The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1876-02-19

"a EbIOAhCy OCbCIdi v i tlS hllEuOuls hul SuLETEu
at once upon the duties Of his Office.
In this connection it is but Just to say, that
Mr.. Edward Preston, who has acted as Deputy
Attorney General since the death of the late in
c~umbent, early in November last, has discharged
the duties of the Office with marked ability and
zeal, to the satisfaction of all and to the advan-
tage of the public service.
The CONVICTION has become general among all
who feel an interest-let US say, an abiding in
terest-In this country, that government in order
to fulfill the real end Of it's existence, should
promptly and earnestly devote its attention to the
question of repeopling these islands. And in
order to secure the means whereby to accomplish
this object, our Ministers and our Legislators
must resolutely 60 to work and curtail present
government expenses. 1t is certain that we can
not long go on as at present, with a dwindling
people and financial resources that are dwindling
in the same or a still more rapid ratio. A noble
opportunity is afforded in Hawaii's extremity, for
wise and energetic men-men who recognize the
peril of the situation-at the head of affairs, to
steer our little ship of state into the safe and
tranquil tide of prosperity, instead of allowing
her to idly drift on to the rocks and shoals.
Aside from the important question of repop-
%ulation, it is certain that government expenses
must be diminished, otherwise a debt will soon
be incurred that must be perilous to the indie
~pendence of the Kingdom; or it will be found
| requisite to impose taxes SO heavy that they will
not be willingly paid-and will not this jeop-
ardize the independence of the Kingdom? Who
ever feels an interest in continuing this as an
independent nation, will exert his influence to
avoid such q result. And the first steps in the
right direction will be to abolish all unnecessary
Offices, and to reduce salaries wherever it may be
done with justice and without injury to the pub
hc service.
\ Governments are instituted, not to give Offices
or salaries to any man or set OF men, but for the
good of the people. There should be no more
Offices than are sufficient to do the needed work,
and the men to do that work should be chosen
solely on considerations of fitness and ability.
No Office should be made for any man, and no
incompetent man should be put into any Office.
| Necessity alone should regulate the number of
Offices, and the ability of the people to pay should
measurably govern the liberality of the salaries.
We mentioned last week the Offices of Gov
ernors of the islands, Road Supervisors, and Tax
Collectors, as among those that might be dis
pensed with, which would result in a biennial
saving of over $4,000 to the Treasury. We
may add to this list Of offices to be dropped, two
out of four of the Cabinet Ministers. The
Attorney General, without being over-worked,
could perform all the duties required of the
Minister of Finance; and with competent clerks
(as at presently in the Foreign and Interior Offices,
one man could act as head of both those Depart
ments. If it is objected that this reduction of
the Ministry would deprive the Crown of it's
council of advisors, We may remark that the
true province of the Privy Council of State is to
advise the King ON all questions of Importance,
and We are glad to observe that it has very pro-
perly been the course generally pursued during
the last and the present reigns, to seek that ad-
vice, instead of proceeding upon Ministerial re-
sponsibility alone. The changes here suggested
would require an amendment of the Constitution /;
but in the meantime it is not too much to expect
that persons of character and ability could be
found who would nominally hold the Ministerial
Offices that are proposed to be abolished.
The compensation of Representatives of the
people should be either abolished or reduced to q
mere nominal sum. At present the attraction of
two hundred and fifty dollars for the session is
unquestionably the cause of the popularity of
the Office, and produces wonderful crops of candi-
dates. Reduce the emoluments to bare mileage
fees, and the demagogues would cease to aspire
to become Representatives, while enough men OF
ability ard patriotism would be found to serve
the state efficiently and honestly without pay.