Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-03-25
PASS THE BIll....KEEP THE HOUSE RECORD CLEAR

If scandal raises its ugly head in the house OF
representatives it will be because certain mem
bers of the house succeed in their plan to SHE
track the bill providing fer a commission to in
yestgatc the Hawaii county financial tangle.
If Oaths are violated by House members, il
will be because they refuse to do their duty in
passing this bill and turning the light on an un
pleasant situation
Nasty rumors are afloat of this influence and
that influence, this Hawaii power and that Ha
waii power, moving heaven and earth to stop the
Investigations.
And other rumOrs are afloat of certain
House members getting ready to vote against the
bill-Senate Bill 7S.
Reports are rife of letters and kilograms sent
to House members urging them to vote against
the bill; urging that the grand jury called by
Judge Parsons last week will do all the investi.
eating necessary. And that there is some truth
in these reports is indicated by the fact that third
reading of the bill was postponed SO that those
fearless members who stand back of it can mus.
ter the strength to put it through the House.
The blockade is forming, the opposition is
crystallizing, the influences are at work, power
full sinister and already breathing scandal
scandal that may damn the present house of rep.
resentatives and the good men i'm it.
Members of the house, PASS THE BILL!
Two arguments mainly are being used by
those who are trying to block the bin. One of
the arguments is that the appropriation of $780,
900 is too heavy an expense, the other that Judge
Parsons of the Fourth Circuit has already called
the territorial grand jury for that circuit, and
that the grand jury will cover the ground thor
oughly. 1t is declared, in fact, that the work of
the commission and of the grand jury will clash.
These arguments arc weak; they are false.
The supervisors of the county of Hawaii them
selves have volunteered to assume the burden of
the investigation Hawaii county has volunteer
ed the means to clear its skirts of corruption
Moreover, a thorough investigation will almost
certainly SO clear up the financial tangle that the
money spent by the commission will be gotten
back from the bonds of county officials who have
betrayed their offices And even should not this
be the case, there is no virtue, no Righteousness
in the argument that expense should stand in the
way Of complete investigation.
The grand jury argument is both false and
silly.
That grand jury was called at the instance of
Attorney-generaI W. w. ThGyer. 1T scds called
because My. Thayer sdac the necessity of hdring
grand jury drdilable to present the facts
brought to light By the commission In other
Words Judge Parsons has called the grand jury
SO that it can cooperate with the commission.
The Star Bulletin can state from knowledge
Of the facts that the attorney general asked that
Judge Parsons call the jury. On March Is Mr..
Thayer wrote to Judge Parsons urging that he
get the grand jury together early this week On
March 20 Mr.. Thayer received wireless mes
sage from Judge Parsons saying that the grand
jury had been called for March %, today.
E. NJ. Watson's nomination for governor of
Hawaii depends good deal on reports that go
to Washington concerning his health, according
to reliable authority. One of the Developments
in political circles during the last few days has
been the well-defined rumor that favorable state
ments by local physicians have been forwarded
to Washington. AS the StarsBulletin has said,
Mr.. Watson has some remarkably strong back
ING in Washington, among his friends being
Chairman Humphreys of the house committee on
territories, and Senator John Sharp Williams.
mn, ..o.+;,,, IF his health hawpyar still seems