The Hawaiian gazette., 1906-02-06

diateiy complained against fhe Terri
tory's operating the tug Eleu. Some
correspondence was had with WASH
ington in relation to the matter. The
Fearless was large and powerful boat
and soon usurped the entire trade. and
when my duties as governor began the
Eleu was practically reduced to the
work OF taking garbage out to sea
The cost Of operating her amounted to
between $500 and 5000 month. and
a local steamship company offered to
tow the garbage scows and do all the
work that 1t was necessary for the
Eleu to do for $3.50 month. The Ter
ritory's tug was therefore Immediate
ly' put out of commission, anchored in
the harbor, and watchman kept on
her at $50 month She became a
white elephant''-a constant source
of expense, and brought In no revenue
whatever
In consultation with other govern
ment officials l made an attempt to
sell the tug. No private individual
would buy her unless she could COM
ply with the regulations and pass the
Federal inspectors. AS they visit the
islands but once a year, a delay of
nine months followed in regard to the
matter On the arrival of the Federal
inspectors the Territorial officials were
informed that If the tug was Federal
or Territorial property they could not
inspect her. During this delay some
slight investigation was made as to
whether the boat would be of use to
any of the Federal departments, and
If such had been the case the Terri
torial officials would have gladly turn
ed her over to any one of them. No
such use could be found for the boat,
and rather than see property of such
value literally waste away it seemed
to be a sound and common sense way
of looking at things to sell the boat
and put the money into the Territorial
treasury as a government realization.
This course was finally concluded on.
and the boat was disposed of at auc-
tion for the sum of $4,000, conditioned
upon her passing a satisfactory in
spection. The purchaser made appli-
cation for an inspection. she was taken
up on the marine railway, and 1t was
seen that the repairs would be con-
justified in expending any amount, at
least up to $4,000, as otherwise she
would be a total loss.
Upon these repairs being completed,
the certificate of inspection was grant
ed. The purchaser thereupon made ap-
plication, under the navigation laws
of the United States, for registration
of the tug through the collector of GUS
toms. The Bureau OF Navigation re-
sponded by asking the collector of
customs by what authority the Ter
ritorial officials had sold the boat How
that Bureau could expect the collector
of customs to answer such a question
is still an enigma. The collector of
customs referred this letter to the
superintendent of public works. who
replied to the effect that under the
republic his department had full power
to sell personal property These pow
ers had been continued during the
transition period, and under Hawaiian
statute they still exist.
On my return from a trip east I
learned to my surprise that the tug
was still in our possession, and that
the Territory was still paying $50 a
month for watchman. then took
up the matter with Secretary Metcalf,
and in my perhaps vigorous way sug-
gested that, If the boat belonged to
the Federal government would glad
ly pay for cablegram IL he would in
form me to which department could
turn her over, and where the Territory
could look to be reimbursed for the
expenditure on her repairs and the cost
of maintaining the watchman.
Secretary Metcalf did not cable the
information, but furnished me with
an opinion Of the Attorney Generals
Continued on Page s.)