The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-03-15
HONOLULU, q. T., MARCH Is, 1901
APPROPRIATIONS MUST WAIT.

member OF the Senate to inform it
what the Judiciary Committee has to
do with the appropriations for the en-
suing two years. In every legisla-
tive body the appropriations are al
ways considered by the Ways and
Means Committee. Another thing we
should like to know is why all this
haste about the appropriations on the
line OF the Governors estimates In
Congress all revenue bills must orig
mate in the House and the same is
true in every other State and Terri
tory of the Union. While the Organic
Act of Hawaii fails to specify that all
revenue bills shall originate in the
House. that is the place where they
should originate in accordance with
American precedent.
But to attempt to bring in any APP
preparation bill at this time would be
the height of folly. Appropriation
bills are always about the last to be
passed. The reasons for this are APP
parent In the multitude of bills in
PRODUCED. many of which are certain
to become laws. many changes in ex-
listing conditions are made and the
legislature cannot appropriate intel
ligently until it knows what the effect
OF these changes will be. Particularly
is this so in Hawaii at the present
time. A county government bill is
now before the House and as every
member of both branches of the leg
islature is pledged to it, ii is certain
to become a law. The creation OF
counties viii do away with many of
the present Offices under the Terri
torial government II will cause the
adjustment of sheriffs and police On
the various islands and place the
policing of the respective counties in
the hands of sheriff to be elected by
the people Ii will provide for coun'
ty clerks who win be ex-officio clerks
of court Then there will be county
recorders and auditors and commits
sioners, and each county will have
charge of its own road building, its
own courthouses and jails and local
improvements. AS these counties
will no doubt be in working order by
July LIST it would be the height If
folly to make appropriations Ger the
Territory now. on the basis Of the
Governors estimates.
Besides this county bill will be a
bill providing for municipal govern
ment for Honolulu. Notice of its IN
PRODUCTION has already been given and
the bill will DE introduced within the
next ten days. With the creation of
a city OF Honolulu more than one-half
OF the present Territorial employees
can be abolished. To make appropria'
lions for these employees. for the next
two years. would be foolish in view
of the coming municipal legislation
Municipal government. as well as
county government. is bound to come
from the fact that every member VI
both branches OF the legislature is
pledged to it.
Then too there is the dispensa-y
bill which is pretty certain to become
a law and other important legislation
that will reduce the expenses OF the
Territory TO less than one-tenth o.
what is proposed in the Governor
estimate The Judiciary Comnittes
of the Senate should be discharged
from consideration of the GOVERNOR
estimates and the whole matter re
ferred to the Ways and Means Com
mittec for proper consideration at tbs
proper time.