The Hawaiian gazette., 1917-03-30
Confirmation Of Rivenburgh Held
Back Until Pinkham Names
New Auditor
s0LoNS AND EXECUTIVE ARE
PLAYING GAME OF POLITICS
Lawmakers May Jar Ivory Cham
ber's Attitude Toward the
Rapid Transit Charter

SO noiselessly, 80 smoothly, has the
senate from time to time deferred ac-
ton on Governor Pinkhlm's appoint-
ment of Bertram q. Rivenburgh TO
ne commissioner of public lands That
n perfunctury item in the daily routine.
a perfunctry item in the dairy routine.
But there = n reason.
The senate will keep IN deferring
action on the appointment of Mr..
Rivenburgh until, among other things,
II learns who is TO be the next auditor
If the Territory. As one senntor put
IL yesterday, the Territory now has no
uditor; IL has merely a day laborer
'oiRg the auditors work which is
Dnly one way of drawing attention
again TO the fact that Col. j. II.
Fishers term as auditor expired al.
most a year ago and that, since that
ime, he has been holding ottiSe from
day TO day, at the momentary pleasure
faovernor Pinkham, who has declined
either 10 renominate him or TO name
ais successor
Much the same situation exists with
regard 10 the territorial surveyor, w.
r.. Wall. His term has expitsi and
the Governor has given 40 indication
whether he intends to rensw II OF nom
nate n successor.
On these points the senate 1esires
nformation II desires them ~ reso-
| 'utely that il does NOT purpose 10 I,ass
any of the appropriations submitted
! by the administration FOR running the
government departments until u sres
ITS way d little farther into the m;ll-
/ 2. ~ q. y.
/ Both sides are playing the same
trme from different sides of the line.
he Governor is withholding his APP
ointments, hoping TO get all he can
from the legislature and then have
his own way by recess appointments,
rood until the next legislature con
enes The Legislature IS Withholding
\ Confirmation Of the only appoiatment
has thus. far. and win l,iosk the ne
nssnry appropriation bill. until II gets
j chance 70 pass on The Governor q
combinations 10 vacancies ~hish in real.
ty already exist.
4 Each side is trying to put the prizes
i inder the other, but the Legislature has
he more powerful leverage. Moreover,
u rs resolution 70 inr the Governor ont
i 4 bis stubborn inactivity extends to
other matters than appointments. From
the same source of information which
disclosed the intent Of the Legislature
With regard TO nominations, IL was also
earned that the blind alley into which
4 he city of Honolulu has been led by
\ he Governors rapid transit policy
| will be forced open.
/ A year ago last February the Gov
arnor, following his fayorite policy OF
LONG nothing, refused TO transmit "a
congress the new charter for the rapid
transit company approved by the
bolrd OF supervisors and the public
Utilities commission, which gave the
ompany perpetual franchise, on con
iition that II pay into the city treas
, Try two and one half per cent of II,
ross annual earnings His excuse
-as that i was improper for t'youl
Governor' to. appear before congress
$ a lobbyist.
II In the meantime, the life Of the IRE
cent charter continues to grow shorter
, he city continues TO grow, congestion
IN the cars gets worse, the need for ex
'ensions and more frequent service be
'omcs more apparent, and the compan,
= unable 10 learn what sort OF
'hnrter the Governor would favor. q
he will favor any.
The legislature feels that there 4
more in such a state Of affairs than nj
tncient private grudge, carried int,
public life by Pinkham. II secs tina
The. city has q right to expand as i
! 'ught to be expanding, and as il woui,
I Expand, II II could get the transporta
+ ion to which u by right is entitled.
80 II the Governor persists In hi
10 norose silence, joint resolution vii
. % offered and passed, reciting tn
Facts of the situation, approving tn
;harter already approved BY the cit,
government, and praying congress 4
grant relief by enaeting the charte
into law.