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

Representatives, it will be because certain mem
bers OF the house succeed in their plan to side
track the bill providing for commission to in
yestigate the Hawaii county financial tangle.
Ii oaths are violated by House members, it
will be because they refuse to do their duty in
passing this bill and turning the light on an I'M
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 IS.
Reports are rife of letters and kilograms sent
to House members urging themto 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-a
scandal that may damn the present house of rep
resentatives and the good men in it.
Members of the house, PASS THE BILL!
Two arguments mainly are being used by
those who are trying to block the bill. 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 theswork of
tile commission and of the grand jury will clash.
These arguments are 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 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
Attorney-gencral w. w. Thdyer 1t tcas called
OCC0HSS MT. HUyGf, SufO inc ftcCBSStty vi UuTtHg
q grand jury drailable 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. Watsens nomination for governor of
Hawaii depends good deal on reports that 60
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 Star Bulletin has said ,
AIr. 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
The question of his health, however, still seems
to be an open one with many of his friends hero
and in Washington. In private conversation,
Mr.. Watson expresses the frankest of beliefs that
he is quite able to undertake the work
The tar-Bulletin's Washington correspond
ent, whose forecasts on the sugar situation in