Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-02-07
DECAPITATION
WILL FOLLOW
BOARD PROBE
Supervisors investigate Charge
That Hui of Loan Sharks Is
Gouging City Employees
ALSO ACCUSED OF RUNNING
BLIND Pig" AND GAMBLING
Retrenchment Given as Reason
for Road Dept. DismissaIs
Slated for March |


That a hui OF loan-sharks is en-
gagged in the business OF advancing
money to laborers employed by the
roads department OF the city and
county, and is also interested in a
"blind pig" and certain crap games,
was the charge under probe at a Sc
cret meeting of the board of super
yisors yesterday afternoon, when 1t
began investigation into the affairs
and the personnel of the hui.
Il. K Rathburn, city stable fore
man, is one of the men mentioned in
connection with the hui. Just what
part he has had in Il is not given out,
but IL was said today by supervisors
that he viii be dismissed on March
l. Others whe have worked with him
in the department may feel the axe
as well. due to their alleged cennec-
tions with the hui
Supervisor Lester Petrie made the
statement this morning that the
board would dismiss any employees
found to have had a part in the ac-
tivities of the hui The probe tended
te show. 1t is said, that the hui is
loaning money at q rate of interest
of 10 per cent month, and also that
It is interested in the sale of liquor
and in running crap or dice games.
Slated for Dismissal.
First reports were to the effect
that these games we're run at the
road departments stables, but Super
visor Petrie said that II was brought.
out yesterday afternoon that they are
operated elsewhere He did not wish
TO give out the names OF any men
found to be allied with the hut He,
did admit that the name of Rathburn|
came In. and that Rathburn pndoubt-
edIy would be discharged, and he did
acknowledge that the name Of Road
Supervisor Thomas +. Kennedy, the
successor Of ]. ]. Smiddy, had been
brought up. yet he gave Il as his opin-''
ion that Kennedy was not one of the
hui.
However, Kennedy. according to a.
welldefaned TtImor, is slated to go,
the first Of the month and inefficiency
Is given as the reason. There is no
evidence that he is connected with
the loan sharks. The r,Imor was Eir.
yisors this morning. Petrie, who is
chairman of the roads committee and
an active member in pushing the re-
trenchment movement, while not ad-
hitting that Kennedy would be dis
charged, acknowledged that there
were changes to be made in the de-
partment -
He said he believes the department
can get along with less men, and that
it is the intention of the board to try
retrenchment.
Meet Behind Closed Doors.
I'VE will try to get along with as
few men as possible" he said.
Some say that it will be impossible
to reduce the number, but believe 1t
can be done, We want to cut down
in every department to save as much
as possible for the roads. The people
want good roads and we want to
make good roads. But we need
money and the only way we can get
Il Is to cut down our expenses"
He said that the supervisors met
yesterday afternoon to go over the ex.
penses of the road department and
that they found one or two places
where money could be saved. One
of these places is said TO be at the
city stables, where the toolkeeper,
whose salary is $50 month, is to-
take the place of Rathburn, who has
been getting 500. At the quarry the
blacksmith is to be let out, it is said
The board has not finished with
the department, Other cuts may be
made. And more investigation will
be made into the operations of the
hui. ~
The supervisors spent FIVE hours
yesterday behind closed and locked
doors in going over the situation.