The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1890-07-17

ence. nile IL NOulu not De right 10
NEEDLE with the details OF management.
a committee OF the House was entitled /
TO make any inquiries about salaries or
else
Rep. Rickard was of the same mind as
Rep. Brown in the forenoon, about re-
ferring items TO committees. Heads OF |
bureaus were responsible TO the Minis |
try. and the Ministry to the House. He |
was in favor of the item passing.
Rep. White favored reference to
committee. 1t was reported that the
Postmaster General was man OF vari-
able tempers, and that he raised or low
cred the salaries OF clerks just as his
temper dictated from month to month.
Ii such was the case, the clerks must
have monkey and parrot time OF 1t.
The clerks ii capable should receive pay
at uniform rates.
Minister Brown said the last appro-
priation was SIC, 900. The increase OF
1000 for this period was caused by two
new clerks being required for the postal
savings bank work, on account OF legls-
lation proposed to be passed this session.
With regard to the temper OF the head
of the bureau, if any clerk was injured
thereby he could probably obtain redress
Dy appearing 10 tue MlHislcT
Rep. Rosa was not generally in favor
of referring such items to committee,
especially where the required inforna-
ton could be gained by questions to the
Ministers. At the same time he main
tanned that the House had right to go
into any department OF the Government
to investigate it's affairs. His mind had
been impressed with the declaration of
the rights of the Legislature, in the veto
controversy in the session of 1888. The
House had the right to refuse supplies to
His Majesty, but it might not always be
wise to exercise that right Instead of
referring this item to committee, let
the Minister be given time to produce
the information. 1t argued lack of
confidence in the Ministry to be refer
ring these details to committees for in
vestigation, as it was the duty of Min.
lister to dismiss any head of a bureau
who conducted his office improperly
Another Objectionable feature OF the dis
cussion of supplies was the vilification OF
| officials, which to him was a constant
source of annoyance and anxiety. Let
| the House deal with the Ministers who
represented every branch of the admin.
istration. The House represented the
people and held the Ministry to account
and they should stamp down these inn
proprieties. (Applause).
| Noble Widemann wanted to know il
the previous speaker said that anythin.
had been heard about refusing the Kings
salary at last session. He was in the
House and never heard such thin.
mentioned
Rep. Rosa explained that he hat
simply spoken of the right of the Hous
by way of illustration. AS matter O
fact, the right to refuse supplies to Hi
Majesty was declared on the floor of thi
House.
Noble Widemann, in the course @
further remarks on the question, said
was the Minister'S salaries that shoul,
be refused if the House was dissatisfied
Rep. Brown advocated passage of tn
item, holding that the increase wa
slight compared with the additions
work. If clerks had just grievances, h
was sure they could obtain redress iron
J the Minister.
Rep. Paehaole reminded the Hous
that the motion for reference includin
the following three items, viz: Pay {
postmasters, $4,000; pay of mail cal
riers, 5000; incidentals, $13 200.
, was folly for members to say that tn
Minister could give them all the infol
nation wanted, as he had not been Ion
enough in Office to become acquainte
with the details of the different bureaus
He was sorry to see some of the men
bers set their faces against investigation
A proposal to appoint select committe
, on items had an effect on these member
, like the shaking of red rag at ma
bull. 1t was no evidence of want of COZ
fidence in the Ministry to appoint con
mittee to investigate matter, and it ha
/ not been so regarded by the late A
t torney-General in the case of the opiul
, scandal.
Rep. Bush favored reference to a selet
7 committee. 1t had not been satisfactO
lily explained to the House how SO muc
money was to be expended. The Minis
: ter had told them he was not prepare
| to give full information. They ought
8 have the report of the Finance commit
l tee by this time to enlighten them o
r these items. Why should salaries b
1 voted in lump sums, unless moL ~ Wa
wanted for dirty secret service? Their
} was reason for investigation if there wa
t a crazy postmaster who raised a clerk
1 salary one month and lowered it anothe
i Why should these clerks salaries /
Jumped when those of the Suprem
/ Court had been voted separately, an
that with all the information on the sui
: ject that the House required? 1t woul
] be disgrace to every member of tn
8 House if it shirked investigation.
8 Rep. r. w. Wilcox spoke at length
1 favor of reference to a committee. Wh'
r was wanted in the Post Office was
new broom" Thurston stood by h
friends and dismissed obnoxious official
but this Ministry sat there and did NJ
thing but promise to act by and by. Tt
2 Ministers could not furnish the inform
: ton, therefore, it should be left to
!; select committee.
4 Noble Phillips interrupted the homo
d able member with a remark that
s could not see why they should listen
!; all that rigmarole. He hated to have
/; listen to unnecessary talk.
Noble Parker said all the membe
e were not lawyers, and it was not rigl
: for the majority to attempt to suppre
It an attempt to get information. The
items should 60 to committee for i
l. vestigation.
Rep. Kalua advocated reference of Il
It items. To refuse a committee of invest
S CATION would establish a wrong prec
d dent.
e Noble Baldwin favored reference to
e committee. While it might not alwa,
be wise to exercise their rights, in tn
e case the House needed information. I
! had presented petitions for increased pa
of certain mail carriers, but was n
n fully informed on the merits OF the case
d The pay OF postmasters was another ma
IS ter that should be investigated. He W