The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-07-08
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THE LEGISLATURE.

In the Legislative Assembly yesterday
the Appropriation bill was the principal
matter under consideration. Progress
was made with the Interior Department,
the section being that of harbors. In
addition TO the items in the bill itself,
members added many new apprOpria-
tions for wharves and landings on the
various islands, and in nearly every
case there was an acknowledgment of
the necessity for the proposed improve
ments. What are really wanted along
, the coasts are convenient landing places,
harbors being few and far between. Ii
there were sufficient money to go around
it would be very desirable to give effect
to the several votes, but unless halt be
called this will be impossible, taking
into consideration the state of the finances.
Nearly $50 900 were added to the sched-
ule of appropriations for the Interior
Department on the I'd and 9th instants
By this it will be seen that the require
ments of the several districts, as pre-
sented by the respective members, bid
mended by the Government under the
head of wharves, lighthouses, etc.
We have decided opinion that public
money cannot be better or more judi
ciously spent than in providing the
rural population with facilities for trans
portation and travel. If these exist,
with fruitful soil and genial climate,
industrial progress is inevitable 1t
cannot be otherwise. But if the people
of any district are cooped up in it, as it
were, and compelled to undergo great
labor and exposure in getting their
products shipped to market, progress
must be slow. The people will very
naturally be discouraged. This draw
back exists in many localities to-day,
the result being that the soil is not cul-
tivated as it should be, and that the ma
tive people are discouraged. To change
these conditions for the better appears
to have been the object of the Legisla
ture yesterday, and for that reason it is
to be commended, although apparently
trenchment inaugurated recently.
There were several first readings, and
the President filled vacancies on COM
mittees. A bill authorizing the pay
ment of salaries and other necessary
expenses until August 31st, was intro
duced, read first time and referred to
the Judiciary Committee, which reported
it back with amendments. The report
of the committee was adopted and the
bill passed to engrossment.
Mr.. Dickey asked the Minister of FL
nance if he had authorized the payment
of $3.50 to the japanese inspector since
he took office, and if so by what author
ity? His Excellency Mr.. Kanoa said
he had not made any such payment
but upon inquiry he found that payment
had been authorized several days before
he took office. The fact is, the payment
was made upon draft of the late Min
lister of the Interior for salary up to June
Both, and the present Finance Minister
had nothing to do with the transaction.
The fact that the draft was not pre-
sented until after the 30th June did not
operate as a legal bar to payment, as
Mr.. Dickey contended, and His Excel
lency Governor Dominis very plainly
showed that such construction of the
law would prevent officials on the other
islands from drawing their salaries for
June. However, on Mr.. Dickey's mo-
ton the Finance Committee was in
structed to inquire into the matter and
report without delay to the House. We
think the special reference to the COM
mittee was unnecessary, but it was the
shortest way out of the affair.