The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-01-02
GENERALS ACCOUNT
OF THE YEAR.
Shows That He Has Spent Less Than
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Rec
concentrations for Legislature.

The following is the substance of the
report of Attorney General Dole, sub
mltted to the Executive meeting Mon
day:
The biennial appropriation for the
expenses of the department was $685.
I14.50 The pro rata amount for the
year just drawing to a close being
S3lI 95L25. The expenses of the de-
partment for this year Chose of the
current month being estimateD have
been $279, 500.40, or $3S, 346.S5 less
than the amount authorized to be
spent. AS soon as report of the cur
rent month can be made up, l will add
hereto a tabulated statement of all eX-
penditures.
The expenses of plague and fire and
the loss of revenue from the custom
house and from other sources, amount
ing to some 81, 400, 900 or $1,500,00 a
year. render intelligent economy i'm
perative and it is the harder to attain
because extraordinary prosperity has
fostered lavish habits in public as well
is i'm private affairs. At the same time,
the cost of the grand jury system re-
qured by the Constitution of the Unit
ed States, and the increase of crime
incident to rapid growth under new
conditions, and the rising prices of
prison and other supplies make it eX-
tremely difficult to avoid a large in
crease Oh leSlllindle expenditure lllC
fact that the department has kept
nearly $4,000 inside of appropriations
is due to the efficiency and honesty of
the high sheriff, deputy high sheriff,
sheriffs, jailor and other subordinate
officials who were left to me, legacy
by my able and honored predecessors
in office. l think it is possible not only
to keep well within present appropria-
lions, but even to reduce them by some
SIS, OOO without detriment to the SER
vice.
The last biennial appropriation for
detective services was $4,000. L be-
lieve that the methods sometimes
adopted by informers are more cor
rupting TO public morals than the Of
lenses they are used to suppress, and
that they are, at best, necessary evil
to be used sparingly. l recommend that
the appropriation be reduced from
$4,000 to $500.
l recommend the same appropriation
as heretofore for the support and main
tenance of prisoners.
The segregation of long term pris-
oners lessons the cost of guarding
them. The appropriation for this pur-
pose can be safely reduced $4,000.
The last Legislature provided that
coroners' jurors, who, until recently,
had been compelled to serve without
pay, should be paid $500 a day. 1
think it prudent to recommend that
the appropriation for the ensuing two
years be increased thousand dollars.
The grand jury system is much more
cumbersome and expensive than the
old procedure. Under the Constitution
of the United States and the Organic
Act, offenses punishable by imprison-
ment for more than one year or by loss
of civil rights can be prosecuted only
upon Indictment by a grand jury. /
ra ha of ri re 10
confined to offenses punishable by i'm
prisonment exceeding one year, and
that most offenses heretofore punish
able by Imprisonment not exceeding
two years be made punishable by inn
prisonment not exceeding one year.
Section 5S4 of the Penal Laws of
1897, providing that district magis-
trates shall have jurisdiction for the
prosecution, trial and sentence to pun
ishment of any person where the pun
ishment prescribed does not exceed i'm
prisonment at hard labor for two years,
is in conflict with the Constitution of
the United States and the Organic Act
of the Territory. 1 recommend that
the law as it appears in our local sta
tutes, be amended in conformity with
what it actually is, as changed by
United States authorities, giving dis
trist magistrates jurisdiction for the
trial and sentence to pun
iShment of any person where the pun
ishment prescribed does not involve
loss of civil rights, and does not author
ize Imprisonment at hard labor eX-
ceeding one year, with or without, fine. |
1 also recommend that district magis-
trates have jurisdiction, with the APP |
prevail of the prosecuting officer, to
take pleas of guilty where the maxi |
mum penalty for the offense charged is
imprisonment at hard labor not eX- |
cesding two years, and to sentence the
accused on his plea of guilty to i'm
prisonment at hard labor not exceeding
one year, with or without fine as the
law may require, and without loss of
civil rights.
Before the bubonic plague, when
there was full treasury, plans and eS- |
Inmates for a new. prison were made
with a view of asking an appropriation
therefor by the Legislature. l do not
feel justified in recommending any
appropriation for this pur-
pose in the present financial condition
of the Territory
reformatory for girls, and better
for boys, are among the
needs of the Territory, which should be
met as soon as it's finances will admit.
l recommend the repeal of the law
making the Attorney General mem
Der of the Board of Health, eX-officio.
Although there is urgent need of
economy, 1 believe that general re-
duction of salaries will be disastrous
to the public service. With the oppor-
tunities which exist here, the best men
can do better, financially, in private
life. To reduce their salaries would
simply drive them out Their places
could not be filled with men of equal
character and ability, and the least
efficient would be left.