The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-02-22
PLENTY OF WORK
Appropriation Bills Referred to
Finance Committee.
WILL HAVE VISITORS GALLERY
Petition From the Maui People.
House Adjourns Over WASH
ington's Birthday.
SENATE.
Fifth Day, February 21.

Immediately after the opening exer-
cises of yesterdays session of the
Senate, at which 13 members were
present, Senator Baldwin, who was in
his seat for the first time this session,
presented petition from 81 residents
of Maui asking that $4,000 be spent
in building roads in the Honokahau
and Kahakuloa districts. The petit
ton has the endorsement of the La
haina road supervisors. On Senator
Baldwin's motion the petition was laid
on the table to be discussed when the
regular appropriation bill is taken up.
On motion of Senator Rice, the ap-
preparation bills were taken UP and
read by title. Bill 3, making appro-
priations for the payment of claims,
unpaid bills and salaries due prior to
December 31st, 1897, was referred to
the Committee on Finance. Bill 4,
making special appropriations fer the
departmental use of the Government
during the two years which will end
with the 31st day of December in the
year 1899, was also referred to the
same committee. Bill 5, an Act max
ing provision for salaries and pay
rolls was read. Senator Baldwin OBJ
jected to sending the appropriation
bills to the committee before they had
been taken up by the Senate. He
said he spoke in the interest of adopt
ing the best method to expedite mat
ters He believed that sending the
bills to the committee for considera-
ton would simply entail more work
and a loss of time The usual
method had been for the Senate TO
discuss the appropriations in general
and then if any particular items need
ed investigation they could be referred
to the various committees having
those special interests in charge.
Senator McCandless took issue with
Mr.. Baldwin. The method suggested
would in his mind leave the Senate in
the dark all the time. No proper dis
cussion could take place until each
item in the bills was Investigated. The
appropriations were large. Many
items should be carefully particular
lied and the result might be that
some of them could be very material
ly reduced. The work of the commit
tee necessitated a thorough examina-
ton of each department and it's books.
He recognized the fact that the ac-
counts of each department had the
stamp of the auditor upon them, but
during the past period nearly $4,000
900 had been paid out and he had un-
derstoOd that in some cases the eX-
animation had been a checking off
accounts.
Senator Baldwin withdrew his mo-
tion to take the bills up in the Senate
for open discussion first.
Minister Damon formally introduced
his biennial report and it was by mo-
| ton of Senator Baldwin referred to
the Finance Committee with instruc-
tions to examine the books of each
department, and, if necessary, employ
| expert assistance.
The Senate went into executive ses-
sion and in open session of executive
| session the nominations sent by Act
ing President Cooper to the Senate
on Saturday were confirmed. The
clerk was directed to notify the Presi-
dent Of the confirmation.
| Senator Waterhouse gave notice
that on the rising of the Senate the
Committee on Finance would meet
President Wilder called the atten-
tion of the Senate to the fact that
there we no chairs for visitors in the
| chamber.
Search had been made through the
building but there were no extra ones
Senator Waterhouse expressed some
surprise at this fact, and on his mo-
ton the clerk was authorized to pur-
chase two dozen chairs for the use Of
visitors in the Senate chamber The
Senate adjourned at 10:45 o'clock