The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-06-07
PLANS.

Though the meeting of the Legisla-
ture is some months off, it is time that
we should be thinking about the meas
ures to be brought forward, and plan
ming the general line of laws that will
have to be discussed and the amend
ments that hould be made.
On entering the Legislature this
time it is to be hoped that the Cabi-
net will foreshadow its financial plans
in the form of a budget, besides Civ
ing us budget speech, such as the
Minister of Finance gave us at the
last Legislature.
The plans suggested for increasing
the revenue will have been tested, and
we shall from this working, be able
to form some opinion upon what have
been good and feasible, and what
have not been feasible. In certain di-
dections experiments were made, and
we shall be enabled to judge by these
results. The results cannot be great,
but they can form a basis for an argu-
ment in support of which, at the
last Legislature. there were not suffi-
cient data of a practical and local
character to draw upon. In a great
measure the proposers had to reason
from theory and analogy. At the COM
ing Legislature their theories will, in
tria nd
their bearing upon the body polite
can be judged.
If the coming Legislature can thor
oughly appreciate what the probable
net income will be, it can more intel
hgently act upon the appropriations
than has been the practice of some
Legislatures that have recklessly vOt-
ed money far in excess of either the
probable or actual income. We have
had others that have pared down so
injudiciOusly that the action of the
Executive has been practically para
lyzed.
funds is that the Ministry have a
number of projects which need finan-
cial aid and out of the mass pick what
they can or what they think is for the
best; and other plans and projects 90
over till next time" You can pre-
vent a man spending money. but you
cannot force him to spend what he
has not got, or to undertake work
which he no means of carrying out.
Another thing that can be done to
facilitate the work of the Legislature
is to have the reports ready and print
ed by the day of opening, or a very
few days after Though reports of de-
partments are not everything, they
form an excellent guide and they en-
able members to formulate questions
vestigations that throw light upon
what they are called upon to vote.
Now, it has, in an experience of
some quarter of a century or more,
frequently come under notice that
Ministerial reports and Departmental
reports have hung fire for weeks; and
instances have occurred when votes
have been taken and money appro-
priated when the members have been
practically ignorant of what has oc-
CURED during the past fiscal period.
1t takes time to read reports and 90
through the figures appended; and
they are documents that one does not
take up as light literature. for they
are dry enough, goodness knows.
When they are read they usually re-
quire considerable explanation. Now
if these reports are duly prepared in
time they are of immense value, but
if they are rushed in at the last mo-
ment, no attention is paid to them by
the majority of the House.
a report not only takes time to
write and TO prepare the figures for
but it takes time to print and to bind
so that to get it before the Legisla-
ture, time should be taken by the fore,
lock, and procrastination be relegated
10 an outside place.
Smoothing the initial steps of the
Legislature in this way, the public
business can be much facilitated, ant
be carried forward more rapidly. un
necessary delays being almost entire
~ avoided.