The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-12-15

The House met at 9 A. NJ. Twenty
members answered roll call. Quorum
at 9:15 AN. The minutes were reaC
and approved.
STANDING COMMITTEES.
Noble Williams reported Bill %
printed.
RESOLUTIONS.
Minister Jones notified his intention
of introducing an Act, amending Sec
tions & of the Act to further secure
Postal Savings Bank depositors.
On suspension of rules, Minister
Brown gave notice of his intention to
bring in an Act to amend Sections Z,
s and IL OF Chapter So, Session Law:
1884, regulating proceedings in Bank
ruptcy in the Hawaiian Islands.
The rules being suspended agar,
the bills, brought in by Ministers
Brown and Jones, were read by their
title.
4 Rep. White gave notice of his inten-
ton to introduce an Act permitting.
the entry of railroad materials free OF
duty.
The rules being suspended, the bill
was read for the first time.
The rules being suspended second
time, the bill was read a second time
and referred to the Committee on
Commerce.
Bill 210, amending the Audit Act of
1882, was taken up, and read second
time.
Rep. Smith moved reference to the
Judiciary Committee. He believed
in continuing the Office of Auditor
General. In 1880, $4,000 was appro-
priated for the Palace, but when the
Legislature met the next session, the
item had increased to nearly 500, 900.
The Auditor has been a great check
upon the Administration. 1t is for
the public interest to retain the office.
The idea is that the Legislature alone
shall appropriate public funds. He
thought it was mistake to reduce
the salary of the Ministers. The last
place for economy is the Auditor Gen
erals office. That officer had stood
firm like rock. That may have been
Objectionable to some of the Ministers.
Noble Horner--Is not this Auditor
General ever in the wrong?
Rep. Smith-He may have been, but
there is the Supreme Court to put
matters right. 1t may seem incon-
sistent to have the salary of this office
higher than that of Cabinet Ministers
during the next two years. But salaries
of Judges of the Supreme Court are
also above those of the Ministers. The
law provides for the removal of the
Auditor General should he be found
guilty of any wrong, but reducing his |
salary is entirely wrong. This officer |
had saved the country thousands and |
thousands of dollars. There have been |
Oyer-zealous Ministers who thought |
that carrying on q certain project was
the best thing for the country, but |
this officer had prevented it. 1t might
have been irksome to these Ministers
but 1t was a wholesome restraint.
Therefore he did not favor the Legisla-
ture reducing or regulating his salary.
He moved to refer to Judiciary Com
mittee or to indefinitely postpone.
Minister Jones agreed with Rep.
Smith. 1t was the intention of the
Cabinet to fix the salary of the Audi
tor-General the same as that of a Cab
met officer. The Ministry recognized
the value of the office. The Cabinet
favored reference to Judiciary Com
mittee.
Rep. r. w. Wilcox wanted the
House to take up the bill as it is
short one. We could regulate the Sow
ereign's salary, but it seemed that the
Auditor-General is higher than the
Sovereign because we could not touch
his salary. In his opinion the office
should be abolished. In civilized
there is no such office exist
ing, excepting in commercial bust
ness. He pitied Cabinet that re-
1uired an outside person to pl:.ce re-
straints upon it. Rep. Smith has
admitted that the Auditor General
had erred, therefore, he is not infalli-
bic; only the Pope of Rome is infalli-
bic.
Rep. Smith submitted an amend
ment that the Auditor Generals sal
airy should not be less than that of
officer.
Rep. Bipikane said that the House
had cut down the salary of poor po-
iicemen to $50 month, but q $4,000
man we could not touch. He favored
that useless office.
Rep. Iosepa considered the amend
ment proposed by Rep. Smith had no
value.
Noble Kauhane related how pre-
yious sessions had squandered the
public money without authority.
This office was instituted in 1882, and
he had proved a great check on the
use of public funds. Those who cry
against this officer do so because they
are ignorant of the circumstances
which led to the establishment of
this bureau. Money was squandered
right and left before his time. 1t is
true that we have a good Ministry
now, but they are not to be there
always. We do not know when a
change may come. He favored Rep.
Smiths amendment. Legislators will
soon return to their respective homes
ON the other islands, but the Auditor
will remain here to be our guardian
until our return next session.
Rep. Kanealii favored the bill and
moved the previous question. Car
ried.
Rep. Smiths amendment was re-
jeeted on the following division:
Ayes Ministers Wilcox, Robinson.
Jones and Brown; Mobiles Berger,
Ena, Cummins, Williams, Kauhane,
Hind, Young, Walbridge, Anderson and
Dreier; Reps. Wilder, Edmopds, Akina,
Smith and A. S. Wilcox-19.
Noes-Nobles Hopkins, Pua, Peterson.
Male, J. NJ. Horner, Hoapili, Marsden
and w. Y. Horner; Reps. Bipikane, Pua,
kauhi, r. w Wilcox A. Horner Kan |