Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-01-07
BICKNELL JARS
SUPERVISORSON
OLD OVERDRAFTS
Getting Far Too Common, and
Should Be Stopped" Says
One of City Fathers

Mules. bird cages and harness en-
tered into 4 discussion that arose last
night following the reading OF a com
munication on overdrafts submitted to
the board OF supervisors by Auditor
James BickneH
with the letter Bicknell submitted
resolution covering the various
Ueerdraits he had mentioned. and the
resolution, with the exception Of one
item aasSed first reading. This item
was for parks. and was held up at the
request OF Supervisor HolliGGer who
said he thought the bird cage recently
built al KapicIani was tho most eN-
pensiye thing he coHld think Of. and
asked that actien be held up until he
cOlld look farther into the question.
Homer didn't remember now much
the oyerdraft in the police department
had been, and Arnold criticized the.
auditors method of bookkeeping.
The question of overdrafts was
given a good airing even if nothing
else was accomplished. said one SUI
pervisor today. "and that is good
thing. for overdrafts are becoming far
too common and should be stopped
Auditor Bicknells letter follows:
January 6. 1916.
The Honorable Mayor and Board of
Supervisors,
Honolulu
Gentlemen:
in another communication Of even
date | have made request for emerg-
ency appropriations to cover over
drafts on certain appropriations.
Among the requests appears the over
draft On the account known as Live
stock. A fund OF $1,000 was originally
created for the purchase of mules.
Purchases amounting to $500 were
made for the Hakipuu project and
paid out of this fluid. Other purchases
amounting to $475 were made for
mules for the Waialua District and we
were instructed absolutely to pay the
bill in full and that an appropriation
would be made for the $175 necessary
to pay the claim.
NOW that the claim is paid the
board by Resolution 379 instead of al
lowing the amount required, reduces
the appropriation by $I67.50 to buy
some harness under the title of City
and County Equipment, making a def
$343.50. The understanding at the
time was that inasmuch as these
mules were being purchased for the
Waialua District out of special APP
preparation. Waialua District appro-
priation should be reduced that much.
The department was so notified and
the books show today that $4,000 and
more has been saved by the district
An appropriation should now be made
In the manner requested
1T is impossible to recall a warrant
that is lying in the banks chargeable
to certain appropriation when the
very voucher presented by this depart
ment to the board for settlement. was
allowed and ordered paid out OF the
appropriation Livestock, at your meet
ing held on December 2, 1915, and at
which meeting the claim for $500
for mules on the Hakipuu project was
allowed and ordered paid
In respect to the oyerdraft stand
ing against Mace Roads, Eva, this
much is to be said. While there is
an overdraft in the general fund OF
$577.l5. there is still available out OF
the road tax $345,16. Claims amount
ing to $2S0.09 are included in the gen
eral fund overdraft: If these were
switched over to the road tax fund
there would still he an overdraft of
s297.G6 so see nothing gained by
this process.
In my last request asked for an
appropriation to meet the December
81 payroll of Kapiolani Park. Decem-
Der claims of record already amount
to $2S7.79, with no appropriation to
meet them.
The police department should have
an appropriation of at least $1,000 TO
carry. them through December"