The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1860-07-12
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
THURSDAY. July u.

The Appropriation Bill was reported to the
House of Representatives on Saturday last, by
the Finance Committee, on Monday it was taken
up, and the House are now fairly ut work voting
the supplies. As might naturally be expected,
when the " loaves and fishes are being cut and
quartered for distribution, no small interest is
manifested in watching the size of the loaf or fish
apportioned 10 each expectant, and the various
items, as they come up, give rise to warm and
often exciting discussions, on the part of foreign
members as well as native. On our ;irst page
we publish the Bill as reported from the Com
mittee, and are somewhat surprised to find it
changed so little for the better from the budget
prepared by the Minister of Finance. A decrease
has been made, it is true, in the total amount
asked for, of about $50 900, but this has been
chiefly at the expense of a large curtailrnent in
the appropriation for harbor improvements, in
which S45 600 are taken off. The War Depart
ment fund has been very properly reduced to the
sum expended for the last two years, $45 900.
And the amount asked for a new palace, $50, 900,
has been dropped out.
On the other hand the Committee ask for
$25 900 for the new water-works. This appears
to be an extravagant sum to be expended in lay
ing down the pipes, which, with their freight
and other expenses, will cost laid down here,
about the same figures. Still, whatever may be
required for this object should be voted, as it will
be so much added to the productive capital of
the kingdom, and the Committee have had good
opportunities to inquire into the probable cost.
The harbor improvements ought not to be cut
short off, as they have been, and the work be
allowed to stand still. The wharyes which have
been completed constitute the most productive
property Tor rather are becoming SOY that the
government possesses. If, however, it becomes
necessary to suspend these improvements, while
water-works are being constructed, let it be so
understood, and let the esplanade be filed out to
a line from Mauna Kilika to the south side of
the steamboat wharf, so that that wharf and the
adjoining land may become more serviceable than
it is at present. The Committee have also pro-
vided for the district judges, whose salaries were
omitted altogether from the budget as given to
them, and have properly increased the sum for
English and boarding schools to $4,000.
We notice by the report of Mondays proceed
ings that the House commenced its work on the
budget by cutting down the salaries promiscu-
ously, but on Tuesday som of these were restored
to the figures reported by the Finance Committee.
There is, no doubt, much needless talk wasted in
disputing on the items of the bill. Let the two
Houses lay down the principle of paying only
what an officer earns, and abolishing useless
Offices, without meddling with such as are ALSO
lutely necessary or deserving of what is voted to
them, and the work would be accomplished much
more tremendously. What we need is n discrim-
mating scale of salaries, to conform to the service
and then we shall have no need of
'' discriminating duties" One thing must not
be lost sight of-that we have a debt of 1928, 900,
and that this debt rs rapidly increasing. There
is no way to check it, but by cutting of unne-
cessary expenses, and reducing the total to such
a figure as will allow the government to be con-
Quoted economically, and at the same time do
something to stop the increase of debt.
We have got 20 look this public debt in the
face. after us the deluge'' was the response
Of an Austrian statesman, when chided by one
who foresaw the political storm gathering over
bis devoted country. Mere temporary expedients
his measures. Letno our legislators under
such u temporary policy Let them look to
he future.
A few historical facts will not be out of place
,ere, and may serve to open our eyes This