The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1909-10-19
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.

In an interview given 20 the Hilo |
Tribune, Carl S. Smith, the deputy
county attorney for the County Of Ha.
wall, who has felt the supervisorial ak,
gives his opinions as to the reasons that
led 20 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 n 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 n
prearranged plan, which was thought
out over six weeks ago." laid Mr..
Smith. "DuriIg a visit in Honolulu
recently was informed that Desha bad
consulted various friends relative to n
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 attorney g
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 irregulari-
ties, which were being attempted, were
stopped because of my interest in the
matter. ] particularly put a stop to
the members of the board entering into
contracts with the county, which were
more favorable to the contractor than
to the county board.
"At the meeting Of the board fol-
/, September the members of the board
attempted to evade the law relating tc
the making of contracts which provides
that the county can only contract wher
there are sufficient funds to pay foi
the contract. With less than $4,000 OF
hand the board attempted TO enter int
n contract with John Brown, who is
q father-in-law Of Supervisor Lyman, TO
the expenditure of $4,000 The con
tract was drawn rather skilfully, an
: Is undoubtedly the work of some cleve
r attorney. AS soon as / found that al
a effort was being made to have thi
=. contract executed and certified accord
). ing to law, I called the attention o
, one Of the officers to the Imprisonment
A which would follow in case he certified
h to the contract. The result was tina
a the instrument was withdrawn, but, n
a I am reliably informed, IL will be pu
through as soon as another legal nd
wiser for the county can be obtained.
"Every known device has been at
n tempted during my term of Office I
4 avoid the law which provides tina
:. county work involving the expenditur
!. of more than $500 shall be let by cor
, tract only after public bids. j hav
!. put stop to these attempts and threat
ened to continue TO do so in the future
:. For several months past all of the cor
|, tracts for the county have been draft
ed by outside attorneys, and / hay
seen only such of them as / have bee
able to get outside of the county Office
>, 81 have at the present time unde
II investigation a large number of case
" of embezzlement of both elective and az
. pointive officers of the county, whic
q cases / expect TO have examined by tn
grand jury at its next sitting. Thes
charges involve crimes committed b
county officers, who are in favor wit
the board of supervisors, and from pr
{ vate advices which have received
am sure that the attempt of the boar
to relieve me from my Office as publ
n. prosecutor is to protect many of thes
rs parties. Another week would doub
10 less have afforded me the opportunit
Of Of obtaining the information necessar
he to secure the convictions of these o
n. Tenders. During the investigation
X. which have been made concerning thei
rs embezzlements the fullest informatiC
has been afforded by members of u
county Offices TO the offenders TO e
,c able them To escape detection"
'E ii