The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-02-13
RESIGN AT|ON
Of HOL 7
FILED
Serious Mismanagement
of the Assessors
Office.

James l. Holt, Tax Assessor and
Collector for the First Division, has
been compelled to resign that position
on account of irregular practices in
his official capacity.
He gave up the office yesterday af-
ternoon as the result of an investiga-
ton by the Executive Department
which began about January 21, as in
dicated by news items in the Adver-
tiser of the two following days. on
January % Governor F'rear stated that
he hoped nothing was wrong, but
would probably give out a 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, but
it was not until after Hollis resigna-
tion was accepted yesterday afternoon
that the Governor was prepared to
make a statement. This he dictated
to an Advertiser reporter as follows,
Treasurer Campbell and Attorney Gem
eral Hemenway being present:
THE GOVERNORS STATEMENT.
MIR. Holt, the Tax Assessor, has
rendered his resignation and it has
been accepted. The Treasurer and my
, self requested Mr.. Holt's resignation,
and. after thinking the matter over,
he rendered it 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:
MIR. Holt certified claims on COM
missions on tax collections of Mr.. Har-
cOSIAO 4Ai SASCSS VI Tie dItlOuHI OuS 10
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 to 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 to an extent suffI-
cient to correct the overpayment, but
in order to make out showing of this
kind he had to make an incorrect
statement, the incorrectness of which
was apparent from Olher statements
and figures of his own.
"One result of his overpayment was
that the County of Oahu overpaid the
commissions properly payable by it
and has not yet been reimbursed. Mr..
Holt comedies this and. although he
has known of it for long time. has
not acquainted the county of the facts
nor reimbursed the county.
The Government recognizes that
everyone is liable to make mistakes,
and if an officer proves himself in gem
eral qualified mistakes now and then
can be overlooked. but when an officer
deliberately falsifies in the perform !.
ance of his official duties the situa-
tion is very different"
Asked if other changes in the Tax ,
office had been decided on, the Govern
or replied:
The present Office force will go on
without Mr.. Holt until a successor is
appointed"
INTERVIEW WITH TREASURER
TREASURER A. J. Campbell was after :
Continued on Page sevena.