Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-10-08

Of corporations doing business VITA
the county and that this should be
stopped. SPECIFIC Instances are given.
Story Of Masuire's FasL
The story Of the Irregularities OF
Charles K. Mcguire, former auditor.
afterwards sentenced TO FIVE years
J Imprisonment IS told fully. as we'll as
that OF the other Hawaii county graft
ers run down by the commission its
special attorney, Robert W BreCkons,
and its auditor, H. Gooding Field.
During the course OF this statement
the county treasurer comes In for Sc
we're blame, It being maintained that
he could have stopped the Cashing OF
bogus warrants. the basis of most OF
| the graft
| Sank Not Censured.
A special section takes UP the con.
nection Of The First Bank Of HilO with
the cashing Of warrants and ether at
! fairs with tn" county. The commits
! sion emphasizes that 1t attaches ne
| blame to the bank. saws that county
monies entrusted to the bank care
have been we'll looked after and adds
| that the criticism should be directed
| against the county treasurer instead
OF the bank officials. 1t states that
more complete supervision by the
bank might have detected the fraudu-
lent operations Of the county auditor
| but says that the banks method OF
handling its own affairs was outside
| the scope Of the commissions report.
In its conclusion the report SAYS:
In conducting III investigation of
this sort you are aware that the great
| majority of transactions and OF the
acts of public officials are found to be
| beyond criticism. They are therefore
not mentioned IN this report Ano. her
class OF cases deserves mention be-
cause OF the notoriety that they have
gained by Tumor and mention in the
press. For example! 1t was intimated
to your commission that the Hito
Building and Loan Association was in
some way connected with the misuse
| Of county fuudsc This association was
formed in the early days of county
government for the express purpose of
discounting the pay OF county employ.
es. The rate of interest charged va
rted, but was never less than per
cent per month The officers OF the
association were E'nas, Il. King, school
inspector; w, H. Beers, county .attor.
lney; G; 4. Alagaire, county auditor;
John X. kai, county clerk and +. &
Lalakea, county treasurer. Our inves-
LEGATION Of its affairs failed to sub3tan-
tate the eharse. j. D. Lewis, chair
man OF the board Of supervisors, and
Ghas. E. King, school Inspector, vera
reported to have imported disappear
ing beds and to have installed them in
teachers cottages throughout the isl
land, anu to have charged them to the
county al an exorDitant figure, Ten
were imported, two installed and the
remaining eight are still stored under
Lewis house in Hilo. The bank ex,
aminers have been criticised for care
lessness in examining the Hilo banks,
but in our opinion these examinations
have been competent.
No statement in this report is in.
tended to convey the impression that
the Hawaiian is not capable Of self.
lBovernnent. Nothing discovered by
this commission warrants such con.
elusien. The fact that all offenders
exposed have been of this race is ex-
planned by the fact that practically all
county offices since the establishments
OF county government have been filled
| BY Hawaiians.
Calls on Citizens to Cooperate.
This commission recommends and
although this Recommendation is not
| contained in the list Of their formal
recommendations there Is net one
upon which Ihey, would wish to place
stronger emphasize the publiC-spirh-
ed citizens of the island of Hawaii that
/ they shall get together in coRfercn e,
lay aside minor differences of OF in
len. and unite IN demand for changes
10 their system OF county government.
We dc not say that the proposals
Contained II this report are aecessari-
~ he best or that the light Of wiser
counsel may got suggest many benefi-
eial amendments aud additions, but We
do believe that they offer broad and
/ reasona5le basis for discussion and
consfderatiS1i, and IL is in this belief
that We place them before the public
| II is orr suggestion that the civil OF.
ganizattons Of that island shall meet
In a convention attende1 by represeD
iatiyes from each district. tand that
they shall endeayer to come to some
common agreement in regard to these
reforms and pledge themselves to sup,
port the resulting bills in the legisla-
ture OF 1915. This commission will be
glad 10 cooperate with any body of
citizens united in this purpose. and il
Is our hone TO De able at a. later date
TO submit a. supplementary report
which will contain a complete draft
Of two or more bills which will com.
pletely cover this subject"
The report concludes With sue
ciflct summary Of the recommends
items for new form Of county gov
ernment for the county Of Hawaii. It's
essential points are as follows:
Sec, T., Relating to the unit Of dis.
trict government.
III. That the island of Hawaii be
divided into seven districts.
az. That the boundaries Of these