The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1862-03-20

5 f
der the decrease of its general wants, beer
largely reduced, and no reason exists why tht
entire printing should amount even to the sun
now paid. The quantity of blanks required
is not one half what it was several years ago.
The suggestions made regarding the Foreign
Finance, War, and Education Departments ar,
in the main good, and if carried out, would b
Q great improvement. The rule of reduction:
in salaries should apply equally to each depart
ment.
In the Law Department, a suggestion Is
thrown out for taxing the salary of the Chief
Justice 20 per cent. Any special legislation,
as this would unquestionably be, intended to
tax this or that one because he is rich or has q
large income, is clearly unconstitutional. The
constitution declares also that the salaries of the
Judges of the Supreme Court shall not be
decreased during their lifetime, and so long us
that clause remains, there is no alternative but
to submit to the payment of the present salaries,
which all must admit are larger than the reve-
nue. Of the government can afford.
We question whether one District-attorney
will be found to serve the public cause TOR all
the group, unless lie is a smarter and more active
lawyer than any now employed. But il the
object is to effect the re1noral of the present
officers, the mode suggested is undoubtedly the
most effective. Certain it is, that the Govern
ment ut present gets very inefficient service for
the price paid in this branch, and few officers in
the employ of Government get more for the
small work done.
The Circuit and District Courts are simply
constitutional excrescences, and were there some
mode of looping them off, or reducing the sala-
ries to mere nominal sums, the public service
would not suffer.
Passing on to Public improvements, it is i'm
polite TO suggest the abandonment or even
reduction of the amount ordinarily called for in
this branch of public service. Our public i'm
provements constitute the capital stock of the
Kingdom if these are rourished, increased and
rendered more serviceable, the credit of the
nation is raised, and the usefulness and service
of the Government augmented. On the other
hand, if all improvements are stopped-our
roads, bridges, wharves and harbors left to
wreck and ruin-the name of the Government, as
well as the public convenience, service and rev.
enue, suffer.
just at this time there are two important
public necessities-one is a GOVERNMENT BUILD
ING for the public offices, and the other is a
PALACE. We place the Government Building
first, as it is the one most needed. The occupan-
cy of the rockery where the Offices are now
located, is a disgrace TO the nation. And SO long
as it continues to be thus located in premises
which every rain floods, and the Government
continues to pay some fourteen or fifteen hundred
dollars for accommodations which could not
command three hundred from any other source,
50 long will the public credit continue to wane.
We would not encourage extravaganza or show,
but when a clear necessity exists for new and
comlnodious quarters, we must urge it. We
on the last legislature to vote an appro-
priation, but the ministerial interest in the
present premises outweighed our voice, and the
consequence is that after every rain, we hear of
the rats and vermin infesting the rooms, the
public records damaged with wet, and the
down with fevers or standing in
deadly fear of consumption while the public
records are all exposed to utter humiliation from
FIRE at any moment. We respectfully urge this
on the Legislature and call for an appro-
.priation of $25, 900 to 100000, to be devoted to
he speedy erection of a Government Building.
\ PALACE for the Royal family is needed,
md if any mode can be devised by which it can
De erected during the coming biennial term,
he necessary funds should be voted. 1t becomes
very nation to seek the personal comfort of its
sovereign and his family, and to provide for
hem n residence suited to the dignity of their
position, that they may command the respect
lue to them rs rulers. The bare fact that HIS
has signifed his wish that an appropri-
ton be voted for this object, ought to be a
reason why it should be voted at the
arliest moment practicable. 5
Regarding the details Of reducing the salaries )
f the Government officers, there will be a diver :
ity of opinion, but a reduction of not less than
100 900 can readily be made, without detri- c
lent to the public service. There are many !,
Ulcers and employees, whose pay does not ap-
ear in the appropriation bill, such as the
Ulcers of the PeIe, road supervisors, water I
'orks, physician for prostitutes, assessor and tax n
Ulcers, &c, &c, some of which are unneces- "
while the salaries or pay of others can be $
,duced one half.
The following schedule, embracing some of S
he salaries which it is proposed to reduce, has n
cen placed in our hands by one who will have Il
,me influence with the Legislature. We do n
ot coincide in all the changes proposed. hut s
lie reductions embraced amount To over $780, h
and as it may be of some service to those "
lterested, we insert it: A