Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-07-11
Official Report of Washington
Hearing Gives Some Inter-
eSting information

Hitherto locally unpublished history
with some interesting facts on the
federal building situation appears in
the official report CT the hearing given
Robert w. Single and others before
the house committee en- public build
ings and grounds.
The report gives the following state
ments:
Statement OF Mr. Robert w. Single,
President of the Warehouse Trust Co.:
Mr. ShIngle. Mr. Chairman and
gentlemen OF the committee, the Ho-
nolulu matter at this stage of the game
presents different phase than the
Mount Vernon matter. While the Sec
rotary of the treasury wants to change
the site in the Mount Vernon case,
they will need an additional apprOpri-
alton, think. where in the Honolulu
matter the way this thing happens to
turn out now, If the treasury depart
ment has its way, there will be a saw
ing TO the government. Under the new
scheme we abandon the old site and
take the new site. They could prob
ably get one site, the so-ealled Irwin
site, for 100000. and the Spreckels
site, down town, for something in the
neighborhood of $250,O00. Both of
these sites are for sale. They are
willing 10 sell and will offer the prop
erty to the government now.
Mr.. Burnett-Tne old site is close
down 20 the waters edge?
Mr. Shingle.-No, sir; right in the
center OF the city on Bishop street,
which is one OF our principal streets.
but the site does not embrace the
whole block.
Mr.. Burhett--Tne present custom
house is down near the waters edge?
Mr. Shingle.-0n the water front.
Here (indicatingl Is Fort Street, and
the original site is right there (indi-
cating), for which they paid $104,125.
Then the representative of the Super
wishing architect came down and de-
cided that this site was too small. and
he recommended the requirement of
$4,000 feet fronting on Fort street, but
which had these buildings on it tin
dicating), so that the federal site
would be here tindicating), and these
buildings would be in the rear. This
tindicating) is another important
street Congress appropriated $500
600 TO acquire this additional site. The
property was condemned and the
awards amounted to $490,000.s There
was $150,00O originally appropriated,
of which 100000 was paid for this
site, leaving $4,000.
Then $350.000 was appropriated,
making $395,000 When the final
awards Of $4,000 were made, it was
necessary to secure an additional ap-
preparation of 800 900 to meet the
awards, provided the $4,000 of the
original appropriation was available.
Congress passed the bill appropriate
ing 100000 and it was signed by the
president on the I'D of October last,
making $4,000, as was supposed,
available, but when il came to final
adjustment, the secretary of the
not available; il having been merged
into some other fund. 1t was seven
years ago that this site was author
lied. so that the $4,000 had been ly-
ing somewhere in the treasury and
through some treasury rule they
merged that $4,000 into some other
fund. Consequently, the treasury de-
partment recommended that they
abandon this whole scheme and that
for sum of $4,000 in one case or
$250,000 in the other case they ac-
quire another site, thereby saving to
the government the difference be
tween those sums and the 100000
My particular duty is this: The Wa
terhouse Trust Co. was the agent
representing the various property
owners of the original site.
The assistant secretary Of the treas
ury at that time, Mr.. H. A. Taylor,
who visited the city, called mass