The Hawaiian gazette., 1906-06-26
LIGHTHOUSE
REFUND BILL

COPIES OF the report TO accompany
House of Representatives bill 10io3.
providing for the reimbursement of
the Territory of Hawaii for money
paid out in the maintenance of the
lighthouse service from the time Ha-
wall became a territory of the United
States, have been received. On June
4. 1906, the matter vas committed to
the Committee of the Whole House
and ordered to be printed. Mr.. Nc
Gavin from the Committee on Claims
submitted the report, which is as fol-
lows:
The Committee on Claims, having
considered House bill 10103, beg leave
to report the same favorably to the
House with the recommendation that
1t do pass.
The bill appropriates $23, 1850 to the
Territory of Hawaii to reimburse the
Territory for money paid out in main
tanning lighthouses, bell buoys, and
lighthouse service on it's coasts from
the time the Territory became a Terri
tory of the United States until said
lighthouses, bell buoys. and lighthouse
service were transferred to and taken
under the management and control of
the Lighthouse Board.
The facts are fully set out in the
accompanying official papers, includ-
ing a recommendation for its passage
by Congress.
Department of Commerce and Labor,
Office of the Secretary,
Washington February T. 1906.
Sir: Referring to your letter of
February 2, 1906, inclosing for the con-
sideration of this Department and for
report thereon copy of II. r. No.
10103. 'To refund to the Territory of
Hawaii the amount expended in main-
tanning lighthouse service on its coasts
from the time of the organization of
the Territory until said lighthouse
service was taken over by the Federal
Government" / have the honor to in
close herewith a copy of letter dated
December r. 1908, from the governor
of Hawaii, inclosing copy of a
statement of the actual cost os main
tanning the Hawaiian lighthouse es-
tablishment for one month, and also
a partial extract from a report of
Hon. William H. Eustis, the special
commissioner appointed to investigate
postoffice sites and other matters in
the Hawaiian Islands. which reached
the Lighthouse Board on January 26,
1903.
From the statement of the monthly
expenses of the Hawaiian lighthouse
establishment 1t will appear that the
average expenditure for one month
was $5O1.9O, and for the total time
elapsing between the organization of
the Territory of Hawaii, on April 80.
1900, and the period when it's light
house establishment was taken over
by the United States Lighthouse Es-
tablishment, on January l, 1904, a
period of three years and eight months
the amount of money expended for
this purpose is practically the same as
stated in the bill. The appropriation
made by the Territorial government
Tor the support of it's lighthouse es-
tablishment is stated in the report Of
Commissioner Eustis.
This Department, after carefully
considering all its available data finds
no reason to doubt the statement made
in the bill as to the amount expended
and therefore sees no reason to object
to its passage.
Respectfully.
V. H. METCALF,
Secretary.
The Chairman of the Committee on
Claims, House of Representatives.
The remainder of the committees re-
port consists of exhibits including
portion of the report by Hon. William
II. Eustis, special Commissioner ap-
pointed by the Secretary of the Treas
ury to investigate postoffice sites and
other matters in the Hawaiian Islands.
and a letter by Governor Carter to
Secretary Cortelyou enclosing a COM
pete statement of all the expenditures
in question.