The Hawaiian gazette., 1916-08-25
]. ~. Fisher Declares That He
Win Not Pay Cable Tolls
Until Satisfied
IS BACKED BY OPINION
or ATTORNEY GENERAL
Says cablegrams Did Not Deal
With Public Business Of
the Territory

II Is question whether the public
utilities commission mas any right tc
send cablegrams 70 the mainland, and
il is also question, which J. II. Fisher
territorial auditor has not yet settled
whether Charles X. Forbes, chairman OF
the utilities commission, superintend
OF public works and chairman of the
hoard of harbor commissioners, has the
right TO cable denials of newspaper
stories and charge the tolls to the Ter
ritory. .a'.,
Incidentally Auditor Fisher has come
right out in the open and declared the
faith that il in him, backing up his
Statements with the opinion OF the at
torney. general, l. M. Stainback. Fisher
asserts that he viii not pay the money
---only a small sum--until he is salts
fed that the public utilities commits
sion through its secretary and its chair
man has the right gs'tO go over the
bead Of the Legislature that created j.
and attempt TO secure Legislation
through congress 10 enlarge its own
powers n s-.., H.
In Answer To Forbes
Mr. Fisher y statement was made yes
ferday in answer to statements credited
to Mr.. Forbes, in a report of the meet
ing Of the public utilities commission
the day before, and in which Mr.. Forb
es intimated that the auditor was act
ing in a high handed matter in holding
mp the payment of the eablegrams
Forbes directed Henry o 'Sulivan, sec
Rotary of the public utilities commits
sion TO write to the auditor regarding
the latter's action, and also to send d
letter TO Governor Pinkham, drawing
attention of the Governor to the delay
in the settlement of the bills, which
total less than $50.
u ~"I have not refused to pay these
bills, !" declared Mr.. Fisher yesterday
when asked regarding his attitude in
\ the matter. ~ have held them up Il
is true until 1 am satisfied that they
should be paid, and / am going to keep
right on holding them up until an
satisfied that the Territory should pay
for what looks mighty like private
messages from Mr.. Forbes and the com
mission. -
Gables To Colorado Senator
THE messages that started thii
trouble were sent to Senator O'Gormar
Of New York last February by Mr.
Forbes. 1t is quite conceivable that
Mr.. Forbes should have official business
with senator o 'Gorman that would cal
for official cablegrams, in which case
this Office would pay for them without
word, but these cablegrams are, to my
way Of thinking, of O private nature
They deal with matters that have nc
ohieial connection with the Territory
u il as If man hit me, while / was
on the street car coming to my Office
and I secured 4 lawyer 10 sue him an.
then charged the attorneys fees to the
Territory. At least that is the way
Mt looks to me"
The two eablegramS are denials OF
what purported to be an interview with
Mr.. Forbes, regarding the visit of eI
Governor Dix of New York, to Ha
wall.
The other cablegrams that are held
mp are addressed to Senator John Sha
froth of Colorado, and Territorial Sen
ator james Coke, attorney for the pub
lie utilities commission.
First Of the Gables
The first under date Of March 81 Il
to the Colorado stateman and reads:
:" Senator John Shafroth, United
States Senate, Washington. Please
cable whether II. R. 65 has been signed
by the President. Forbes, Chairman. .
The next, undertake of February II
also to Senator Shafroth, reads:
(. Ex-senator John Shafroth, United
States, Washington, D. c. UNDERSTAND
III. 4. 65is having opposition in senate
] expect return to Washington imme
diately. If bill in danger defeat sug
gest deferring action until l arrive
Please answer. Forbes"
Under, the same date went a cable
gram to James Coke, then in Washing
ton, as attorney for the public utili
ties commission, and il said:
James Coke, National Press Club
Washington, ID. c. Attorney Genera
opinion commission cannot authorize
expenses. 0iSullivan, secretary public
utilities commission. "
N. Coke must have been kept busy il
opening the eablegrams he received
about this time, for under the sam,
date Mr.. Forbes sent him the following
ouDltBTuH'
Put Up To statnback
James Coke, National Press Club
Washington, ID. c. Your letter Jan
uary 81 received. Must be referreS
attorney general for opinion as to pow
or Of commission to authorize such ex
penses. Forbes chairman public utii
ties commission.
This last, while it follows the former
deals with the same set of expensel
which were afterward disallowed by thu
courts. f."
There is one more cablegram that haI
10 far shared the fate of the others
This Is from Mr.. Forbes to Senator
Shafroth, dated June 30, and says:
"Senator John Shafroth, Unite(
States Senate, Washington, d. @. Com
mission recommends section six Hill,
Gas Company bill be amended to rca,
Public Utilities Commission insteaC
Of Board Of SupervisorsI Forbes
Chairman Public Utilities Commits
sion. ~
Now these cablegrams may be al
right and proper, - said Mr.. Fisher yes
AFl88 UT :'Dl..p. =