Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-11-04
WARRANTS ONCE
WORTH MILLIONS
GIVEN T9FLAAEs
Paid Up Liabilities of Territory
For Five Year Period De-
stroyed This Morning

Paid up warrants that have collect
ed during the five years between 1907
and 1912 in the attic OF the territorial
building were put to the flames this
morning in the little plot OF govern
ment ground back OF the Lewis sta
bIes The dust-coyered collection
formed a pile 10 feet square and five
feet high, and represented an expen-
iiture OF millions OF dollars. The Gre
nation ceremony was carried out in
accordance with Joint Resolution No.
2 OF the 1915 laws, and was presided
oSer by territorial senator's, represent
tatives and officials.
Present at the ceremony were the
following: E. W. Quinn, representing
the ways and means committee Of the
Senate; Norman Watkins, chairman
OF the committee on finance In the
House Of Representatives; c. H.
Cooke, member OF the same COM
mittee; Charles ]. MCCARTHY, terrific
rial treasurer, and Henry Hapai. reg
istrar OF public accounts.
With the burning Of the warrants
q large weight has been lifted from
the minds of these men, who had the
duty thrust upon them by legislation.
They have been celebrating for some
months on the question Of how. when
and where the old papers were to be.
burned.
Last July the committee assembled
IN formal session and after the papers
had been loaded on to large dray,
rode with them out to the Honolulu
Planning Mill for the purpose OF put
ting them in the big engine-room fur
mace. It was Saturday, however, and
the employees Of the mill had quit ear
~. Steam was down and the fire was
out. The man In charge Of the en-
gine-room accordingly refused to let
the papers be put on fire under the
boiler; because all Of the committee
members admitted that they knew
nothing about handling the engine un-
der steam.
Out Bright and Early.
Then the papers were brought back
and again stored in the Capitol build
ing. Last night the word was passed
around to the committeeman that the
little spot of government land back of
the Lewis stables would be unused
today, and this morning bright and
early the members were out with
their load of old warrants.
OH was poured on to the papers
after they had been dumped into the
pit, match was set to the mass and
soon thereafter a great column of
flame shooting upward bore evidence
TO the committee members that their
troubles In regard to the disposition
OF the old warrants would soon end.
Meanwhile a big Hawaiian laborer
with a long iron pole stirred up the
papers and Kept the flames eating into
them. The committee members drew
near and warmed their Hands Then
one member drew from his pocket a.
cfumpled and time worn copy Of Joint
Resolution No. Of the 1915 laws, and
read:
BE 1t resolved by the Senate and
the House Of Representative Of the
Territory of Hawaii, that the COM
mittee on ways and means of the Sem
ate, and the finance committee of the
House of Representative are hereby
appointed q joint committee Of the
Legislature Of 1915 J; said joint commit
tee is hereby authorized and empowers
ed to. burn up or destroy all paid up
Warrants Of the government, which
were paid on or before December 81,
A. ID. 1912; and all actions of said
joint committee relating to the same
are hereby approved by the Legisia-
ture."