The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1861-10-10

10 their present limit. This was at a time Of
general prosperity. with a full treasury. Light
taxation. and with an ordinary revenue quite
adequate To the expenses thus enlarged, and Ut
such a time was doubtless iustifable even when
tried by the principles laid down in my opening
remarks. But the increase of the executive force
in almost every department, appears not 10 have
been called for by q corresponding Increase in the
amount of labor TO be performed, thus making
the Offices, 10 a greater or les extent. siuecures.
and the officers s-upernumerarieS.
But now circumstances are entirely changed.
Commerce has fallen OF, and revenue from this
source declined, taxation has been increased,
whilst the means of payment have diminished,
and there Is but a faint bow Of promise ahead.
No speedy or rapid Improvement in monetary
affairs can reasonably be anticipated. l. it not
clear, then. that the legislation and admiui>rTa-
ton should be conformed to the changed circum-
stances Of the nation? To me 1t seems there is
but one proper answer, and that i, that necessity
and reason both demand a change corresponding
TO the changed circumstances Of the people. If
this be correct. then where, in what departments.
shall the required change be effected? answer
lst-Let every salary be reduced to, at least.
the sum at which it formerly stood. Experience
has shown, and we knotc that by the exercise of a
arse personal economy, that would be sufficient
to meet all Necessary expenses of family and sta
ton, and for one moment to admit that His
Majesty, whose farherly interest in the prosperity
Of His government and people is well known,
would no, cheerfuIly concur in this measure,
though it might call for some personal selfdenial,
or that the high officers of government would not
4, -, gb,,l1 Sol Mould j., ,,ns- ,r;,, ., H.,
and them.
2d-Let every s~upernumerary be discharged
and every oficeholder, high and low, perform
personally as large a share of the labors of his
department as he can, because the officer is paid
for his labor as well as his responsibility. Where
the labors attached to an office is small, then the
salary should bear a Just proportion to the labor
and responsibility, or give the officer his full
salary, where it can be done, and let work in
another department be furnished him, so that his
undivided time and eneIgies may he devoted to
government labors and interests. The principle
is, full but reduced pay, and full work, or where
full labor cannot be given, Gas there may be some
such cases from peculiar l~ocation,) then pay pro-
r%ortioned to the labor. If it be said that suit
able officers cannot be obtained on such a basis. |
reply, try it and see present officers who love the
national prosperity as well as they do their offices,
will continue to hold Office except so far as INSULT
cient work may render their discharge necessary.
If others choose to resign, equally faithful and eff
cient men can be folqd to FIJI the vacancies on the
retrenchiug basis.
3d-The military should be reduced, and more
in its paid officers than in the rank and file. This
! 5eEcrc to be the view of a very large majority
IF Intelligent f,rnirparS a,I +,,n fr;.p.lS, g a.,
here and elsewhere. Something is
10 the dignity of the state, but as an
arm of national defense against foreign aggres-
sion, it is powerless. The pay of officers and
men which remain should be reduced. An cm-
amt police should be maintained as far as posi-
bic and this, | think it Will be conceded by every
impartial person, ought to be done for the pro-
lection of that portion of the community which
80 largely to the revenues of the gov
eminent, and it would seem that this department
Of the pubic service should not be dispensed with
except as a last resort. Salaries should be re-
luced. and less essential branches of the public
service should first be cut off, before the protec-
of the property. which forms almost the sole
basis of the governments existence, should be
withdrawn.
4th-rhe government printing should b~eaward-
ID To the forrest responsible bidder, and the invi-
alton for tenders should reserve the right of the
government for 4 reasonable space, say from one
10 two columns in each issue, for its own defense,
{ attacked, or for other purposes of national
benefit, if it was desired and any editor not
lcceding to this Just condition, should not be ad-
nitted as a competitor, but it appears to me that
neither Of our present liberal minded editors
would object to these conditions. In this case,
hould the IdrcytiScr be the successful COMPETE
or, and should its editor speak disparaginglv of
public measures, as he often has done, the review
Trough the same columns, 10y the friends of the
government, would offer an antidote jUSt as ride
prcGd as the erI, and the same Identical commu-
iity would pronounce a more impartial verdict
f the justice or injustice of the attack, or the
allure or success of the defense, than they can
low do. In following this programme of re-
renchment, my knowledge of details is of course
imperfect. and it is not 10 be supposed that a
lOre perfect knowledge would not vary more or
ess a general pIaH, but more still, Il detailed one.
)thers, in common with myself, feel that the
resent e~xigency demands prompt, vigorous and
action, and no doubt worthy and efficient
Ulcers who have not sufficient work, must be dis
laced, but private interest must yield to public
God.
| have treated of principles and not men, of
hat public and not private interests in my
alignment demand. and with the kIndest personal !
to any and all who might be affected by
a reform as | have impertectly marked out,
remain, Mr.. Editor, the nations friend as well
: yours, truly, RETRENCHMENT.
p. 81 would not be understood as advocating a
rO-rata reduction of salaries. 1t may be found that |
me are not too large even under present circum- t
aances but a single glance at facts, ii seems 10 nc, '
Rows conclusively that considerations of policy, pro {
riety, justice, and | may add necessity, imperatively ,
all for a reconstruction of the system of government ,
improvisation, upon a more economical basis, and TO I
,me extent Of government service, for Of the latter it 4
Jay appear that there are labors which are desirable
nd useful when there is an oyerfowing treasury
hich are not Indispensable, under less favorable
rcumstances. $500 to $500 is doubtless as am "
lie a salary in 1861 az $1,000 was at the time when h
lie ministerial salaries were raised to this sum from o
5000, and the chief justiceshiP to $1,000. 1t IS
ore for the treasury to pay now than the larger sum
As then. Ii Is more for the taxpayers. the govern
ent supporters, 10 raise now than $1,000 was then.
is equally ample for all necessary expenses Of =
az this time to the $1,000 dollars then. Then
e treasury had a surplus of from so, 900 to a