Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1907-08-17
HYDRO(PApH|C
SURVEY ABANDONED
Ruling Of Controller
Gives No Funds
For Work

Governor Carter while In Washing
ton offered to pay the expenses of
representative OF the Geological Sur
yey If he would come for preliminary
oversight of the Territory for hydro
graphic survey. The Governor In this
connection has received the following
letter:
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL
SURVEY, TOPOGRAPHIC BRANCH.
Sacramento, Cal, July n, 1907.
To His Excellency, the Governor,
Honolulu, Hawaii.
My Dear Governor Carter:-I wrote
you a note the day before you sailed
from San Francisco stating that
would be unable to make the journey
with you to Honolulu, ana | wish to
supplement that with the following
explanations:
All plans 70 my visit we're made
and proceeded west in good faith. 4
was halted by ar opinion OF the Con-
troller of the Treasury that the eX-
penditure of Geological Survey funds
in the Hawaiian Islands would con-
stitute an improper use of public
moneys. Therefore, you will readily
understand that there was nothing for
me to do except forego the journey
and make the best of bad situation.
Needless to say, | was greatly dis
appointed.
You may be interested to learn that
in the year 1901 some of the money
appropriated for the gauging OF
streams was expended in the Hawaii
an Islands by Mr.. Newell and the
accounts were paid by express au-
thority of the Controller, who ruled
at the time that it was proper eX-
penditure.
Although there has been no change
in the statute except in the amount of
the appropriation since the period
above named, the Controller has re-
Gently handed down an opinion dia-
metrically opposite from that pub
lished by him in 1901. Efforts We're
made by the Director and the Acting
Secretary of the Interior to secure a
reversal of the Controllers last opin-
ion but it is evident from kilograms
that | received just before the time OF
sailing that the Controller is not in
clined to recede from his position. |
nave explained the situation somewhat
fully because / believe that you will
be interested to know the facts con-
corning situation that should be adj
justed and that may at some time in
the future be troublesome for Hawaii
an interests.
The Director of the Survey is going
to suggest to the Secretary of the In
terror that he include in his estimates
for the next fiscal year the sum OF
$12,500 for the prosecution of water
investigations in the Hawaiian ISL
ands. During your recent visit to the
Survey Office in Washington, you
stated that it would be possible to Sc
cure similar appropriation from the
Territorial Legislature. l am in
formed, much to my regret, that you
expect to go out of office about the
middle of August. Therefore, it will
be of advantage to learn whether or
not your successor is in sympathy
with this work and will be inclined to
carry out the matter as above sug-
gested. If he does not wish to carry
the work forward, the Secretary will
probably avoid the possibility of
causing him any embarrassment by
making a request for Congressional
appropriation. If, on the other hand,
your successor wishes to have the
work prosecuted on the lines agreed
upon, or according to some modifica-
lions thereof, the best efforts of those
IN Washington will be used to secure
the necessary funds.
| wish to acknowledge with thanks
your very cordial invitation to Hawaii
and your generous offer of entertain
ment, and to again express my per-
sonal regret that the aforesaid opin-
ion of the Controller should have
been rendered at such an inopportune
time Very respectfully,
CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER.