The Hawaiian gazette., 1908-02-14
RESIGN A TlON
OF HOLT
FILED
CFrom Thursdays Advertiser9


been compelled to resign that position
on account OF irregular practices il
his official capacity.
He gave up the office yesterday af
ternoon as the result Of an invesiga
tion by the Exec0ive Department
which began about January 81, as in
dicated by news items in the Adver'
tiser of the two following days. or
January % Governor Frear stated tfs'
he hoped nothing was wrong, hut
would probably give out statement
for publication within a few days
Many conferences on the matter were
held since then. and part Of the trouble
leaked out of the Tax Office itself. bu;
il was not until after Holt's resigna-
tion was accepted yesterday afternoon
that the Governor was prepared 70
make a statement This he dictated
TO an Advertiser reporter as follows,
Treasurer Campbell and Attorney Cen
ersl Hemenway being present:
THE GOVERNORS STATEMENT.
Mr.. Holt, the Tax Assessor. has
rendered his resignation and 1t has
been accepted. The Treasurer and my
self requested Mr.. Holts resignation.
and, after thinking the matter over,
he rendered il and it has been ac-
cepted.
I'VE have been investigating the mat
ter at great length and very carefully,
realizing its seriousness from the
standpoint of Mr.. Holt as well as that
OF the Territory, and have been un-
able to come. to any other conclusion
than that it would be impossible to re-
tain him.
Several matters have been looked
into. AT present only the following
need be stated;
Mr.. Holt certified claims on COM
missions on tax collections Of Mr.. Har-
bottle in excess Of the amount dus to
Mr.. Harbottle, or, more particularly.
he allowed Mr.. Harbottle commissions
twice on the same collections, either
intentionally or by mistake.
Afterwards. as he himself admits,
he directed Harbottle to prepare false
statements to be submitted TO the
Treasurer in order TO cover up the
matter. the falsity consisting in the
representation that Harbottle made
certain collections with which he had
in fact had nothing TO DO.
When asked 70 explain, Mr.. Holt
at first denied that he had paid double
commissions on the same collections,
but later was forced by his own acts
and figures TO admit it. He then en-
deavored TO show that he had later
made deductions from other commits
sions TO Harbottle 20 an extent sufh-
Gent 10 correct the overpayment, but
in order 80 make out q showing OF this
kind he had TO make an incorrect
statement, the sacorrectness Of which
was apparent srom other statements
and figures Of his own.
"one result Of his overpayment was
that the County Of oahu oyerpaid the
commissions properly payable by it
and has rot ye; been reimbursed. Mr..
Holt comedies this and, although he
has known Of it Sor long time. hss
not acquainted the county Of the facts
nor reimbursed the county.
The Government recognizes that
everyone IS liable 70 make mistakes,
and If an officer proves himself in sen-
e-al qualified mistakes now and then
can be overlooked. but when an officer
deliberately falsifes in the perform
snoe Of his official duties the situa-
ZION is very different
Asked If other changes in the Tax
Office had been decided on, the Govern
OF replied;
The present Office force VIII so on
without NJ. Holt until s successor r
appointe6.-
INTERVIEW WITH TREASURER
Treasurer A J. Campbell was after
wards seen II his Office, and. in reply
10 questions. save some details OF the
matter investigated.
What led up % the whole thing"
Nj Campbell said. Is the fact Of the
county paying commissions On 6elia-
ops1t tax collections. Along hack il
September there vas some talk BE-
tween Holt and members Of the Beard
OF Supervisors with reference 70 the
county paying ten per cant commits
Sioa On al personal taxeS-or the coun-
tvs share Of $50 in the IS Of sach
taxes NJ. Hot wrote letter 10 the
Board dated sept Z. 1877. il which he
said:
vish 70 say that the proposition
submitted q ne by your worthy chair
nan as 70 The cou-ry's willingness 70
psy 8 commission Of tea PER cent on
al delinquent personal taxes collected
BY extra deputies appointed by ne
from each voting precinct. said dep