The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1880-05-15
-zB PACIFIC
Gonlmertial A0bfrtisfr
SATURDAY,. 4 Is.


The BUDGET for the fiscal term ending 3lst,
March. 1882, Is now before the Assembly. The
amount asked for is 81, $50 ,499, being S447,-
100 or nearly half a million dollars in excess Of
the preceding Billy The first item that strikes
Us Win Surprise lie $40. 900 for His Majesty's
household expenses. As it is a new feature, it
will no doubt be a subject Of comment and meet
the fate it deserEesl The usual sums are allotted
for the Legislature and salaries Of the Judiciary
Department. In the Foreign Department prOdi-
gious sums are asked for 70 maintain the army,
viz $40 500, out Of this sum 50 900 Is set aside
for decorations, $50, S47 IS for Band, Flags, Sa-
lutes and Incidentsls. and 49, 900 for aid to Vol
uuteer Military Companies. The first item seems
excessive, and it would be desirable to see the
analysis Of the total set aside for Band, Flags,
Salutes, &c. The former is appreciated, whilst
the latter is universally deprecated, at least as
practised from the top OF Punchbowl, whilst the
N$42, S47. IS for Kings Guards and Volunteers is
more than Hawaii can at present afford.
The Interior Department asks toabe furnished
with 81, O52, 1887 90. or S4O5 ,540.85 more than
in the previous term, but there is not an item but
what is to be devoted to a good and useful pur-
pose. The small amounts set aside for cutting
down and making a road over Nuuanu Pail,
$50, 600, and SlOO. 900 for a Marine Railway for
Honolulu will not be questioned as a step in the
right direction. The importance and necessity
for a Marine Railway or a dry dock, that would
answer the same purpose, are patent to all. and
as we understand estimates have already been for
warded to erect a slip for 500 900. we hope soon
to see the work proceeded with. If the desired
road over the Pail can be cut for $50 900, it will
be a cheap undertaking, but why not have fewer
flags and less salutIDg and make the amount
$50, 900 The erection of Laundries is to be
commended, for which purpose $500 is set
aside, the laundries to be leased under the direc-
ton of Board of Health. $4,000 for a Govern
ment Survey will be money well spent.
In the Finance department, the last item
stated, viz S24 900 for subsidy to Foreign
steam lines, will no doubt give rise to various
expressions of opinion. The prevailing idea al
present, is that no subsidies should now be Civ
en- to any line, unless it be to a home line.
The Pacific Mail Steamship Company are al.
ready granted privileges and facilities tia
amount to about as much as they should get
The new French line to Tahiti will probably
see their way to call at Honolulu en- route, and
we hardly think the Australian line would fail t.
call-even without the subsidy, and thereby los,
the passenger traffic that Is annually increasing
A sum of $1,000 is paid for keeping the
steamer warehouse, which the company ought
to pay. We may expect to see the subsidy
thrown out and a better mail service than we
have at present, by more frequent steam com
munication with the Pacific Coast.
The Bureau of Public instruction calls fo
S79, $50, of which as formerly $40 900 is Sc
aside for Industrial and Reformatory Schools
Why this large sum for such inadequate re
turns? This certainly might be struck out anC
the money devoted to a better purpose.
The consideration of the Appropriation Bill
is a matter of the utmost importance. Th'
wealth of the country depends upon the careful
and wise action of our fnanciers, and therefor,
it is to be hoped there will be no useless e1
penditure thereby entailing excessive taxation
This is a subject to which, we shall again revert
We give below the budget in full as pre-
scented to the Legislature