The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1918-02-12
Silent ON
WHY HE LEI VICE
FLOURISH SLONG
Makes No Answer When, Norman
. Watkins Asks Reason For
Prolonged Inaction
ADMITS. NE KNEW OF
l. VIOLATIONS OF LAW
Returns Cynical Answer 70 Com!
mitteeman: "Is Town Up In
Arms Over Situation?"

NhNo WV SlAhoAlOUS
Sheriff Charles II. Rose was asked
point blank yesterday at a session Of
the Municipal Affairs Committee Of the
Chamber Of Commerce why he had not
cleaned up Honolulu before, IL he was
able to do this now under pressure Of
the army authorities, and civic organi.
zation, and was unable to give sat.
isfaetory reply.
A deep silence followed the question,
which was put by Norman Watkins
Rose finally admitted that there had
been direct violations of the law,
when he replied in the affirmative to
supplementary question to that ef'
feet.
The sheriff even went so far as to
question whether "thc town was up in
arms when Mr.. Watkins asked this
question:
"Why is it necessary for the whole
town to get up in arms before a crisis
like this is strengthened Outf'
"'Is the town up in armsf" parted
the sheriff.
"Apparently," replied Mr.. Watkins;
"they were up to the time the last
grand jury reported. "
wasn't On Trial
tive of General Wiser this campaign
is started, - said the sheriff. -.
AN these (referring to n statement
of arrests mhde which had Just been
read to the committee by Chief Nc
Dufie) are direct violations of the law
are they notr' pursued Mr.. Watkins.
"Yes,'' replied the sheriff.
"Why were these violations of the
law allowed to go on for months with
out the police taking the action they
have been taking in the last two or
three weeksi" continued the inter
rogatOr. Mr.. Watkins then added,
lauPhingly, that the sheriff need not
consider himself on trial because Of
these questions, but Mr.. Watkins said
the committee wanted information in
order properly to consider the "clean-
up campaign" which had been placed
in its hands by the chamber of com
merce. The sheriff made no answer.
"Why was it necessary for the pub
lie to be aroused before the police
mOVedf'
Chairman, John Waterhouse at this
iuncture asked if there had not been
a difference in the policies of the diff.
ferent army \, c9mmanders, about the
town being closed up and opened
again. " ...,.,~
Tho sheriff replied he thought there
had been differences in policy among
them, and as to what each wanted done
in the city.
Chief McDufie said different com
manding general here took different
views of certain elements Of vice
Strong VS.. Wiser
General Strong" said McDuffie,
"asked me any time a soldier was
caught in an opium den, whether he
was smoking or not. to turn him over
to the provost guard. General Wiser
said he did not believe it was a viola
ton to be in opium dens unless he
was caught smoking opium.
Now they have issued a general
order that any soldier caught in or go.
ing into bawdy house or opium den
should be arrested. -
Mr.. Warehouse asked if General
Strong did not have soldier guards
placed around or in front of certaN
questionable places. McDuffie said
this was done by the provost guard!
The sheriff complained that he had
been given another job, of guarding
the Nuuanu Valley water supply, and
it was we'll worth while iu this cam
paign that McDuffie had had the as
sistancc of the military authorities and
were doing very well.
Community For Decency
II. F.. Vernon Of the committee, ask
ed why the police did not first, go after
these forms of vice before a general
complaint was laid. 81 believe / can
voice the sentiment of this committee
in this" said Mr.. Vernon, "that the
better element of the community is
the taxpaying element and you have
nothing to fear about our backing
these matters up. You can have our
backing. You can know we are back
of YOU in the enforcement of the law. "
George p. Denison said Of course
much of the law and order to pfevail
here depended largely, also, upon the
man sitting on the police court bench.
Mr.. Waterhouse said he believed the
police had splendid cooperation in the
police court judge.
At this juncture MeDuffie said he
wanted to make a statement, but not
in the presence of newspaper reporters,
and the two press members present
were asked to leave while the chief
madr his talk behind closed doors