The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-04-07

of putting the salary so high thai
there would be no temptation. IL mar
was sent for from another country he
would be a whole year behind the pres
ent incum bent, and he would in no way
be as we'll fitted to fill the position, be
ing a stranger and unacquainted with
the peculiar conditions existing here.
Minister Damon am sorry that
when Mr.. Rycroft visited the Custom
House he did not see the Collector
General so as to get all the facts in the
case. / must continue to feel a want OF
confidence in Mr.. Fishel.
Minister Smith said that he agreed
fully with the sentiment as expressed
by Rep. Richards in regard TO sending
away for men TO fill offices; but there
were times when such action was neces-
sary. He then referred TO the telephone
and electric lighting systems, calling
attention TO the fact that specialists
had to b. brought here to lay the fOun-
dalton. AS soon as men here had been
instructed in the lines referred to they
became competent to manage affairs,
but if they had been allowed to go along
learning by experience, the systems re-
ferred to would never have been in the
state of perfection they are in today.
In the Customs Department a man
could be brought here to do the work
for a little while and to act the part of
instructor. After a time some one here
would learn the work thoroughly and
would be competent to fill the place.
Rep. Rycroft said that the Attorney
General had cited several cases, but
they were not applicable to the one in
hand. The telephone and electric
lighting systems were something en-
ttrely new to the country. The condi-
tiOns here were different from those of
any other place, and the goods import
ed were different.
Minister Smith Gnterruptingly)-
Name one article imported here that
is not imported into San Francisco.
Rep. Rycroft explained that while
the articles imported here were of the
same name as those received at San
Francisco, they were in many in
stances a different kind.
Continuing Rep. Rycroft said that
the main requisite in the office of ap-
praiser was honesty; next came i'm
Partially and complete knowledge
of the goods passing through the Gus
tom House. A man in the position of
an appraiser must know what passed
through the Custom House. The re-
mainder of the work was simply that of
a detective. To fill the office properly
was needed a man expert in honesty
and one with good business ability.
Rep. Robertson said he opposed the
item on different grounds. The Minis
ter of Finance had explained after the
introduction of the Appropriation bills
that the less the Government expended
undC" TIE head of Appropriations for
Salaries and Pay-ROlls" the more
would be saved for current expenses.
1t should be the desire of the House,
without being mean, to curtaiI salaries
and pay-rOlls as much as possible. Men
in the Government service should be
paid according to their work and re-
sponsibility; no new offices should be
created unless deemed absolutely nee
eSSary to the needs of the different de-
partments; and no increased salaries
should be paid unless the work done
called for such, and offices found to be
unnecessary should be abolished In
his opinion it had not been shown that
the office of General Appraiser was nee
essary. The present incumbent had
saved his salary to the Government
many times over. t~f.~tFsaal
Minister Smith said that he was very
much surprised at the opposition to the
proposed item. This had been main
tanned by some of Mr.. Fishers friends,
by some people not fully acquainted
with the subject, and by certain mer-
camille men who, for their own reasons,
did not care to see an expert in office
here.
=" IS "eferred to certain of
the arguments of the Attorney-Gen-
eral. In regard to the telephone sys-
tenn here, if a man had had sixteen
years in a telephone office and there
had been given two years outside work
would he not have been competent to
fill the place given to an expert brought
here?
Rep. HSnuna was in favor of the new
office and likened the Customs Depart
ment unto a barrel with a bunghole
the plug for which was not quite even
all around and allowed of leakage The
House seemed to be satisfied with the
old plug, but the Government wanted
one that would fit snugly and obviate
all further leakage.
The report of the committee recon-
mending that the proposed item be
stricken out was adopted with three
dissenting votes.
Minister Smith announced his inten-
ton to introduce IAN Act amending
Section of an Act entitled AN Act to
promote fencing" and under suspen-
sion of rules read the bill for the first
time by title. Referred to the Printing
Committee.
At II m. the House took recess I'M
til 100 p. m.
AFTERNOON SESSION.