The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1883-07-18

The work OF the opposition Is by no
means done. but step forward has been
made. and all the expense and worry
which NAV have fallen upon individuals Is
as nothing when compared with the salts
factory result obtained. LoNe LIVE THE
TREE PREssl
DURING the month of May the Minister
of Finance published a report purporting
to be statement of the Hawaiian Urea
sury accounts for the year ending March
81, 1888. Examining the figures at the
time we showed that the receipts and ex
penditure, as published, did not balance,
and that sum amounting to over S40,-
600 was unaccounted for. Repeatedly has
this matter been put before the Govern
ment. and not one word has been said
in reply by the Minister of Finance We
had looked for some statement which
would satisfy the public when the tables
for the present quarter were put before
us. but we have looked in vain. We viii
at once say this, that as a business docu-
ment the present financial document IS
SATISFACTORY II Il llOIE C4tdI anu N0ll4oG
than the previous one, and the informa-
ton is given IN more digestible shape: for
this full credit must be accorded the
Registrar of Public Accounts, Mr. Frank
Pratt
According to the table the national ac-
counts stands thus:
Total Revenue to June 10Th s, sOo,e6s ..
Total Expenditure. ..-..-.--.- l,f65s526 :
Balance in hand July 1st ......-.-- $35,S42 o.
One naturally turns to the published
list Of expenditures for the year ending
March 81, 1883. We thus find:
Total Expenditure ,...-...-... Sl,Ss5-5Sl y
Add Expenditures for last quarter. S5S, lSs q
Total Expenditures. s1728,67O p
Thus according to the statement pub
lished last Saturday the expenditures have
been 81, 765, 326 y, while according to the
figures given previously they have been
81. 72367021: difference of over $4,000
This may be way of explaining the dis
appearance of that $4,000 alluded to IL
May last, but we hardly expect it viii be .
very satisfactory one to the public. The
fact is the tables for March 31st were
wrong and the Finance Minister has moi
the spirit to own it. Let us have those
tables republished in proper shape, anC
the public viii be satisfied.
As
| There are are several points worth touch
| ing on in the present tables. but space fails
us this week to deal with more than the
most salient II is worthy of notice thai
the patriotic Ministers have not draw
their full salaries, prefeITing that the
amount should go to swell the very small
balance of S35,342 now in hand. The av
erage balance for the corresponding quar-
tiers of the years 1875 to 1879, inclusive
was S102, 29S.20, and it must be remember
ed that the national income then, was very
much smaller than it is now. 1t is also {
noticeable feature that during the pas
quarter over $1,000 have been spent on re
ceptions (what reeeptions2) and incident
ais: this IS certainly a large sum to pay
for the paper. pens and sealing wax thC
! Premier uses Foreign missions, junket
ing tours to Imperial Coronations have
cost SS,302S7. This sum ought to have
been spent in Washington and not fooled
away in the useless manner it has been
Then there is that interesting item the
Board of Genealogy: we have had 81 ,929.7i
worth of it last quarter What is thai
money spent in: the vote is nearly expend
ded. only S2,S4S.50 are left to play with
at this rate of expenditure there viii be ne
money left by the end of the year, an6
Just fancy if the labors of that valuable
board come to a stand-still for want o.
cash.
Who is the Civil Engineer who has beer
drawing a salary? why donot we have his
appointment gazetted? Is he an Ha
waiian subject? Let us have some in
formation about him He has had $685.
last quarter. More than the salary of the
| Superintendent of Public Works The
average for the band, flags and salute:
during the past year was about $1,000 &
quarter The present quarter only shows
an expenditure of S2S19.53: why the drop
are we more economical. or were some OF
the accounts held over till after the
quarter?
Though the expenditure has been large
being at the rate of S2,7OO,O00 for the
biennial period, on looking through the
tables we do not find that any great pro
gress has been made in useful directions
The harbor Is still undredged; the Pal
Road is untouched; many landings, fol
which money has been voted. have not had
a stroke of work done on them; hospitals
are still thing Of the future, and the san.
itation of Honoiulu>is a dream. This Is
not satisfactory, and no satisfaction will
the country have as long as the present in
| capables retain Office.