The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-04-07
d books in some of the outside of:

ined books in some of the outside Of
| fees.
Rep. Rycroft-I would like to ask if
the Attorney-General is sure that the
| Secretary examines the books in coun-
| try offices-Hilo. for instance?
Minister Smith-As / have stated,
am not familiar with the workings of
the office.
Rep. Rycroft-I thought the Attor-
ney-GeneraI said the Secretary went
around examining books. I have heard
that a person had visited other offices,
but l understand it was Fred Dat.
Minister Damon came in at this point
and said: IF the position had been
put down as Assistant Postmaster-Gen-
eral, there would have been no ques7
ton about passing the item. That is
the position the gentleman fills, and l
consider him worth 81 200 for the peri
cd. Unless you want to go back over
the Appropriation bill and shave down
the list all the way through, think you
are making a mistake. Rep. Robert
son-Is not the work of the Superin-
tendent of the Postal Savings Bank as
OnOrous as that of the Secretary?
Minister Damon-If | had business
with the Bureau l would sec the Post
master General or the Secretary. He.
next TO the Postmaster-General is re-
spOnsible for the proper working of all
the departments. Mr.. AtWater is COM
petent to fill any Of the positions.
Rep. Richards Is IT not fact that
the Superintendent of the money order
department las greater responsible
ties than the Secretary Is he not
more apt to make a blunder that would
cause trouble?
Minister Damon-Mr. Atwater is C
sponsible for all the different depart
ments during the absence Of the Post
master-General and is highly compe-
tent to fill any of these positions.
Rep. Rycroft-I don't think the COM
mittee looked into the title at all; they
inquired into the duties and RESPONSE
bilities of the different positions and
fixed the salaries accordingly.
Rep. Robertson do not question
the capabilities of the incumbent. We
must vote a salary commensurate with
the duties. If we were voting for
sake I would vote 1920 for
Mr.. Atwater.
The item passed at $4,000 as recon-
mended by the committee.
In the item Salary of Clerks" $28,-
320, there was a provision for the SER
vices of record clerk at $50 per month.
The committee recommended this be
out. Carried.
Bureau of Instruction.
Item of $4,000 for census, reported
by the Committee on Education, with
an increase of So 900.
Minister Damon-Regarding this ap-
preparation, l want to say that every
thing depends upon the heads. If they
get SIS, 900 they will spend $4,000.
Rep. Richards would like to ask
what the item means. 1t was not in
Guided in the last budget.
Minister Damon-It is an item in
serted every six years for the purpose
of providing means for taking a correct
census.
Rep. Richards-If the Board of Edu
cation says $4,000 is ample for doing
the work, 1 would like to know why it
is increased to $4,000.
Rep. Bond-For this reason: The
population is growing, and we are anx-
ious that the census shall be as COM
plete as possible.
Minister Smith-In the United States
the census returns are complete to the
minutest detail. Of course we cannot
expect to have anything like they have
over there, because the expense is too
great. The returns, when published,
may not make good general reading
but it is first-class book of reference.
Rep. Richards-That's all right, but
if the Executive recommends $4,000, [
do not see the necessity for the in
crease.
Minister SMITH have not gone
through the figures, but l suppose the
committee has a reason for it.
Rep. Robertson thought the items
should be taken sp separately and
mode a motion to that effect. Carried.
Rep. Hanuna opposed the apprOpria-
ton of $4,000 for material, etc, for
manual training. He could see no ne
cessity for spending money to teach
boys to whittle sticks. They might be
given instruction in reading, writing
and a little in arithmetic, and when
they have learned this much, let them
go to work in the plantations. AS for
the girls, their mothers could teach
them all the sewing necessary.
Rep. Bond-I am surprised to hear
Hawaiian member speak so about an
appropriation that is to benefit chill
dren of his own race. 1t has been
shown that the teaching of Hawaiian
girls how to sew is of untold value to
them because they learn to be tidy and
to take better care of their clothing
when they have made the pieces them
selves. AS to instructing boys how to
white with Jack knives, that is non
sense. 1t is to give them preliminary
training in the use of tools, and they
are taught the rudiments of carpenter
work. Specimens of the work were
shown here, and 1 thought the Repre-
sentative saw them. Something should
be done with Hawaiian boys so they
could become something else than car
drivers.
Minister Damon told how, through
Miss Agnew, manual training had been
introduced, and the effect upon the
girls in teaching them to be tidy.
Item passed as in the bill.
Expenses of teachers convention,
81 600 Passed