-The law is no respecter of per-
sons" and that ''our statute against
gambling applies to all alike to-
gether with the serious attention with
which the Grand Jury has been called
upon to give to the matter. ought to
serve, at this time, as sufficient public
notice and warning to check all per-
sons who are disposed to overlook
the law relative to amy scheme for
the disposal or distribution of prop
arty by chance. whether call /;
ed a lottery, rattle, che-fa. pakapio,
gift enterprise, or by whatever name
he same may be known. But in view
IF the reputed prevalence of rafting
we thought that justice would be the
better subserved by simply reporting
hereon. One rafting scheme which
anne to our notice was of particularly
nasty character. Owing to the fact {
hat the promoter of the rattle had SO
errorized some of its victims. no salts
actory information could be obtained {
rom them. and the evidence of the
performance had to be
ragged out of the promoter himself.
This rattle was a fine imitation of the :
me which Kipling has described in
<rishna Mulvany, and it is TO be re-
,retted that there was not a Learoyd 4
t hand to properly attend to this man.
POLICE ARE LACKING.
In this connection it appears to
he Grand Jury that the Police De- 4
artment, which by law is especially
ppointed and paid for the service of Z;
etecting and arresting any criminal
hould take more active interest in the
iotleI- anu We 50 SuSS 1t mas
hown abundant ability in bringing 6
asses of other character to our notice, ::
nd we see no reason why it should not
e equally as alert in this direction.
Considering the fact that the Grand :
ury is composed of business men, !:
hey are not so we'll equipped as the e
olice Department for most efficient !.
elective service, and in such mat :
ers can not be expected to assume all !:
litiatiVe.
In view of the frequency of unavoid- e
BILE absence on the part of jurors, 3
e believe that the public interests
i'll be better served if the Grand Jury 2
,uld always have a full panel. And 8
especially suggests that in the MAX I
g up of panels of the Grand Juries
the future, the Court bear this in O
ind. The present Grand Jury expe- Z
enced some difficulty in this regard
hen the number of voting members @
'esent became reduced to only thir- Z
en-, the bare number under the law
+ the transaction of business. q
This Grand Jury desires further to <
port that in certain cases duly pre- /:
nted to it for violations of Section q
p of the Revised Laws of Hawaii g
has been forced, in view of the cir
instances of the cases, to return
lie bills under Section 1852 and in @
thereof offenders have z
en- subjected to prosecution for Z
ime which admitted upon convic- O
IN Of a maximum penalty of only
ghteen months Imprisonment. And :
reason of this condition of affairs 9
is Grand Jury earnestly suggests
e recommendation to the next Legis- )
lure that it statutorily define the age y
thin which an infant cannot consent *
der Section 1927, and that the age Z
ed be not less than twelve years; =
d that the penalty under Section o
2 be increased. :.
THE SURVEY DEPARTMENT.
Here is Department of the Govern
mt, in existence since 1870. with a q
al expenditure of close to one and ;:
half million dollars from that year
the present time. All the accumu- a.