The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1909-04-17
TOWN TALK
By TIM NAN ABOUT TOWN.

The graft inquisition of the House
Is wonderful institution in many
ways. 1t is the child of rumor, created
by a bunch and borne into existencel
via the AIRLINE of intelligence. Not
that rumors are not often correct and
not that the airline is not frequently
reliable, but the manner of the creation
of the special committee of the House
to investigate alleged graft is enter
tanning as an example of what rumor
can do and so quickly. Somebody pull
ed a reporter aside and said that Re-
preventative Long had list of names
of grafters. Immediately a publica-
ton appeared, not without basis, for
the rumor may have seemed tangible.
Then investigation brings everything
down to Representative Long who de-
clares, practically, that he knows Moth
ing outside Of impressions received by
himself. He saw some person nod his
head. He heard an Honorable say
That's for me- He saw Kaleiopu
translating a bill and heard that some
other got the money for translating
said bill, or some other bill.
Further investigation shows what?
1t shows that Kaleiopu translated a bill
which he himself had introduced, hav-
ing taken it away from a hired trans
lator to translate himself to make sure
it was translated correctly. The hired
translator gets paid IS for the job. Now
the only way graft can be proved in
this instance is to show that the hired
translator divided with Kaleiopu, if the
did.
Whatever the facts may be, the whole
business is SO petty that it is sickening.
My gracious, what is graft, if it is graft
for a Representative to translate his
own bill?
wish a standing "inquisition" would
investigate forms of graft of which
am every day the poor victim. How
about my paying for a public utility
that does not come up to what it should
be? How about paying good money,
earned by the sweat of my brow, for
something that is not what it pretends
| to be-?
My idea or graft includes restaurant
hash, restaurant cream, double hack
rates after eleven o'clock, the doctors
bill for appendicitis, a plug between
the sharrs when hire rig to drive my
best girl, ten cents for three-for-a-
| NH a. l,,xr
at cafe, the rise In meat and lumber
and rent and poi and fish, and so on
most eternany.
Talking about graft, | will give you
an actual incident. A new chapel has
been opened out Kalihi way. One day
a reverend went to grocery store and
begged the proprietor not to sell candy
to the children OF the neighborhood be-
cause they spent the nickles and dimes
given them for the collection plate, on
candy, and Sunday School collections
were therefore slim.
Suffering saints, what next?
q
l heard an interesting little theory
in regard to the manner in which At
torney-General Hemenway was con-
firmed and though 1 am not prepared
to vouch for it, l must certainly say
that it looks as though there might
be something in it First Hemenway
and Campbell were turned down. Then
Hemenway was confirmed. On the next
day Willard Brown and Fred Waldron
both men of liberal type and while
not friendly to the liquor interests in
any manner which might be construed
to their discredit, still much broader
than men of the Ballentyne stamp
were appointed on the Oahu Liquor
commission.
1t is an old story that two and two
make one and l am rather inclined tC
believe that it is true in this case
though l am willing to bet my last
cent that Hemenway had nothing to
do with the bargain, for bargain there
certainly was, though, as l say, II
may not have been just the one thai
1 have mentioned.
Since this Hemenway affair has
gone through so we'll 1t Is UNDERSTOOD
that Governor Frear is getting ready
to work off a like stunt in relation u
the Federal judgeship. 1t is rumoreC
President Taft is to be allowed to Sc
lect each and every member Of thu
Milk Commission authorized at the
present session of the Legislature
he will appoint Abe Lewis as Fedora
judge. If he does not do this but ap
points Judge Perry to the Suprem
Bench, Taft gets two milk commission
ers. If Glen Quinn is appointed to tn
Circuit bench, Taft gets one, while
Judges Robinson, De Bolt and Whitne
get the positions, Taft may just ge
out and not try to use any Of his Fill
Il L.