Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-08-25


investigation last referred 10 is by lie
means the only institution of the kind
in the city and county to which IN
pleasant notoriety has been accorded
by the public press. The name and To-
cation Of another similar institution
situated some miles distant from the
city of Honolulu will readily occur TO
each member of the grand jury, con-
corning which the identity Of the own
ers thereof, or Of others who hold in
terests therein, have been made equal
ly notorious by the local newspapers.
And the question arises, and is now
submitted to your honorable body whe-
Their, if the community be interested in
knowing the personnel of the owners
of any given saloon in the city of Ho-
nolulu, it should not be equally inter-
ested in receiving similar information
concerning the ownership of those To-
Gated outside of the city proper, but
within the city and county. 1t is un-
doubtedly the intent and purpose OF
the law providing for the issuance of
licenses to sell intoxicating liquors
that the board of liquor commissioners
shall be fully and fairly advised of the
names and character of all persons
who are interested in the ownership
of any saloon or other institution for
which the issuance eta license is re-
quested, and this should. in common
fairness te all concerned, and with re-
gard to the unbiased and impartial ex-
ecution of the liquor law, be extended
to include the names and character of
all persons beneficiaIly interested in
such proposed license, whether they
stand forth in the open or attempt to
shield their personality behind that
of some one or more other persons
who shall be put publicly forward as
the. purported applicant or applicants
for the license. 1t may be that am
endments of the liquor law are desir-
able in order to effect such results,
and If SO, 1t is quite within the scope
of the functions of your honorable
body to consider this question and sub
nit your recommendations in the pre-
misses. ..-.@
! Further, and in relation to the adj
ministration CT the liquor laws: There
has been much discussion in the press
Of an incident which is said to have
included the spiriting away from the
city of Honolulu. of witness or wit
nesses, whose testimony was desired
by the board of liquor commissioners
lin relation to the application for a IL
cense to a certain other saloon. Our
liquor laws, perhaps unfortunate
,ly, have not invested the board |
of liquor commissioners with the
power to subpoena. swear and examine |
witnesses in relation to matters pend /
ing before such commissioners But
1t is manifest that the proper admin
istration of the liquor laws demands |
that said commissioners should be able |
to avail themselves of the testimony /
OF witnesses uDon material points in
volved in the discharge of their duties |
and it may be that If conspiracy ex-
listed whereby any given witness was
to be, or was spirited away. or induced |
to leave the city of Honolulu at time
when it was known that his evidence
was required or desired by the COM
mission in question. an Investigation |
OF the facts concerning said incident
would reveal a condition requiring one /
or more indictments. But, quite apart |
from the question of whether lor not /
violations of the criminal law are con-
cerned. 1t is the opinion of the court /
that all such matters fall naturally |
within the scope of the inQuisitorial I
powers of the grand Jury. Wherefore
| give it to you in charge to investi.
gate and report upon the incident
above referred to.
Charge is Broad.
Judge Ashford's charge covers Is
typewriter pages but throughout
bears directly upon local matters. A
good deal of the charge deals with the
functions Of the grand jury and Judge
Ashford holds consistently for broad
viewpoint and a wide jurisdiction. It
was stated this morning that in many
respects his charge may revolutionize
grand jury procedure because of the
very broad powers he holds are proper
o the inquisitoEs
Among the specific things he sug.
gests as proper for an investigation
are: EF
The police department; the numeri.
cal adequacy and efficiency of the po.
lice force. .s
The sale or furnishing of impure or
adulterated food or drugs.
The conduct and discipline of pris-
ons and reformatories.
The workings of the "indeterminate
sentence" law.
In connection with this latter sub.
Iect and with prison and penal mat
tiers in general, Judge Ashford calls
for special investigation whether any
specific system has been adopted and
is followed by the territorial prison
warden. attcrney-generaI and governor
in dealing with parole or the refusal
of paroles. -. --.-.,. ....
In fact. large part of the charge
deals with this urgent suggestion of
probe of penal matters in the territory.
Pure food. weights and measures
are other matters which Judge Ash
ford suggests for inquiry .>..
In closing Ne calls attention to the
charge elsewhere that malice in pros.
ecution and political use of juries NAV
arise from the grand Jury system and |