The Hawaiian gazette., 1896-04-07
AFTERNOON SESSION.

| AFTERNOON SESSION.
Referring to an item in the appropri-
alton bill for secretary to Postmaster
General. reduced from $4,000 to s., SEQ,
Minister Smith said:
THE Minister of Finance will be here
in a few minutes to look after this part
of the bill. In the meantime, | would
like to ask why the committee recon-
mends a reduction in this particular
item?"
l Rep. Richards-The committee visit
ed the Postal department and examined
the methods of conducting the different
departments and came to the conclu-
sion that the secretary has no more to
do than the superintendent of the
money order departmental fact he has
less
Minister Smith, am not familiar
with the affairs in the postal service,
but | understand this position of secre-
tary is really the Deputy Postmaster
General. He can be sent away in case
the books in any of the offices in the
outer districts are to be examined. The
Postmaster General has frequently
gone away on trips and the visits he
has made to other offices have resulted
satisfactorily. During his absence the
Secretary has had charge of the Office,
and believe he has occasionally exam
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 Dfices-Hilo for instance?
Minister Smith-As have stated,
j am not familiar with the workings OF
1.-THE pffice.
REP. Rycroft-I thought the Attor-
II neytGeneral said the Secretary went
taroind examining books. l have heard
that a person had visited other Offices,
but / 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 ques-
ton about passing the item. That is
the position the gentleman fills, and
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 | would see 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 1t not fact that
the Superintendent of the money order
department has greater responsible
ties than the Secretary Is he not
more apt to make blunder that would
cause trouble?
Minister Damon1;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 salary commensurate with
the duties. If we were voting for
friendship sake | would vote 81, 200 for
Mr.. Atwater.
4 The item passed at $500 as recon-
mended by the committee.
4 In the item Salary of Clerks" s2S,-
800, there was provision for the SER
vices of record clerk at $50 per month.
The committee recommended this be
stricken out. Carried.
Bureau of Instruction.
Item of $4,000, for census, reported
by the Committee on Education, with
an increase of $1,000.
Minister Damon-Regarding this ap-
preparation, want to say that every
thing depends upon the heads. If they
get $4,000 they will spend $4,000.
Rep Richards would like to ask
what the item means. It was not in
cluded 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, l 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