The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1874-02-14
Written for the p. C. Advertiser, February Orh.l

Written for the 4. u. AdVerusefi February WIN
new Legislature is soon TO meet, a new Sovereign
10 be chosen. There are two candidates for the
Throne. and whichever one is chosen will have the
power in unison with the Legislature TO win the
gratitude of the people, and promote the national
prosperity by such changes in the laws and Consti-
tuition. if necessary, as will promote n more rigid
economy in the administration. aud tighten the
burden of taxation, or nj least expend a larger por-
ton of the public funds in works OF national Dement,
and less for personal interest. @
To begin with, the salary Of the Sovereign should
be reduced to Sl5, 900 per annum, pifhOui perqui-
sites, or at most, without exemption from taxation
for a limited amount. This is as much as this small
and poor nation with IA small revenue should ever
pay To it's Sovereign.
The head Of the nation should economize hs well %
the people. 1t would be an honor and glory for him
to do so, and this salary would still be more than
twice as large as was paid to Kamehameha III.
The income from the crown lands should 60 into
the public treasury-and their management he La
the hands of the Minister Of Finance.
The four departments Of Foreign Relations, Int
rior, Finance and Law (Attorney General). ehould
be held and administered by two persons, with the
same salaries 10 each, as are now paid 10 the head OF
each department., say $4,000. Thus 81 900 would
be saved in the Ministerial Department. The saIa-
ries Of clerks and inferior officers should not be
diminished but perhaps the number scattered
throughout the islands might be. Fair pay and (uH
tcork should be the principle.
The entire receipts Of the year commencing April
LIST, 1916, and ending March 31st, ls47, were esti-
mated at $4,000, and the expenses at 100000.
In 1912. when DIR. Judd entered the Government
service, the debts were 100000. In 1916, with
this comparatively small revenue. il had all been
Ill Tho r,;l,tary apnrnpriattop oxcapf N enal
one for national courtesies should, be discontinued.
'-oh2z ls-osaa that the national expenses can be
IL IL not supPO-su ---@s--l-, = Tho. eA--~A
reduced to their old standaIu. 6ur-rncy-cEn EY7
ought to be greatly reduced, and in the opinion of a
great many competent persons they ought 10 DO
reduced in the particulars above mentioned. The
Judiciary Department could doubtless be 80 remodeIed
as greatly to reduce its expenses without sacrificing
its efficiency. For thirty years salaries and expenses
have been Increasing, whilst the people have been
decreasing. THEN the expenses were. about S1.OO
for each man, woman and child; now they are about
$500 for each man, woman and child.
If the Sovereign and the Legislators truly and
sincerely desire the perpetuity, the prosperity, the
independence Of the nation-they uiY cut down the
expenses. 1t can be done. and where the will exists
O way can be devised-and it should DO done without
loss Of time. The pay also Of the members Of tho
Legislature should be reduced to what IL was before
the last advance. And there should be no sinecures.
and no pensions not based upon justice and then
conformed TO the strictest economy to the revenue.
A rigid reform in national economy is demanded.
and if the Sovereign and Ministry and Legislature
sincerely desire the good Of the nation. they will
show it by their acts, and be more in earnest 20
promote the public good than personal emolument.
Thirty years ago the expenses were 500, 900, and
the native population about I0O, 900. Now the
native population is about $4,000 aud the expenses
about $780, 900, making an a6sOiute increase Of 400
per cent. in the expenses, but when compared with
the actual population, then and noic, 800 per cent
.NoU there is more actual labor in the revenue
department than then, and a larger force is required;
but then the Government was in process Of organiza-
ton with outside complications, aud the labors Of the
Ministerial and law departments were greater than
now. The statements about expenses and population
are not exact; but reference to official reports will
show them to be nearly correct, and the urgent
necessity Of the reform called for.
The native population Of the islands by estimate
and census have, at various times. been as follows:
1873, Estimated 10y 100000