The Hawaiian gazette., 1918-04-26
FOOD Commission
MAY BE ABOLISHED
BYTHELEC|SLATURE
Some Of the Lawmakers Con-
tend That Results Are Not
Commensurate With Cost
APPROPRIATION is
NEARLY EXHAUSTED
Measures Proposed For ConSid-
GRAFTON Of Special Session
Continue To Grow In Number

C"ntcnding that the territorial food
commission created by act of the lcgis
Iaturo at the 1917 session has proved
to be tremendously, ex pensive insti
tntjor that soon WIN be in need, Of
funds in addition to the $25 mo aprro
printcd for II, and that little or no re
turn has been given for the money Px
pended. move is being considered by
members of the Legislature to abolish
the commission at the forthcoming
special session by repeating the act of
the 1917 session.
RI" report published in The Adver
tiS"r Yesterday showing that one of
tn" markets operating in the city
cheated up in its first year $4,000
covering the entire OUTLAY for estah
fishing it, and that another market
that had cost $4,000 realized net
profit of $4,000 in its first year of
operation, coupled with the fact tina,
foot prices have continued to chml
steadily were factors that were dis
cussed yesterday by legislators
Big Outlay Made
Ot it's $25,00U appropriated, the foo@
commission Yesterday had Just $1,000
~ left on hand and what result ha,
been achieved by the big expenditur,
il question that Legislators interested
have been asking. In the meantim,
food prices are climbing onward and
upward, though the art creating the
commission clothes it with ample powe
t" take action of the most drastic sort
One of those interested in the ques
ton sHid yesterday that the commits
>io1 itFclf was the first to question the
rons'itutioRality Of the act that
hrcr: ut II into being. 1t was doubted
that the commission could exercise the
powers the legislature had given it
ard this was given as one reason why
" more drastic program has not beer
followed.
Food Commissioner J. F. Child, il
was pointed out, has on number OF
occasions contended that as federal
food administrator he did not have
power to fix prices when the need fol
action along price fixing lines was
urged As executive officer of the food
commission, it is held that he might
have acted, as the commission has full
powers to fix prices 1t doubted that
the Legislative act would hold, however
It was said, and so was unwilling t.
act 3
Autos Big Item
Records Of the AUDITOR office dis
close that " considerable proportion OF
the food commission expenditure
went for automobiles and automobile
repairs This item amounts to $2430
covering long list of items.
Up to July, 1917, the commission
had expended $4497 and the MONTH,
expenditures from that time have been
as follows:
July, 1917, $537 40; August, $69l "a
September, $2356.O5; October, 1924. 81
November, $665.O2; December, $3.50.
70; January, 1918, $llI.57; February
$576.94; March, $936.S3; TO and in
Guiding April %, $963.5s.
Pay Roll
The commission pay roll from
month to month has been as follows:
August, 1917, $427.46; September
$45O.7O; October, $34l; November
$54I; December, $5S3.5O; January
1918, $40; February. 1881; March
$6O6.93.
1t is on the charge that no tangibl
results appear from these expenditure
that the move to end the commission
existence is to be undertaken.
Shift Appropriation
One measure of importance urge
and recommended yesterday at brie
meeting of the harbor board was tina
| the Legislature should shift a $4,000
appropriation for wharf at Lahaini
Island of Maui, to be used for tn
construction Of the proposed new whar
at Hilo in KuhiO Bay for which a
] appropriation of $4,000 now exist
| With $3.50, 900 that would be PROVE
ed by this change the harbOr boar
could proceed to build a 600-fOot whar
ut Hilo at once instead of building
part now and completing it later.
| Attorney LOrrin Andrews, represeI
'ative from the Fourth district, ha
said he will offer bin at the specii
| IasSiOn nrnvidin1 for the hpanRinp n