The Hawaiian gazette., 1909-10-12
OPEN GRAF 7 IN
KAU DISTRICT
CHARGED

fragrant graft is charged against n
number of police officers of Kau dis
trict, Island of Hawaii. The matter
has been placed in the hands of the
county officials there, and the sheriff
has collected considerable evidence.
What steps are TO be taken against the
grafters no one seems to know.
County Attorney Williams is lying
critically i'll, and his duties have been
performed by Carl Smith, the Hilo at
torney. A wireless dispatch on Satur-
day announced that the supervisors had
had squabble over Smith IS salary
and would not pay it, and it is thought
that this decision has something to do
with the determination of Acting Coun-
ty Attornew Smith to proceed against
the grafters.
1t is likely, also that the Territory
may step in and take hand, because
some of the alleged official pilfering is
said to have been done before the coun-
ties were given the right to collect
license fees under law passed by the
last Legislature.
So far not police officer alleged
to have been in the grating game, has
been suspended; yet Sheriff Pua has
documentary evidence of graft; so has
License Collector Alfonso; so has Carl
Smith; so has Julian Monsarrat, of Ka-
papala ranch, and so has Thomas Wills
of Pahala.
Here is the SYSTEM Japanese in
Kau district, in the towns of Pahala,
Honuapo, Waiohinu, Punaluu and other
smaller places, run small shops. There
are stores for general merchandise,
BARRIERS, tobacco sellers, and many 9th
er branches for disposing of merchan-
disc. Kau is an out-of theway sort of
district and the license collector sell
dom gets around. But there are a num-
Der of police officers and deputy
sheriff there. From the various Japa-
nese camps Messrs. Monsarrat and
Wills collected many receipts signed
by various police officers of Kau dis
trict, each receipt stating the money
was received for license fees. Dozens
and scores of receipts have turned up.
The matter became so bad that Sheriff
Put and Alfonso were sent for. They
! went into the camps and collected re-
ceipts and they have these in their
possession now. The receipts do not,
it is charged, check against any stubs
on the government books. Many re-
ceipts are for the period prior TO tho
time the county was given power to
collect fees.
1t is said that Carl Smith, as acting
attorney for the county, intended
prosecuting, or ut least bring the whole
matter to the attention of the grand
jury. Whether this determination and
the decision of the supervisors not to
pay him salary have any connection
not yet known here.
The Attorney General will be mott
fled of the whole occurrence and the
evidence laid before him, 1t is likely,
under the circumstances, that a mem
Der of the Attorney Generals office
will go to Hilo to investigate the mat
. ter.
As to the Kau police it is related of
them that some time ago one in par.
: ticular had habit of stopping Japa-
nesc driving along the government
roads and telling them that they were
driving too fast and therefore. violat-
ing the laws. In these instance he
wheeled them into passing over their
loose change, usually from SO to So.
The cases were never heard of in the
district cOurts and the transactions