The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1890-06-24

the repairs entirely changed the
character of the building.
The Auditor makes one state.
ment which is not only insulting to
planters but condemns himself. and
was probably made as an appeal to
the prejndices of those who largely
compose the Legislature. He says:
"Not having had an opportunity of
examining for myself the result in
road building under the Road Board
law, l am unable to judge of them,
but one fact seems to be agreed
upon and that is that the plantation
interests have not been neglected. >"
When he states elsewhere that he
has not had time even to 30 to the
Board of Health and examine their
books, or 20 other places about the
Government building premises, and
confesSes that he has not been on
the other Islands and looked into
the roads, more gratuitous insult
and entirely opposed to the facts
could not have been made. The
facts are that the road work fer
the past two years has been done
thoroughly and honestly and with
out regard at all to the interests of
any class, but the work has been
pushed forward where most needed.
and generally "where most needed"
Is where most people reside, except
perhaps in kona where the popu-
lation is sparse. but the work has
been well done, and more than for
many years before.
Aside from matters connected
with the Interior Department, the
report makes some valuable sugges-
tions and indicates large amount
o. pains-taking and honest work
on the part of the Auditor. 1t is
evident from what he states that it
is of great Importance that he be
provided with 4 deputy or such
other clerk rs he may desire, to
assist him in performing a great
deal of the routine work of his
office. There is no reason why any
really important service which the
Auditor might rerder should be
curtalled and decreased by the
large amount of routine work which
he might well put into the hands of
a clerk.
1t is gratifying to observe that
under the regulations and require
ments of the Auditor General much
greater promptncss is observable IN
accounting from several depart
ments. The matter of fines and
costs particularly, in which there
has been great delinquency in past
years, seems to have been remedied
very largely. The Auditor also
points out that the Postal Savings
bank is costing the Government
considerable amount which evil
IDENTIFY could not have been con-
templated, owing to the large
amount of deposits in the bank
which caused large surplus in the
Treasury upon which interest of
course has to be paid. The over
draft of interest on account of this
fund reaches the sum of nearly |
$40, 800. 1t would be well if the |
present Legislature could by some |
means stop this leak. Funds from |
the Postal Savings bank which are
put into public improvements at |
once are well invested and the in
terest can well be afforded, but for |
such funds to lie in the Treasury |
drawing interest without use to the |
Government Is, as the report says,
a pretty expensive luxury. The |
matter of revenue stamps also re-
ceives notice, and il is shown that |
the law passed at the session of |
1888 does not afford relief, nor is it
Just to the Registrar of Public ac-
counts. 1t is somewhat doubtful
however, whether transferring the
entire matter to the PostOffice de-
partment would remedy the diff
Guilty. The Auditor also shows
that reform might we'll be made
IN the financial management of the
present Road Board law. He also
the Minister of Finance in
urging upon the Legislature the
of having all funds de-
rived by the Government from
whatever source, pass through the
Treasury, that they may be pro-
lerly accounted for. The sugges-
ions in this behalf are valuable,
md the Legislature will do well to
Ollow them. 1t would also seem
hat the law might well be altered
With regard to payments to be
made on Government account for
work done IN the outer districts.
f the contention of the report is
correct that no money shall be paid
ut until the work is performed.
nd that every bill should be audit