The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1862-05-15
Contrast.

The Government Organ has been amusing itself
if not the public with Post Office statistics for
the past two weeks, the result of its labors prov
ing most conclusively that it is affected with a
crooked vision. We reported the Post Office as
having drawn out from the public Treasury dur
Ing the last two years $9,S15 81, and as having
paid into it $7,67S II, leaving Il correct balance
against the Post Office of 1897 Sc. The Post
master reports some funds on hand, but as they
were not paid into the Treasury and were retain
ed to meet unsettled bills, they are not to be
taken into account so far as the Treasury is con-
cerned. Our figures are therefore the only cor
rect exhibit.
Now, as the POiyResidn is fond of showing the
cost of other departments to the public Treasury,
let us look at its OCn account, as exhibited in the
report of the Minister of Finance. We find the
following:
r., Draw Trrai from II. Paid aid into Cost to
Govt Press......S19,695 St S6,9s2 ~ SI2,7O3 SO
showing the cash balance against the printing
Office to be S12,7OS 50, to say nothing of the
loss in rent, types, interest on investment, &c.
&c, which, if reckoned in, would swell the sum
several thousands. There is no getting around
the statement that the government was out of
pocket that enormous sum, and for what? Let
those who know, answer.
Now on referring to the exhibit of the public
finances, as made by the Minister of Finance,
April, 1861, we find that the payments out and
receipt into the Treasury on account of the pub
lie press, for the first 10 months [nearlyl of the
past two years, were
Cash paid out for Government Press, SO e2 AZ
&" receipts from do. -........... 5g76 IL
deducting which sums from those before given.
they show that the press has drawn out from the
for the last eleSen months of the bien-
NAL term, So 1903 80, while it has paid IN onIy
81 ,O06 l6! The Office has been leased during
the past six months on some s. terms not trans
PRED, " and the latter sum can not therefore apply
to this term. Talk about Post Office expenses,
such Il glaring record as this is held up to
the public. Some two years ago, when last we
brought up this dead-hcaded bureau, the director
iatly denied our figures, or that the Office cost
the public anything. Will he deny it now?
But we are not inclined to let this matter rest
mere, we want some more light on the subject,
md want to know what has become of this IS, 900
If the public funds and also what has been
lone with the customary receipts of the office,
which during the last five or six months have
to only 81 ,0O6 l6, or some $500 per
h'htH - III puuIIC 10 suppose tnaJ llS re-
,eipts since the lease are only at the same rate.
We do not wish to charge the late director of the
public press with abstracting public funds, or
back from the public Treasury what
belonged to it but if no explanation of
his matter can be made, it is n proper subject
or the Legislature, now in session, to inquire
whether there has not been fraud p~raeticed in
he management of the public press during the
two years. If this subject is taken up for
Investigation, it may be well to inquire
1st.-Whether the large amount drawn from
he public Treasury, has not been obtained To
upply the office at the public expense with all
he stock required for consumption during the
of the lease?
2.-N neither the accounts due to the Office
uring the twelve or eighteen months previous
the lease, were not allowed to stand uncollect-
d till after the lease, then to he called in for the
Import of the Office, and whether this is not one
ause of the small amount paid into the Treasury.
3.-Whether all the printing required by the
cannot be executed, at the usual
charged for printing in Honolulu, at one
the present cost, or even less?
Until the PoiyneSian wades out of this bog,
ne less it has to say about the Post Office
nd its management the better. As the Legisla-
Ire appears to have very little to do at present,
may perhaps find time to look into this matter.