The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-02-23

WALL
The Act of Congress providing a
government for the Territory of Ha-
waii completed the process of annexa-
tion, begun with the Hawaiian accept
ance of the joint resolution of Con-
gress for the union of the Hawaiian
Islands with the United States of Am
erica.
The period between such acceptance,
on the 18th day of August, 1898, and the
going into effect of the Territorial Act
on the 14th day of June, 1900, was one
of transition. While the Hawaiian
Government had come under the juris-
diction of the government of the Unit
ed States, it still continued to admin
lister some of the prerogatives of an
Independent power. 1t collected duties
under its own laws on goods import
ed from other countries and even on
those coming from the United States.
1t preserved its consular relations with
other countries including the United
States. 1t continued its quarantine re-
gulations against the rest of the world
This quasi Independent status gave
rise to many questions difficult of so
luton, and made it necessary in the
public interest to maintain a repre-
sentative at Washington.
The changes made by the Territorial
Act in the departments of the local
government caused some difficulty in
.sence of legislative assistance. De-
partment clerks have had in some cases
to follow their duties into other de-
partments.
The powers and duties of the new
office of Superintendent of Public
Works, correspond substantially with
those of the Minister of the Interior
under the Republic, with the exception
of certain specified matters relating
to licenses, corporations, partnerships,
business enterprises of married wO-
men, and registry of conveyances,
which were transferred to the Treasur-
er, matters relating to prisons, notaries
and escheat of lands, which were trans
ferred to the Attorney General, and
those relating to the preservation of
laws and proceedings of the Legisla-
ture, and the duty of promulgating eX-
ecutive proclamations, which were
transferred to the Secretary of the
Territory.
The duties and authority of the old
Commissioners of Public Lands and
Agent of Public Lands have been COM
bined in one preson, the Commissioner
of Public Lands.
At the present time under the ap-
preparations made in the Legislative
Session of 1898, the pay of the heads
of departments is very uneven. While
the Attorney General, the Treasurer
and the Superintendent of Public
Works receive each six thousand dol
lars a year, the Superintendent of Pu-
bile instruction receives nothing-the
corresponding position of Minister of
Public instruction having been for
merly held eX-officio by the Minister of
Foreign Affairs who received his sal
airy as such Minister. The annual sal
airy of the Commissioner of Public
Lands is three thousand dollars, that
of the Commissioner of Agriculture and
is. fNNrN hon nd h11Fn
dollars, that of the Surveyor is three
thousand dollars, while the President
of the Board of Health receives moth
ing.
AS will be seen in the estimates l
have placed the four leading eXecu-
tive officers in a class by themselves
with an annual salary of four thou
sand five hundred dollars each; such
reduction of pay being consonant with
the rates established for such Terri
torial officers as are paid by the Fede-
raj government
The Commissioner of Public Lands,
the Commissioner of Agriculture and
Forestry and the President of the Board
of Health are placed in another class
with salaries corresponding to that of
the Auditor. 1t is a question in my
mind whether the President of the
Board of Health should not receive
four thousand five hundred dollars.
as follows: The Commissioner of Pub
lie Lands has now the whole work
and responsibility formerly divided
among the Commissioners of Public
Lands and the Agent of Public Lands
under the Republic, In regard to the
Commissioner of Agriculture and For
estry it is desired to develop the scope
of his department to an extent far be-
yond the field of the old Bureau of
Agriculture and Forestry in which case
the present pay is clearly inadequate.
Both of these officers are recommended
by the Federal authorities who are
working for the establishment of an
agricultural experiment station in the
Territory, for appointment as Commits
sioners in the management of such sta
ton.
The President of the Board of Health
is an oftiQAr having at times great and
most critical responsibilities in relation
to the 1aROtection of the pubic health.
Itydss sobfious that no one would be able
= to pefform the duties of this position
aSy.tforoughly without pay as If his
tins and efforts We're reasonably COM
pensated.
4 recommend that the beginning of
the first biennial period of the Terri
tory be set for the first day of July
1901, and that appropriations be made
accordingly. My reasons for this are:
first: the financial year of the gov
ernment of the United States begins
on the first day of July of each year,
under which rule our former practice
of beginning the financial period on the
first day of January, would, if contin-
ued, be extremely inconvenient and un-
suitable for several reasons, particu-
larly in the mater of statistics, and
official reports to the Federal govern
ment; second: 1t would for obvious
reasons, be an improvement in our sys-
TEN to have our financial period follow
the biennial appropriations instead Of
beginning several months before their
passage, as heretofore.
Such an arrangement was evidently
contemplated by Congress in enacting
section SO Of the Territorial Act, as
appears by the words which refer to the
regular sessions of the Legislature as
preceding the biennial periods for
which they make appropriations
The loss of the tariff and postal re-
venues incident to annexation, has been
a serious shock to our financial condi-
tiOn In the neriOd Of 1898 and 1899 the