Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-07-14

the stand taken by the Hawaii super
Visors. let lis now compare my con-
illusions of 1912 with the actual loss
10 the county of Hawaii. as shown by
my more detailed investigation OF the
finances in 1914. The sum OF S76.-
800 was found to have been stolen
from the general funds of the coun-
~, and so FAR as the road fuads were
concerned, il was impossible TO even
estimate the shortages. The meth
DDS In vogue of handling the public
disbursements, together with the
most reprehensible banking proce-
dure, unquestionably placed premi-
um on crime. The road luna's time
books, with few exceptions, had been
destroyed, making IL impossible to
check the actual time of the laborers
working on the roads with the pay
rolls turned in by the road supervis-
ors, the totals of which were paid TO
these officials for distribution among
the men. The time books, however,
which were secured proved eonclu-
siyely that the pay rolls had been sys-
Dramatically padded. One road super.
visor was able to place to his credit
in local bank the sum of $1,000 in
Is months on a salary of 500 per
month. During the month of Novem-
Der, 1912, in the district of South
Hilo, the amount of the pay rolls was
four times as large as any previous
month during that year, and the
names Of road lunas appeared on
these pay rolls without working
gangs. In order to meet the Excess
siye road labor charges, transfers
were resorted to from amounts set
aside for special appropriations to the
road fund account.
Causes OF Waste in Road Work.
The estimate which | made in 1912
of the waste in the road work on Ha-
wall was, to a large extent, the re-
suit of fraudulent practices, rather
than loafing by the laborers On the
jobs A considerable portion of the
money intended for road maintenance
never reached the roads at all On
another occasion, even after IL was
known by the county officials that
read warrants were issued for labor
charges exceeding the actual work
done, the warrants were nevertheless
turned over TO the men, despite their
circumstances that they were receiy-
ms wv nlOCh pay odCA a. pCNty ptdC-
tice as the following may be cited
to show the resourcefulness for OBJ
tanning the unearned increment. In
one district the supervisor arbitrarily
deducted from road laborers' weekly
pay from one to two dollars, which
II was claimed went towards an en-
tertainment fund, or some such vague
purpose. Laborers informed me that
they were compelled to submit to this
extortion for fear of losing their jobs.
One Hawaiian, in particular, with al
large family, who walked nearly six
miles daily to and from his work,
stated to me that the holding out Of
the sum from his weekly wages work
ed a great hardship on those depend |
ent on him for livelihood.
No Check on Public Property.
The free use OF Hawaii county ma
chinery. equipment and horses, and
the charging of material and sup
plies. freight and other expenses to |
the county for account Of private con- |
tracts by an official we're found to
have been made. No record was kept |
in the offices OF machinery and other |
property belonging to the county. and |
many orders for equipment and mate |
rial were placed without going |
through the apparently useless for.
mRlity of calling for bids; failure to
do SO was always explained away on |
the score of emergency. Warrants. |
10 the number of 1895, and aggregat- |
ing 1854 900, had been issued prior to |
the date OF authorization by the board |
of supervisors, the amount Of the |
claims covered by these warrants, in
many cases, being considerably re-
duced when finally passed by the
board, but the warrants having preyi- |
ously been turned over to the claim |
ants and paid; the county, of course, |
was made the loser.
Waste and Extravaganza Rampant.
On Hawaii waste and extravaganza |
was found TO be rampant, with no |
semhlance OF accounting control over |
any OF the public finances. 1t was
the case OF the supervisor with the /
strongest persuasive power getting |
the lion share of county revenue,
with no check on disbursements. |
Notwithstanding these and other dis /
closures in the conduct of govern
mental affairs on Hawaii, : nave /
been quoted as an alarmist, with a |
penchant for sensationaism.
$4,000 Annually Saved TO City and
County.
In March, 1912. ! was instructed by
the Honolulu Chamber of Commerce
10 investigate the administrative and
financial methods of the City and /
County of Honolulu. In my report
made recommendations whereby the
local government could obtain eff /
cheney in management. and control
oyer finances by defined modern ae-
counting system; | also pointed out
Economics aggregating $4,000 annu-
ally. So far as | am able to learn
no attempt has been made to carry
ont any of my recommendations.
present Day Excessive Operating 4
Charges. |
Now let us again take up the fiRan-
cial problem which confronts us at
th;s time on this island, The cost to
operate the various departments OF
nf EInnnlrlfis in