The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-10-18
HAWAII SOLONS
THWART SMITH
At Least So Charges Deposed
Deputy County Attorney
in an Interview.
EvILDOERS WERE PROTECTED
Lawyer Says Determination to
Enforce the Law Cost
Him His Job.
EVILDOERs WERE PROTECTED

In an interview given to the Hilo
Tribune, Carl s. Smith, the deputy
county attorney for the County of Ha-
waii, who has felt the supervisorial ak,
gives his opinions as to the reasons that
led to the cessation of his salary. That
the Hawaii supervisors passed the reso-
luton of the finance committee cutting
him off the payroll without discussion
makes it patent that the act was pre-
arranged and was caused, SO Smith
says, by desire to protect the petty
embezzlers that he had under his glass
for inspection.
In the interview, Smith says:
"The action of the board of super
visors is only the accomplishment of a
prearranged plan, which was thought
out over six weeks ago." said Mr..
Smith. "Durirg a visit in Honolulu
recently I was informed that Desha lad
consulted various friends relative to a
plan Of getting me out of the county
Office and dispensing with my services.
AT that time, and since, the different
members of the board have considered
the matter of persons to be appointed
in my place. Both Beers and Heen
have been named as successors, and the
plan agreed upon was to place Heen
in my position, and leave the position
of county attorney to Beers, as soon
as the position should become vacant
"The reason for wishing to have
some one else in the county attorneys
office is because of the opinions which
| felt should be submitted to the board
| have kept pretty close watch on the
letting of contracts by the county
board, and know that several Irregular
ties. which were being attempted, were
stopped because of my interest in the
matter. particularly put a4stop to
the members of the board entering into
contracts with the county. which were
more favorable to the contractor than
I to the county board
At the meeting of the board for
September the members of the board
attempted to evade the law relating to
the making of contracts which provides
that the county can only contract when
there are sufficient funds to pay for
the contract. With less than $4,000 on
| hand the board attempted to enter into
contract with John Brown, who is a
| fatherin-law of Supervisor Lyman. for
the expenditure of 5000 The con-
tract was drawn rather skilfully. and
| is undoubtedly the work of some clever
attorney. As soon as I found that an
! effort was being made to have this
contract executed and certified accord
| IN In IA
| one of the officers to the Imprisonment
which would follow in case he certified
to the contract. The result was that
the instrument was Withdrawn, but, as
L am reliably informed, it will be put
| through as soon as another legal ad-
wiser for the county can be obtained.
Every known device has been at
tempted during my term of office to
avoid the law which provides that
county work involving the expenditure
of more than $500 shall be let by COM
tract only after public bids. / have
put stop to these attempts and threat
ened to continue to do so in the future
For several months past all of the con
/ tracts for the county have been draft
ed by outside attorneys, and [ have
seen only such of them as l have been
| able to get outside of the county office
II have at the present time under
investigation a large number of eases
of embezzlement of both elective and ap-
pointive officers of the county, which
eases L expect to have examined by the
grand jury at its next sitting These
charges involve crimes committed by
/ county officers. who are in favor with
the board of supervisors, and from pri-
/ waite advlces which I have received [
am sure that the attempt of the board
to reheve me from my office as public
! prosecutor Is to protect many of these
/ parties. Another week would doubt
less have afforded me the opportunity
of obtaining the information necessary
| to secure the convictions of these Of
/ Tenders. During the Investigations
which have been made concerning these
/ embellishments the fullest information
/ has been afforded by members of the
county offices TO the offenders to en-
able them TO escape detection
--s-%-s.-