The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1888-07-17

whether any compromise could be reached,
| but the Cabinet have been unable TO come
TO the conclusion that they could abandon
| the bill. Several of the functions OF the
pubernatorial Office have already been as
| signed by Acts passed last session and this,
to other officers, particularly those relating
TO the police, and the appointment OF Dis
trict Judges Now there is bill before the
House to provide for looking after pounds
and estrays. When this last bill passes
three of the leading duties for which Gov
enors were supposed to exist will be taken
out of their hands. II provision is made
for an intermediate officer between the
Tax Collectors and the Treasury, there
will really be nothing left for Governors to
do. The majority Of the Judiciary Com
mittee have made q scramble TO fnd duties
for Governors. With the exception, per-
haps, of an inquisitorial supervision OF
schOol-houses and of other officers, the COM
mittee have conceded that the Governor
has nothing to do. II the duties are super
fluous, the office is unnecessary. The
Government would have been glad II an
honorable compromise could have been
made. But they felt that they were bound
to stand by the platform of the Reform
party, one plank of which was that useless
Noble Smith had given the Ministers
credit for sincerity at last session, although
he doubted their wisdom. Now, however,
he sees reasons for questioning their sim
cerity. At that time they found obstacles
in the Governors to the administration OF
the Government. They complained of In
competent, corrupt Governors hence the
bill to abolish the office. The bill submit
ted by the Committee removes the obstac-
= II. y -. a.
existing. The Bill gives the Cabinet power
to remove the incumbents of the office.
He disclaimed any desire on the part of
the Committee to force the Ministers so
that they should have TO resign, nor was 1t
understood by them that the passage OF
their Bill should necessitate the reSlgna-
ton of the Ministry. This result need not
follow unless the Ministers choose to force
that issue themselves. He is as anxious as
anyone to do away with unnecessary ofi-
ces. There are very few in the House or
out of it who contend that the present in
cumbents are other than useless. With
respect to the usefulness of the Office, there
are 100 Government officials OF different
classes on Kauai, 800 on Oahu, 200 on
Maui, and $50 on Hawaii, not including
agents to take acknowledgements and
agents to issue marriage licenses. Their
Bill does not propose to give the same
powers to the Governor of Oahu as to those
of the other islands, because the seat OF
Government is here, and gubernatorial
supervision is not needed as in the other
islands. A closer supervision OF Govern
ment officers has been needed on the
other islands than has heretofore exist
ed. He had interviewed Mr.. j. o. Carter
and Mr.. Pratt as TO the possibility
of assessing and collecting taxes efficiently
otherwise than through Governors, and
their opinions are that it cannot be done.
Both these gentlemen have had ample ex-
perience in this department OF Govern
ment service, and their opinions were
worthy of consideration. The Minister OF
Finance cannot, although he we're the
1873, he had brought bill into the Legis-
lature to compel Ministers to make tour
twice in each year through the country to
ascertain its wants and to see how things
were going on. He had also the opinion
of the Hon s. G.. Wilder that good Gov
ernor on each island is an invaluable aid
to the Ministry. Mr.. Wilder, too, has had
large experience in Government matters.
The tendency now seems to be to the cen
tralization OF government in Honolulu,
letting the island districts take care of
themselves. If any one in the outer districts
is assessed too high, We soon hear OF it.
But we never hear from those assessed too
low or not assessed at all. In this depart
ment alone, money would be saved in hav-
ing good Governor on each island. He does
not blame the Ministry for the inefficiency
on the part Of Tax Collectors and Assess
ors, or for irregularities in the doings of
Road Boards and other officials. Road
Boards require supervision. These bodies
are invested with large powers, and corrup
ton is alleged to exist among them. An
other important reason why the Office of
Governor should be retained is that many
of the minor offices Of Government are
held by Hawaiians, and it is well known
that they require guidance and super
vision otherwise they fall into lax !
habits and even into dishonesty. |
They need the eye of the right |
kind OF man over them. ltwould be about |
as wise for a plantation company to dis |
charge the manager as for the Govern !
ment to abolish the Office of Governor. |
The Clerk of the Supreme Court was UNI
able to compile reliable statistics of the |
work performed In inferior Courts, owing |
to the want of proper supervision over the |
Judges. Government physicians need |
supervision Persons having grievances |
against them are afraid to report the same, |
as they might suffer from the consequence |
of mourning their displeas1re.
Noon recess, one hour.