The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-09-28
THE LEGISLATURE.

idea OF economy, as outlined in the
Royal Message, was abandoned, as in
deed it had been within forty-eight hours
of its rapturous reception, judging from
the history OF the Appropriation bill,
and OF the many petitions for the expen
diture of public money that were pre- |
sented to the House. Doubtless the |
wish to economic was sincere; but any |
one who knows anything at all Of the /
working of representative institutions in !
this Kingdom, knows full well that it is
almost impossible for the Hawaiian Leg
islature to retrench, and that the only
limit to expenditure is the availability
of public funds. As there is limit to
revenue and borrowing, so there must be
a limit to expenditure but even this ne
cessity does not seem to balance the
disposition to spend which is always ex-
pressed in the Appropriation bill. 1t is
a reflex of the generous impulses OF the
people who take no thought for the
morrow" but would. make perpetual
festival if possible And there is also a
fascination to most minds. in dealing
with large sums of money, and ''voting
away millions" Representative bodies
having very much greater advantages
than the Legislative Assembly of Hawaii,
besides understanding the value of
money thoroughly, have been often led
away by the same glamour. We there
fore should not judge harshly of our
Legislature, but put the best possible
construction upon its acts.
And this brings us to a consideration
OF what was done The Civil List was
voted, an increase being made in one
or two items. The Opposition attacked
the first vote for the Kings's privy purse
and royal state, and moved that it be
reduced to $40 900, as suggested in the
Kings message of retrenchment. On a
division it was carried at the original
figure, $4,000, and in our judgment this
was the proper thing to do. This country
is Kingdom, and it must be prepared
to maintain the royal state of its Sover-
eign in a becoming and satisfactory
manner. 1t is not at all pertinent to
say that the Kamehamehas were
content with much smaller allowance
or that the reigning Sovereign had a
more modest establishment after his ac-
cession to the Throne Conditions have
entirely changer. THIS Guy IS HOW III
the line >of the worlds travel, and the
social duties tacitly imposed upon the
Sovereign are necessarily expensive. 1t
was not so in past years. Then, again,
the cost of living, including the ordinary
expenses of housekeeping, are far greater
now than they were eight or ten years
ago. If private citizens feel this change,
as they all do, much more must the
Royal Household experience it; and the
Legislature was unquestionably right in
voting sum which is reasonably pro-
portioned to the demands upon the
privy purse and Royal state. 1t was a
duty which could not be decently
shirked, and we are satisfied all sensible
people will approve what was done.
And this brings us to the special vote
for Household expenses, which the Hon.
Mr.. Bishop and other speakers stated
was comparatively recent item in the
Appropriation bill. However, it dates
back good many years. The point to
be considered was whether The sum of
SIC, 900, set down in the original esti-
mates, was sufficient. Upon investiga-
ton, it was found that it was not nearly
enougheand $35 900 was proposed and
voted. Whether $50, 900 is close esti-
mate is unknown to us, but from what
was stated in the House, between $780,
r.-o,,II 70 ha
needed for household expenses at the
Palace in this biennial period. That
being So there was neither sense nor
economy in appropriating $4,000 to
SIS, 900 less than was needed. This, of
course, is predicted upon the assump-
ton that the Legislature has undertaken
TO provide for the Palace expenses.
If it were a grant in aid it would be diff
ferent 1t is nothing of the kind how
ever, and being intended as a full APP
preparation for a specific purpose, it
should be made sufficient. The House
hold expenditure will be duly accounted
for, this item being within the review of
the Legislature.
The discussion upon these items, and
upon other votes for the Royal Family
suggests the thought that it would be
8 desirable to fix the Civil List by Act,
and so avoid the improper and some
times offensive illusions which are re-
peated, with but little variation, at each
session of the Legislature. We think
this would help to preserve the dig
nifty Of the Legislature, and would
also tend to economy. There is no reason
why vote should be taken upon any
item in the Civil List any more than
upon permanent settlement item
The departmental appropriations were
taken up, and the Judiciary and Foreign
Affairs Departments were disposed Of
There was a general increase in the pay
of minor judicial officers in the Judiciary
Department; and under the Foreign
Office, changes were made in the same
direction The Ministerial salary was
retained at $4,000, and the pay of Sec
rotary was increased to $4,000, at which
it originally stood, that Office being the