Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-05-02
Committee Investigates and
Reports Back, Giving Much
Interesting Data


haustiye report. dealing with the ex.
penses and. In some instances, the
abuses OF the courts of the city and
county OF Honolulu, Is the outgrowth
of lengthy Investigation recently
completed by the judiciary committee
of the Municipal Research Club. The
investigation was made at the request
of the orgaAizat ion, and the findings
Of the committee include among other
things, the financial workings OF the
courts in all their different phases.
The report follows:
Honolulu, April 9th, 1914.
To the Chairman, Officers and Mem
bers OF the Municipal Research
Club,
Gentlemen: Your committee to
look into Judiciary matters as relat-
ing to the city and county Of Homo
lulu, submit the following report.
Upon examination Of the books of
the city and county treasurer. we find
that the district and first circuit
courts Of this island have cost the
taxpayers during the years 1911, 191eI
and 1913 the sum Of $63,353. 80 more
than the receipts from said sources.
The salaries of the judges OF the
first circuit court amounting to $780,
coo for this period have not been in
cluded. as they were paid By the fed
eral government.
This large expense has been caiis-
ed by the circuit court, as the receipts
from the district courts exceed the
cost Of their maintenance.
The following table will show the
standing OF the courts for the period
above rnehtioned
District Courts.
ls11-R Receipts. $20.147sss; expens-
es, $15.177.7O; receipts over expenses,
$4,970.13.
isi2.-Receipts, SIS. 1914; expens,
es, $15.504.25: receipts over expenses.
$3,995.49.
1sis-Receipts, s24s55. 10: expens.
es. $14,645.1o; receipts over expenses,
$10,310.30.
Total receipts over expenses. SO;
First Circuit. Court.
1911 Salaries, $13,S6O.OO; expenses.
$4,557.08; total expenses, $1S,417.0 S !.
receipts, $3,244.s9 expenses over re-
rceipts. SIT, 1900.
1912 Salaries, $27,727.00; expenses.
$11,547.O1; total expenses, $39,214.01;
receipts, s7,87720; expenses over re-
ceipts, So, 1861.
1913 Salaries, s27, 555.97; expenses,
16,972.73; total expenses, $44,52S. 40;
receipts, $s.46S.39; expenses over rer
ceipts, $36,060.41.
Total expense over receipts, $751;
629. 81: less receipts over expenses
district courts. $1s,275.92; cost Of
courts to the city and county for per-
Tod of three years, $63, 1853 80.
Handling City and County Funds.
The heads of the city and county
departments have authority to incur
bills against the city and county IL an
appropriation has been made to cover
such purpose, but before any Of these
bills are ordered paid, they must be
audited and approved by the board Of
supervisors, signed by the mayor and
city and county clerk.
It Is different with claims against
the circuit court The legislature pro-
vided that the city and county must
pay the expenses OF these courts so
the board of supervisors makes the
necessary appropriation and beyond
this the board has nothing to say.
Claims against the circuit court are
approved by one of the judges of this
court and presented to the city and
county auditor who must issue o war
rant in payment Of the same. Some
of these vouchers would not be ap-
proved IL the board of supervisors had
anything to say in the matter.
For instance the city and county
has in its employ In the Honolulu dis
trict court and in the police depart
ment, many persons who speak for
eign languages. The circuit court re-
Quires the services Of one Of these and
he Is sent there during the time for
which the city and county is paying
him. The service may last half
hour or half day. When finished he
is given an approved voucher on the
city and county for S., which Is paid
to him.
During the year 1913. these services
cost the city and county above the
regular salaries paid to them the sum
OF 500. " :
While the amount is not large the
principle by which they are paid is
wrong. - l., ---s.t
1t certainly would seem strange to
any business man IL he had TO pay
one of his clerks extra salary for SER
vices rendered to q department of his
business other than tie one in which
he was regularly employed.
was able to reduce its rate Of taxation