Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-03-23
WILL ASK PROBE
OF PENITENTIARY
BUILDING COSTS
President of Senate TO Ask In
Vestigation and Secure
Full Explanation

President Charles +. Chillingworth
of the senate will ask the ways and
means committee OF the upper house
to make an Investigation of work and
expenditures upon the new territorial
penitentiary building OF Kalihi-kai and
to file report thereon.
This is one of the Zig developments
resulting from the Sudden turn OF
events yesterday afternoon, when
Charles r. Forbes, Superintendent OF
public works, called bupon to explain
items concerning the expense of the
big structure, attacked Ripley & Davis,
architects, declaring that their plans
had to be worked over before being
found disable.
Would See Matter Through
President Chillingworth's fighting
blood is up, and he declared today that
he intends to see the proposition
through to the entire satisfaction Of
the public and the legislature. He
authorized the Star-Bulletin TO state
that he viii ask the ways and means
committee to investigate the prison
expenditures.
AS things look now there are likely
to be big developments in the inVesti-
eating line within a very short time.
Chillingworth practically admitted this
today. -...
Question Not Yet Answered
Forbes has not yet explained to the
president the question that came up
yesterday regarding the money spent
to purchase the new prison site.
Forbes told the senate which sat in
committee, of the whole that the SIG,
600 which was used to purchase the
land came out of the appropriation of
$4,000. Statements made by Auditor
Fisher and supported by vouchers
which he carried down with him dis
proved this declaration. Fisher
showed that the money came from the
sale of other lands and was not taken
out of the prison appropriation.
Chillingworth spent portion Of the
morning looking over the books of the
auditor today.
Ripley & Davis said this morning
that they had nothing to say in the
matter at that time but that they
might have a statement to make in
the course of a day.
Concerning these matters w. F.
Frear, then governor of the territory,
said. 49,
The legislature in 1911 appropri-
ated $4,000 for a new prison building
and provided that the present prison
site and building might be sold and
the proceeds used as an addition to the
$75, 900 il necessary. 3D.. ...
Following the appropriation, the
necessary land at Kalihi was obtained
and Ripley & Davis employed to make
the plans with the understanding that
ii the building was not erected they
would not be paid but IL it was the
usual architects fees would be paid.
These plans were practically complet
ed when left office and whatever
else has been done was done since
then. H. IL.
The legislature also planned to re.
juce the cost of the building by max
ing use of prison labor to consider
able extent on the simpler work.
In providing for the prison., plans
Tor the future were considered so that
Il at any time more room was required
t could be added .@-.~@ 49,. I
According to the estimates made
II that time, the building was to have
been erected without calling on the
legislature for further funds except in
,ase it was deemed best not to sell
he present prison site and building"