The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1890-09-23

was not authorized 10 do SO BY any law.
As 10 the Road Boards, l am Of opinion
that they are a good thing. and If their
work on ether islands has been IS good
as On this, the country has received 4
great and lasting benefit from them. The
Finance Committee make structures OF
certain stamp transactions. There |
think they are too severe. The sale was
merely q spoiled and worthless stamps,
which were cancelled before sale. II
was better that the Government should
realize something on them than nothing
al all. Mr. President, if l were SIS salts
fed with regard to all the items as l am
in regard to the $lS,0 600 for the Volcano
road, might vote for the adoption OF
this report, but as it Is, cannot.
Noble Widemann only wished to refer
10 the Fire Department transaction. The
last Appropriation Bill appropriated
5000 The Minister spent S2,647
Where did the s647 come from? Did
the late Minister pledge the credit OF the
Government for those $647? II he did
then the decision OF Judge Dole in the
Bowler case binds him, and he has done
what he admits himself he ought not TO
have done. As to the land exchange, l
admit its technical legality, but it is
shady-shsdier than ! should wish to
commit.
Noble Mccarthy read Rule 81 defining
| the duties OF the Finance Committee.
| He claimed that the committee had done
| their strict duty, according TO that rule,
as il specially required inquiring into
the working OF the several departments.
The member from the First District has
referred 10 the stamp transaction-say-
| ing the stamps were moth eaten, etc.
But one bargain was for 5000 woFth Of
brand new stamps TO be sent out here
and cancelled. Those stamps were not
moth eaten. One day We went TO the
Post Office and counted the cash. 1t
was alright Then the committee bal
anced the cash OF the Postal Bureau.
While one member OF the committee
called OF the cash, suddenly 500 was
added TO the gold We were dumbiound-
ed. Nc explanation was made until the
Postmaster called Us upstairs and told Us
that there had been this shortage one
day when the head clerk was very busy
and unwell. He thought he must have
paid the amount, entering il in the de-
blown the check of his file; 5000 pass
books were called in, but the error was
net found. Then an expert was paid
SO 10 examine the books, but they were
found alright. We claimed that this $40
ought not 10 have been paid by the
Government. 1t appeared to the COM
mii;ee that there was an attempt 10 con-
oeal iac;s from the committee The Post
master weS angry because We had not
given him any notice.
Noble J. NJ. Horner did no. wish the
committee to think he had any spite
against them. They Were intelligent
men, and so were the late Ministers.
They had made mistakes and SO has the
committee. This market transaction,
from business point OF view was al
right. The Minister WAS simply killing
two birds with one stone. The auditor
would not audit the bill because the ap-
preparation for dredging was exhausted.
He would have allowed it to be charged
to the market II 1t had been dug out OF
PunchboWl Hill. So as 10 the Punch
bowl road. There is nothing censurable
in that at all. The hon. Noble (Macfar
lane would never have made the re-
marks he has, if he were a practical
road maker. There is q great deal said
about these vouchers OF the Road Boards.
The speaker went on to explain the
difficulty OF obtaining pay vouchers from
gangs Of Cinnamon. who were changed
every day. Doubtless the late Ministers
had erred as the Finance Committee
most certainly had. Which Of Us here
had not. Some charity ought TO be ex-
ercised. and we ought not TO condemn
man as rascal merely because he hap
pens to differ from us.
Noble Muller said as to the abuse of
power by the Road Boards, great deal
might have been said by the committee
which was not, for the report would have
been too long. What they objected to
was the committee paying sometimes a
dollar, sometimes 90c. per day
Noble ]. NJ. Homer said the value of
labor was different. Some men they
paid more than others. Cinnamon were
paid the rate current on the plantations.
Noble Widemann - There was a very
odd thing about the Market House; ten
ders were called for, and a great many
bids came in from Honolulu and abroad.
The bid of one firm was not according to
the specifications, but it was accepted.
am charitable in general, think, but
ment OF public affairs i
The committee rose and reported, ask
ing leave TO sit again Tuesday, and the
House adjourned at :45 Pm.
SeVenty-ninth Day.