The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1886-05-11
A NEEDED CnANGE.

NEEpCu OufNtE'
The Appropriation Bill brought
down on Wednesday last and the
numerous petitions presented by
members for specific appropriations
suggest very strongly the necessity
for better method of disposing of
the revenues. The difficulty TO the
Cabinet of framing an appropriation
bill to cover what they consider
necessary for all reasonable require
ments of the public service, with
the fact before them that thousands,
perhaps millions of dollars additional
will be asked for, must be very APP
parent. The drafting of such bill
under the circumstances seems to us
to he very much like going it
blind" One of the special func-
tions of the Cabinet Ministers
is supposed to be the judicious
management of the finances of the
country, but how they can possibly
exercise their functions in this mat
ter while every member of the house
is to all intents and purposes a
Finance Minister, is at least curl
Gus problem. The Ministers enjoy
the privilege of fathering one appro-
priation bill, but they soon after find
themselves surrounded with dis
agreeably numerous family of that
ilk to be provided for.
The practice is Objectionable, if
only from the abuses to which it is
liable. Members contemplating ap-
preparations for their constituents
are expected to vote for similar
favors to other districts, whether ap-
proving of them or not, in order TO
secure support in return at the pro-
per time. One good turn deserves
another, and if a representative
desires the assistance of his col
leagues in grinding his own ave on
treasury stone, he must ply the
crank, diligently while theirs are
being &9rpeHHed. The possibilities
of plumber are thus practically un-
limited. The Ministry, instead of
being accountable for the judicious
management of the revenues, be-
come, in the matter of finance, little
more than committee of tax
gatherers.
In older constitutional systems,
the present method of appropriation
in this kingdom, has long since been
discarded. The initiation of money
votes by the Cabinet or executive
body has been proven, after centu.
ries of experience in legislation, tc
be the proper system. Minister,
are expected to be so fully ac
quainted with the public service anC
its requirements as to be able tc
come before the representatives o.
the people with carefully prepared
estimates of revenue and eXpendi
ture. They are not bound to specific
figures, except for sums fixed b,
statute. Petitions and bills which
when passed, involve additiona
demands on the treasury, are pro
yided for towards the close of th
session, in a bill of "supplementar,
estimates"
Again, the method of the Ha
waiian Legislature is open to
worse abuse than any already re
ferred to. Appropriations TO
specific sums for certain service
may be double the amount reall
needed; and if the action of tn
legislature is to be the guiding sta
of the Ministers, no option is lei
them but to raise the money and eX
pend it. The Government, investe
with the initiation of money votes
would be charged with the responsi
bility of estimating the cost of an
needed improvement, as well as tn
judicious expenditure of the none
necessary for it. a member of tn
assembly, under present arrange
ments, securing an appropriate
for cetain purpose, will expect til
Finance Minister to lay out the fu
amount of the vote.
The regular constitutional metho
is, to secure n vote of the hous
authorizing, it may be, the buildin
of hospital, or railway, the oper
ing of new thoroughfare, the es
tablishment of a public institutio
or other improvement, upon whic
the executive is empowered to pre-