Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-03-07
HOUSE DEMOCRAT
GE is after
GOVERNOR
Or. Archer Irwin Wants Inves-
tigat;on of Frear's Action
in HiIO St. R R. Deal r
ASKS LIGHT ON SOME .
LAND TRANSFER DETAILS
Conveyance For Nominal
Sum Is What Seems to
Arouse SoIon's Inquiry

Adding to the already large num-
ber of Investigations started by the
house of representatives the initial
step in a probe of Governor Frear's
work as chief executive was taken
this morning, when resolution intro
duced by DR.. Archer Irwin of Hilo was
adopted, authorizing the lands SUBJ
committee to make a special inquiry
into the land transfer that was
made by the governor to the Hilo
Street Halfway Company, the new
traction concern which incorporated
on the day the present session con-
vened. ..-.~.. -: ...
The measure in effect questions the
transactions made by the governor
wherein certain lands in Hilo, includ-
ing the site of the proposed postoffice
were passed over to the ownership of
the new railroad "for nominal sum,
under the claim that such convey
ances were warranted and called for
by the provisions of Sec 7S4 of the
Revised Laws of Hawaii"
1t would have the committee in
vestigate the affair in all its ramifica-
tions to determine whether there was
necessity for the transfers, whether
such proof was given before the trans
fere were made, and to ascertain
whether, in the opinion of the com
mittee, there exists a reasonable
ground upon which to annul the said
Conveyance, or any of them
The resolution was introduced and
adopted without comment, the mem
bers signifying their approval by a
show of hands. AS originally intro
duced, it proposed the appointment
of a special committee by the speaker,
by Dr. Irwin suggested and was Civ
en- permission to amend it so that the
lands subcommittee may take it in
charge. ... !,
The lands subcommittee feaves to-
morrow for Hilo to take evidence in
its investigation of the public works
department, and is expected to obtain
the requisite data on both these mat
ters during it's visit at the Big Is
land metropolis Sunday and Monday.
Dr. Irwin's resolution of record as
H. B. 6S, follows: @..-
Whereas, The governor OF this ter
AllOiJ has IdICI1 SduSSu " &c COub6y-
ed to the Hilo Railway Company, Ltd,
for nominal consideration, certain
valuable parcels of land situate nj the
city of Hilo, including the SIZE OF the
pcstoffice in that city, under the claim
that such conveyaaces were warranted
and called for by the provisions OF
Section 784 of the Revised Laws OF
Hawaii; H.. r:
Therefore, Be Is Resolved, That
the subcommittee of the public lands
committee be instructed
"(a) To inquire and. report to this
house the occasions and circumstances
of any and all such conveyances of
public lands as have been made to the
said .Hilo Railway Company, Ltd, or
to any other railway company or COM
panies during the years 1905 to 1918.
. ""(b) The area and value, as near
as practicable; of each parcel so con-
yeyed ~ ... ..@.
"(c) Whether, in any, or in each
case, there was, in the opinion of the
committee. an existing necessity for
such conveyance, such as said statute
contemplates; whether there was rea-
sonable proof made of such necessity
before the respective conVeyances
were made. * ~: hi:
"(d) Whether, IL the opinion of the
committee, there exists reasonable
ground upon which to annui said con-
yeyanceS, or any If them? ...s=