The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-04-05
PRICE FIVE CENM

is referred TO them, not only for
the purpose or considering the
amount OF money TO be appro-
priated for the remuneration and
expenses OF the Court OF Claims. but
also for the expression of a general
opinion on the subject matter Your
committee therefore state that as the
minutes OF the meeting of the Council
OF State, OF January -, 1900, snow, that
at that meeting. President Dole an
nounced to the Council, that il was
his intention TO have most Of the mem
Ders or the Court of Claims, 10 De busi-
ness men, they fail TO see the logic of
the appointment of five lawyers.
Furthermore your committee think
that a Court OF Claims. consisting OF
not less ,han three business men would
not only be more satisfactory TO the
taxpayers OF these Islands, but would
also be able to handle all matters
brought before It more expeditiously, as
such a Court, consisting mostly OF bust
ness men, would have more the char
acter OF Court of Equity, and the in
innate knowledge OF the members of
the Court, OF locations, values and 9TH
er circumstances, would render un-
necessary much OF the lengthy exam
nations of witnesses required for every
case in Court of Law. BY the exec
utive order of President Dole. dated
April 2, 1905, the Court has the title of
Court of Claims for losses caused by
he Board of Health in the suppression
Of Bubonic Plague" which your COM
mittee pTesumes to mean, Court of
Claims FOR losses caused throughout the
group whilst the preamble of the order
and the text of the order seem TO con-
Il - Faly III a
make awards and judgments only on
losses caused by the burning OF China
town. President Dole has explained
instructions from President Mckinley.
this apparent inconsistency, will prob
ably be removed
Your committee will not express any
opinion on the text OF the order gov
erning the proceedings of the Court of
Claims. unless so instructed by this
Council.
Your committee understand that the
commission already appointed Is to act
for six months and they have allowed
one hundred and fifty days of that time
to be consumed by the Court in hear
ing claims that will be presented to
them for consideration.
During that time IL is hardly probable
that the entire day will be consumed
by the members of the Court. IN consid-
ering claims. so that much of the time
| viii be at The disposal of the members
for their private business
Your committee cannot attach to this
Court of Claims, as at present advised,
the Importance that some do, for in
case they allow any or all OF the claims
FOR damages. they must De referred 20
the Council of State or to the next
/ Legislature for final action and the
committees to whom these claims will
be referred for Investigation will ex-
lamine each one carefully before rec
Iommending its payment.
| Your committee finds that the total
lexpense of the Legislature Of 1898 was
S2S 56214. while the Council OF State
is asked to appropriate $4,000 for this
Court of Claims, or about 20 per cent
Of the cost of the Legislature. in which
Thirty men were employed and rendered
valuable service to the Government, be
sides which large expenses were in
lcurred for reports. printing and Other
, important matters.
Your committee would also call atten
ton TO the fact that many OF our citi-
zens have given their services gratis
in helping to put down the buboniC
the last four months. Among Others
who have given their services are the
members OF the Board of Health and
the Finance Committee appointed to as
sist the Board of Health, all of whom
= are men who are loaded down with
responsibilities. but have devoted sew.
eral hours every day for months In
the discharge of their duties, without
receiving one cent for their valuable
services: nor do We deem IL to be out
of place to allude to the labors OF this
| Council Of State. a body of busy men
who are now called upon to make large
appropriations and are devoting many
hours every day to their duties with
out any thought of compensation and
lvour committee Is of the opinion thai
| here are patriotic and Representative,
Imen who can command the Confdanc,
Of the country at large who would b'
willing if necessary. to serve without
pay. on this Court of Claims.
AS appointment has already beer
made of the members Of this commits
sion your committee have carefully
considered the matter and recommend
the following:
s commissioners at s. per day
mot less than four hours
service to be rendered for
one davis pay) ay).........;3,7 ,75O.O'
1 clerk at $3.50 per month. ..... e0O.O'
1 stenographer at s125 per
| month observation-disclosures. 1oo'V'
2 Interpreters at s. per day.. 2,Z5OO
l janitor and messenger at $40
per month .................. ZfO.O
lIncidentals -........... $500
SS,2-9.,
Your committee cannot advis y
payment of a retainer OF $500 I'D 81 fo
each case adjudicated, because 1t doe
not seem to them TO be advisable {