The Hawaiian Star

HUSTACE ON THE SAFETY VALVE

THE SHORTAGE IN COUNTY FUNDS IS SERIOUSLY FELT AND CAUSED A GOOD DEAL OF IRRITATION IN THE DISCUSSIONS OF THE COUNTY BOARD LAST NIGHT—THERE WAS DANGER OF AN EXPLOSION SEVERAL TIMES.

Charles Hustace sat on the safety valve at the Board of Supervisors meeting last evening and the steam-gauge registered fearful things. It seemed that any moment there would be an explosion. Archer and Fern talked, they all talked, but Archer put more talk in the furnace than any; and they were all as full of earnestness as could be.

Although it came last, Archer's suggestion for relieving the County of some of its burdens to leave more money for the necessities came as not the least of the actions of the evening.

"I think," said Supervisor Archer, "that the Territory should bear the expense of the Hawaiian band and the Kapiolani Park. If we are to keep up the band and keep the park in shape let the Territory dig up.

"We need the money for more necessary things, for the fire department and for country road improvements. The other counties are not burdened with bands of musicians and such luxuries, why should Oahu County be thus burdened?"

"It might be a good idea to appoint a committee," said Hustace, when Archer declared that it was up to the legislature to act in this matter. It was put to motion and Archer said "Aye!"

"What, only one Aye?" asked Archer, looking around.

"There were no noes," said Fern.

"That's all right," said Harvey, it passed unanimously.

"Motion lost," said Hustace with a repressed laugh. Archer nearly jumped out of his chair. It was only a joke, however, and Archer revived.

Chairman Hustace appointed Supervisors Archer, Fern and Kealoha to meet the members of the legislature to talk over the matter of getting appropriations for the support of the Hawaiian band and the park system.

Discussion of police department affairs was very interesting. Supervisor Cox gently but firmly suggested that A. M. Brown, when he was Sheriff, was not in the habit of taking trips into the country without having first turned into the Board of Supervisors his monthly report.

"This Board," said Cox, "would like to know what the police are doing. Every other officer of the County has turned in a report. We want to know how many arrests were made last month and how many drunks there were, and so forth."

As chairman of the police committee Cox was asked to straighten out the little affair and urge the monthly report system.

"You must know," said Archer, "that every time there is a cut or a change in the police department the head of some Republican goes off."

"What's the difference," snapped the chair. "In three months' time there may not be a single Republican on the force."

Hustace had a word to say about the Advertiser. "They come out in print with false statements in regard to the reduction of the appropriations for the police," he declared. "I have the figures to show that the police department has not been dealt with unfairly. We are compelled, as you all know, to make reductions in all departments.

"We are up against it and have to cut to the line all around. Sheriff Iaukea has told me himself that he thought he was able to run the department efficiently on the money he was allowed and yet he looks to the Advertiser for sympathy because of these cuts and perhaps is working for a second term. I don't know."

Hustace caught sight in the items of police expense for subscriptions to the County Beacon, The Trans-Pacific Trade and The Honolulu Times. These he considered inconsistent with the complaint of lack of funds and said so.

The items were not passed and the Sheriff will be asked to omit such items in the future.

Sheriff's Clerk Rose explained that the papers mentioned were subscribed for for use in the department. He thought the items proper. Other offices of the County were furnished with current periodicals at the expense of the County. The Sheriff's weekly paper items were referred back to the police committee of which Cox is chairman.

A petition was received from two firemen who object to a cut in their wages, but it was tabled. Fire Chief Thurston being there to explain matters. The chair asked Thurston if he was able to conduct the department as it should be conducted on the present schedule and Thurston, with compressed lips, declared that he could. "What if the department men should go on a strike when there was a big fire?" asked Fern, but Hustace declared that men were just as likely to go on strike for higher wages when they were receiving $75 per month as they were when they were receiving only $55 per month; it was more or less human nature.

Nevertheless Fern thought it a shame that men in the fire department for five or six years had to stay on at the same rate of wages paid green hands. He thought it very likely that some of the best men would be leaving.

Others agreed with Fern as to the pathos of the situation, but the lack of money covered a multitude of such things and Thurston's assurance that he could fight fires as he was equipped satisfied the Board. Thurston said he had so arranged the watches and reliefs that all would go right. Thurston said that when the supervisors made a cut of $275 in his appropriation he had to reduce salaries and he put the men back to where they were before they had been raised; cuts had been made in the least responsible cases, with the hosemen. The petitioners were Joe Green and D. Panekapu.

County Attorney Cathcart informed the Board of the appointment of C. H. Olson as deputy. His salary was placed at $185. The Hawaiian Trust Co. notified the Board that the lease of the quarry on the estate of the late John Ena was to be placed at auction.

Chairman Hustace received the proposition of the Honolulu Gas Co. to light the police station with mild surprise.

"Electrician Frazee said he could fix the lights so as to be satisfactory," said Hustace. "Sheriff Iaukea told me he did not want gas."

The following bills were ordered paid: Waianae road district, $192.50; Waianae road district, $48.05; Kapiolani Park, $319; Koolau road district, $146.25; County Auditor, $43.30; Pali road culvert, $131.64; County Engineer, $59.60; Fire Department, $599.96; County office rent, $150; Ewa road district, $1,121.90; Koolaupoko road district, $132.69; Koolaupoko road district, $42.25; Road Department, $3122.04; Garbage Department, $511.10; Ewa road district, $425.33; County Treasurer, $90; Electric Light Department, $705.49; Waialua road district, $161; Waialua road district (special) $82.38; Police and Fire Alarm System, $92.07; Police Department, $986.65; Hawaiian Band, $74.90.