The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1862-06-12

this paper. Is it right that the Legislature
should now be called on to v1te these sums? If
the contract with Mr.. Fernandez was supposed
by the Minister, and is belieyed by the House to
cover the same offer as made to it in 1850 by Mr..
w, let these items De charged 10 Me account Of
the contract. as they should be.
II is stated in a letter of Mr.. :. Spencer accom-
~panying the report. that fhc lease of the printing
office to Mr.. f. has been made for the tam If
JTre years. Ii -, there must be a separate docu-
ment pertaining 10 the lease Of the Office. not vet
laid before the House. for the contract as above
printed says nothing about L lease. In this
agreement to execute the public printing. there as
no term Spscifed in which Mr.. Fernandez is to
perform the service-it may be one year or nine
hundred and ninety-nine years. The fact that
no limit is set. leads to the belief that the govern
ment has reserved the right to set aside the con-
tract at any time it NAV choose to do 80.
The above contract is certainly a most singular
instrument, and on examination will he found
very defective. For instance The director of
the Government Press was formerly the legal
custodian of the public stamp. But in the con-
tract we find no reference to this money-coining
instrument; and, though on inquiry, we learn
that it is still left in charge of Mr.. F., and that
a small sum has been paid into the govern
ment Treasury for stamps imposed in the Pohne-
sian Uhice since the transfer, what is there to
prevent an abuse of its Use by : the party of
the second part? Is it not apparent: that
the contract should cover the right to use and
keep this important instrument, that is, if it is
decided to allow it to be kept anywhere than in
the hands of Il government officer. The proper
place for a stamp is in the treasury department.,
] rho.o ,..I n a-,11 .1,l ,roes ,-l Z, l,,r, I'll Ill
stamps might be impressed as readily as in a
printing-ofice, and with more satisfaction to the
public.
Again, the contract makes no reference to the
outstanding de5ts due to the government at the
date of the lease, which, taking the average of
1860 to judge Of the work done, were not less
than S2,4SO, and may have amounted to Il much
larger sum. Ought not the contracting PARTIES
to have learned the amount of these old debts, ut
the time of the lease. and the contractor been
duly authorized to collect and settle them ? Most
certainly. As it now stands, so far us the con-
tract is concerned, Mr.. Fernandez has no right
to collect or settle any debts for printing done ut
the public press before The transfer, and any one
paying him or his employees without authority,
does 81 at a risk of being called on again by the
governments duly authorized agent.
The stock of paper ON hand at the date of the
transfer was valued at 81 ,23i As. and transfer
red to the lessee ut that figure. We know not
who the appraisers We're, but we do know that
the sum of So, 9S7 80 had recently been cxpend-
cd to stock the office, added to which there was
probably considerable material on hand from
previous years. Wedon't object to any fair valua-
ton, but simply bring the figures out 50 that the
public may contrast them. and see how the stock
of the office has been obtained. And for this
handsome speculation, the "said Abraham For
nander'' 1--WE quote from the contract) gives his
note payable &. . in such sums rs from time t. time
he may be called upon To pay by the aforesaid Min
lister Of the Interior MAY be called on to pay
is a very comfortable mode of settling claims and
notes, which has not yet come in vogue
among business men. The note or notes should
have been made raytble TO the Minister and his
with their date of maturity fixed. and
payment then demanded. In case the Minister
does not call on him, is the Debt t. fall to the
ground?
Again, what obligation is there on the part Of
the lessee to keep and restore the public property
in his charge. at the end of his lease, in the like
good condition in which he has obtained it?
The lessee is no doubt Il very honest man, but
with the best of intentions to the contrary, the
presses and materials may become scattered and
and at the end of the lease be worth moth
What redress remains on the part Of the
government? Have any bonds been cxacted for
the faithful charge of the printing materials. or
even for the %fulfllment of the contract? Per-
haps there is a proper lease drawn up, which
may possibly cover these points-perhaps not.
The printing contract appears only to embrace
such notices and advertisements as are desired to
be circulated in English, as it provides only for
heir insertion :. in the POiyncSidn, - thus leaving
the Ilawaiians to get their information as best
they can or go a begging for it. Is this right, or
the government be compelled to pay extra
or circulating its orders in the vernacular To
ay the least, the contract should have embraced
he fullest circulation of all government orders !
notices in both Hawaiian and English. but !
in the former.
Here are a few of the errors of this Printing F
We do not blame the Minister of the
Interior for them, for it is Il difficult thing for
one to properly prepare aud execute such Il +
.ontract, who is not familiar with the details r
nut we think the Minister might have called in +
he services of disinterested parties, capable of
ldging of the work. \ Minister is but the F
gent in trust of the public property confded to r
i'm, and it becomes him TO exercise n greater :
and care, when transferring pub f
c property to the charge of others than were it =
is own. While we rejoice that Il lease has been
Iade, whereby an annual saving is shown of h,
1 $50, we desire that the government and the nj
ubic may be protected in their rights. We have re-
D hankering to become Il party to any contract "
do the government printing. and are content Of
it'll having been the means, after years of argu- n,
ent. of efecting an Acknowledged reduction in If
lis branch of the public service alone of four :,
Ousand tro hundred and thirty dollars per RI