Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-03-12
VIGOROUS WORK
TO UNCOVER
FRAUDS
BreCkonS Leaves for HiIo and
Bill Providing for Commits
sion Up to Senate

Vigorous and speedy in his plans
TO carry out thorough investigation
of the Hawaii county financial scan
dal, Attorney General Thayer has
made two quick moves since yester-
day. One development came late yes
terday afternoon when he announced
that Robert W. Breckony, retiring u.
S. district attorney, had been secured
TO handle the investigation as a spe-
cial agent or investigator under the
sttorney-generals office. The Sec
ond move was made tocay when the
draft of legislative act was COM
pleted to provide commission to
handle the investigation. The COM
mission will be a sort or special
grand jury and Mr.. Breckons becomes
deputy attorney-general. He left
this morning for Hilo, and hir. Thayer
expects to go to Hilo on the Mauna
Kea next Saturday.
The formation of this commission
will give working body that can
proceed actively to the ;asa," said
Mr.. Thayer this morning. Eir. Breck-
ons is splendidly qualified for the
work and prosecutions will be started
right away, / expect. The commits
sion will hold hearings, with Mr..
Breckons handling the investigation
before 1t, and from time 20 time civil
actions may be started"
The governor and the attorney gen
eral. IL is evident, are determined
upon a rigid and thorough probe.
Breckons hay return from .Hilo Sat
urday but is expected to remain and
rome back on the Mauna Kea next
Tuesday morning. He has resigned
as attorney general, but his successor
has not yet been named, so that he
low has secured a leave of absence
from the federal office.
The attorney generals office this
morning completed the draft of the
act to provide commission with pow
cial affairs of the county of Hawaii
and to provide for the EXPENSES of
snch a. a>commission. As stated in yes
terday's Star-Bulletin, the commission
is to consist of three members chosen
by the governor and endowed with
practically the same powers that are
sranted grand jury in similar
case The commission is modelled aft
er similar commission that inves.
tigated the insurance scandals to such
good effect in New York a few years
ago. Senator Judd will present the
draft TO the senate this afternoon. and
that body will make what revis;ons,
IL any. are necessary to insure thor
ough investigation of the worst finan
clal scandal in the bistorv of Hawaii
Immediate action will undoubtedly be
taken SO that the attorney general
can proceed at once WITH his investiga-
tions. The act calls for an appropria-
tion of $4,000 and states that at the
completion of the work the auditor of
the territory treasury shall certify to
the auditor Of the county of Hawaii the
total amount of money expended and
the auditor of Hawaii shall thereupon
draw warrant upon the treasurer of
the county of Hawaii for the amount
in favor of the territory. The powers
of the commission as to summoning
witnesses, taking testimony, etc. are
so absolute as to insure thorough
Sections 4, 5 and of the drafted
act define the powers in this way:
Section 4. Each member of the
commission shall have the power to
oaths, and the commission
shall have the power to employ all
necessary auditors and clerical assist
ance, to subpoena witnesses. to take
(Contlnued on Page 81