The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1886-10-08
THE APPROPRIATION.

The Chief Engineer left the
chair to speak on matter somewhat
personal. He said there had been
a great deal of talk about their APP
preparation. What he knew of the
action of the Assembly was from the
newspapers. In the Adyertiser that
it was stated that he told Mr.. Cleg-
horn that horses were not required,
which was one of the reasons why
the appropriation was not got as
asked by the late Minister of the
Interior, Mr.. Gulick, on the esti-
mate of his own predecessor, Mr..
Mott. The account in the BuLLE-
TIN was different, and he did not
know which was correct. He wished
to state to the Board that every
thing possible had been done TO Sc
cure sufficient means for the De-
partment. Col. Boyd and himself
prepared list of requirements and
handed it to the leading member OF
the house, Mr.. Kaulukou, but the
committee reported that they only
wanted $3.50 He saw by the
report that he was consulted, but he
never was conferred with by any
member of the committee, and when
statement like that was made, it was
only right that he should give an ex-
planation. And he did not think
the members of the committee did
right in ignoring this Department
by not consulting with the Chief
Engineer or his Assistants. In the
first action of the house it cut down
the appropriation of $50, 200, asked
by Mr.. Gulick, to $4,000. Mr..
Wilson read letter that he wrote
to Mr.. Gibson after that action,
which pointed out that for running
expenses alone S32,990 was needed
on moderate estimate, and the
granting of any less sum would ma
terially reduce the efficiency of the
Department. Four thousand dollars
for house for China Co., the letter
said was necessary, unless the COM
pany was to be disbanded.. Three
engines and new bell were desir-
able, but in view of tendency to
economy at that time in the Legis-
lature they could do without those
things for the present.
The great fire having necessitated
additional expenditure, after the
original estimate was made, he wrote
that anything less than $40, 900
would materially lessen the efficiency
of the Department. He had also
recommended the division of the
city into districts, and the adoption
of an electric fire alarm. BY that
letter the board could see that he
asked for $40, 900, and that was be-
fore he had an inklng of the loan.
When the 1000, 900 loan came on,
he thought there was some chance
of getting the full appropriation first
asked for. He related the substance
of conversation he subsequently
had with Mr.. Gibson, who was in
favor of $4,000, but who he
thought might have misunderstood
hiih W say tu1I so HuCu Woulu uoI
be required. In conclusion he said
money ought to have been appro-
priated for the purchase of a lot,
even if not expended during the pc
Rod, as it would enable them to
avail themselves of any eligible site
offering.
Mr.. Herrick expressed his hearty
approval of what the Chief Engineer
had said. He proposed they should
| put statement of their wants in
the newspapers, and passed some
reflections on the economy practised
by the Legislature toward the De
partment, which was an institution
for the protection of the public.
The meeting then adjourned.