The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-09-29
SAF FEGUARD|NG
THE BALLOTS
County Supervisors Provide
for Their Proper
Care.

County Clerk Kalauokalani wants to
be safeguarded this election from a
repetition of the charge, made after
the last election, that the ballots in
his safe were tampered with, and last
night at the regular meeting of the
County Supervisors he asked the board
to appropriate 1870 to pay for guards
to watch his big safe for thirty days
after election day, each man to be
paid $50 for the job. His plan is to
have the three political parties propose
three guards each, and these would be
arranged into watches of eight hours
each. He said that to further safe
guard the votes, the inner door of the
safe would be locked and the key
given to Chairman Hustace, and as he
is the only person who knows the com
bination of the safe, the ballots could
not possibly be reached.
Supervisor Harvey demurred at all
this expense and fubdub, and he
thought the mainland papers would
have the laugh on the local electors.
He felt that the people could trust
the chairman and the clerk if the key
and combination plan only was
adopted.
County Attorney Cathcart said the
suggestion was new to him, but he
presumed the County Clerk had some
good reason for making the PROPOSE
tion. However, he thought the plan
might be well to follow.
Mr.. Hustace, however, convinced the
board that if the key and combina
tion plan were followed, the combina
ton could be written on a piece of
paper, sealed in an envelope and de-
posted in safety deposit box, and
if the clerk died, the combination
would not be lost with him. This plan
was adopted, and nine good and true
men will lose a chance to earn a little
more county money.
The board passed the semi monthly
payroll expense for the latter half of
September and approved August bills,
besides tenders for supplies. Appro-
priations amounted to about $4,000.
The chair called attention to the
fact that the Inter-Island company
was erecting a coal railway and hop
per at the Bishop slip, and that it
passed over one of the county's streets.
He wanted the County Attorney to
give an opinion as to the county's
liability for damages through accident
or otherwise, and also If the county
board should not have been consulted
about it's erection.
The sum of $3.50 was appropriated
for repairs to the city's fire engines,
Kalauokalani was authorized to ex-
pend not to exceed $40 for the hire
of clerks on election day and night to
assist the election judges in precincts
having an average of 250 or more
voters.
The clerk stated that election ex-
penses would amount to about $1,000 or
$1400 if the 1870 for guards were in
cluded, but the nomination fees, etc,
from candidates would amount to
about $1,000, and would offset expen-
1itures.
The county treasurer reported total
receipts for August at $133,520.14 in
cluding balance on hand, and expen
1itures $40 ,947.07, leaving cash bal
anee. September ] of $84, 1907.
Palolo residents thanked the board
for being so prompt in beginning the
of road on 5th avenue. Su-
Derintendent of Public Works Campbell
notified the board that permission had
been granted the Hawaiian Electric
to lay a pipeline for oil from
he present terminus on Queen street
% the Prison Road, and also that the
fas company was granted permission
% lay mains on Piikoi street running
300 feet toward Wilder avenue and also
N the Waikiki side of Liliha street be-
ween School and Vineyard streets.
Two petitions came from discharged
vorkmen of the road department, ask |
ng that resolutions be passed against |
he road supervisor. alleging that cltl- |
en labor was not being employed. The |
harges were shown to the. board to be |
diculous and the petitions were laid |
N the table.
A petition from residents on the 9th |
r side of the island asked for the dis |
barge of John Gere, brother of County |
Engineer Gere, as road supervisor there,
n the ground that he was incompetent /
nd had lots of private work done at |
ounty expense. The petition was re-
erred to the road committee. which viii
lake a personal investigation next
-eek. The charges are said to be
lade because a Hawaiian is wanted for
he job. Mr. Gere is said to be
plendid worker.
The board passed an ordinance pro-
ibiting the erection of japanese or
thpr tenement houses within 500 feet
f any school This was done in ac-
ordance with a petition signed by a
umher of Makiki residents. About
ventv of them attended the meeting.
he ordinance IS published in this issue.
A big fight between the japanese
lnrars aud the Eilininns emnlnEed on