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


out of the road taxes from the district
of Eva. Report laid on the table TO be
brought up with the Appropriation bin.
Rep. Rycroft reported for the Com
nittee on Public Lands, to whom was
referred the item in the current re-
ceipts appropriation bill, Relief of A.
B Loebenstein. $5S7." as follows:
Mr.. Loebenstein was engaged by the
Minister of the Interior to survey the
land of Pauahi. The land was sur
veyed accordingly ard n map of same
was furnished to the Government. Mr..
Loebenstein's bill was duly approved,
but has never been paid.
I'VE therefore recommend that the
item pass"
Rep. Richards propounded the follow
ing question TO the Minister of the In
terror: What action if any does the
Executive propose to take on the prop
osition from the Hawaiian Electric
Light Co., under date of March 81. 1895.
for lighting the streets of Honolulu"
Rep. Robertson moved that the
House Committee on Great Seal be at
lowed to confer with Senate Commit
tee and that the Senate be asked to ap-
point a committee to meet in such con-
ference. Carried.
Items in the Appropriation bill
brought up for consideration.
The recommendation of the commit
tee that the item for a general apprais-
er be stricken out was explained by
Rep. Richards. The committee had
found that the proposed appropriation
was for the creation of a new office in
the Customs Bureau. The Govern
ment proposed getting a more expe-
rienced man for the position and find
ing that none fitted to take il could be
found here, proposed sending away for
one. The present incumbent had been
in his present position for two years,
and previous to that had been actively
engaged in business in Honolulu for
sixteen years. He surely should have
gained considerable experience during
that time. 1t was the firm belief of the
committee that upon no consideration
should men from outside the country
be engaged to fill positions here. There
were plenty of men who could do just
as well and by all means they should
be given chance.
Minister Damon said that the posi-
tion of the Government was toward
progress in the Customs Department
as elsewhere. He was sorry If the
members of the House did not choose
to look at things in the same light.
The matter of WORK in the Customs
Department was in an advanced stage,
and consequently required advanced
methods. He regretted very much
that the services of the present incum-
bent had been called into question, but
he, as the head of the department under
which he served, felt compelled to say
that he was not satisfied with Mr.. Fish
els services. 1t was necessary that the
Government obtain the best man pos
sible for the position, commensurate
with the money on hand to be expend-
ed.
Minister Smith stated that in former
times the Collector attended to the
work of appraisement, bat that, on ac-
count of the great increase of labor in
connection with the department during
the last two years, an appraiser had
been appointed.
The system had worked very well
and a great deal of money had been
saved to the Government. The new
Office proposed was felt to be a necessi-
ty, on account of the increased work
of the department. Aside from this il
would allow the Government to send
man to ports of the other islands
WU6n required. II IHe Vigilance cI lue
customs authorities were kept up alone
in Honolulu there would be a good
chance for evading the same at other
ports on the islands. Beyond a certain
point the Executive and the heads Of
departments should be responsible for
the men under them. There were mer-
chants in the city who continually
sought to evade the duties imposed by
the Customs Department, and whose
actions in this respect were sometimes
most difficult to detect. In justice to
the honest man, and for the benefit of
the public treasury, everyone should be
made to pay alike. The Legislature
could refuse to appropriate the money
for the proposed office, but that would
not guarantee the remaining in Office
of the present incumbent.
Rep. Richards said that he did not
wish it understood that the committee
was working for Mr.. Fishel, but he did
want it distinctly understood that the
committee was against the plan of
sending away for a man to fill the Of
flee or for any one to fill any other
office
Rep. Rycroft expressed it as his opin-
ion that if any one was TO be paid
higher salary the present incumbent
was entitled to it. He was in favor of
putting his salary higher and allowing
him to have men to work under him