Daily Honolulu press. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1886, 1886-05-14
Athur Johnstooe, Editor and Prop'r
FRIDAY. ...... MAY "a. 1886.

THERE seems to be a'tendency, or
rather disposition, on the part of mem
bers of the present Legislature to in
crease the expenditures of the Govern
ment through settlements fer various
amounts upon private individuals, who
have been or are now in the employ Of
the Government We say that these
proposed settlements are to be made
upon citizens as private individuals,
because each and every one of them
has been amply and promptly remuner-
ated for any services performed for the
Hawaiian Government.
There is no good and sufficient
reason why anybody, who has volun-
tarily accepted political trust from
either the people or Government of
Hawaii, should, after being fully paid
for discharging that trust, be allowed
to virtually present another bill to the
Government, under cover of Legisla-
ture settlement, for bonus upon con-
tract already performed The alleged
principle upon which these settlements
are based is acknowledged to be falla-
cious in the commercial world, and it
would be just as reasonable to demand
that every factory or corporate enter
prise in the Kingdom which employs a
large number OF persons, should be
obliged to provide for those who have
grown old while receiving liberal
competency through life.
This question of settlements does
not even admit of the justification Of
risk of life or loss of limbs or health,
which accompanies the granting OF
pensions, as in the United States and
England. These settlements, which
are now being rather indiscriminately
proposed by members, do not even
confne themselves to a modest
amount, much less a moderate limit.
Even a pension is confined to a mod
crate limit which excludes luxury; but
the bill read yesterday, which proposes
to settle $4,000 year upon foreigner,
who has already been paid for doing his
duty seems to be for the purpose OF
adding to the necessities of old age an
amount which would suffice for the
luxuries of an average fast-young-man
in the Kingdom Of Hawaii.
If these men had performed great
and exemplary services for the Hawa
iian Government, at great personal
sacrifice to themselves or families
then it might come within the limit O.
moderate propriety (f it could be as
sumed they owed no debt of loyalty
and patriotism to their adopted coun
try), for the Government to vote then
an exemplary competence for sucf
service. But if, in the ordinary course
OF events, these men have placed them
selves in such condition that the,
live, move, and have their living with
out wanting the necessities of life an,
occasionally can afford nibble at life
luxuries, then it becomes the absolute
duty of the Legislature to refuse to ta
the people for such unnecessary settle
ments.
In the case of Mr.. I. w. Everett
we understand that he is an old res
ident who has married an Hawaiian
woman. He has been merchant il
these Islands, and for long time ha
been and now is Deputy Sheriff G
Maui. We are informed that MI
Everett has quite creditable bank ac
count with which to drive the vol
from the door of his fine place nea
Waikapu, where he now resides. w
are informed, further, that Mr.. Everett
now draws, as he always has, goo'
salary, and that he receives some wei
fed fees, which are first knocked on tn
head with his auctioneers hammer
If Hawai- was a rich Government
she might vote these settlements wit
the same caprice that millionaire di'
plays when he throws twenty-dolla
gold piece to boor-black; but whei
the money is to be borrowed for settle
ments which do not return value re
ceiyed and which are, in point Of fact
completed contracts, it becomes TIN
duty of the Legislature TO vote agains
all such bills.