The Hawaiian gazette., 1896-04-07

ty. on account of the increased work
of the department. Aside from this 1t
would allow the Government to send
a man to ports of the other islands
when required. If the vigilance of the
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 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 a
higher salary the present incumbent
was entitled to it. He was in favor of
| aInr Il inb nd OIL win 20
him to have men to work under him
of putting the salary SO high that
there would be no temptation. If a man
was sent for from another country he
would be whole year behind the pres
ent incumbent, and he would in no way
be as well 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. l must continue to feel 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 be brought here to lay the foun-
dation. AS soon as men here had been
instructed in the lines referred to they
became competent to manage affairs
| l,,,r q. I, hal oil IL
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 little while and to act the part of
, instructor. After 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-
tirely 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
J 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 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
under the 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 curtail 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.
Minister Smith said that he was very
much surprised at the opposition to the