The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-01-07
ECONOMY
IS URGED
Attorney General
Advises a
Cut.
CIRCULAR SENT
TO SnERIFFS
Reduction Must be Made in De.
partment's Expenses to Keep
Within Appropriation.

Attorney Dole has sent to
High Sheriff Brown and the Deputy
Sheriffs of all the islands, and all off
Gals in his department circular let
ter strongly urging strict economy
wherever possible. In his letter he
states that the increase in population
and consequent increase in crime has
caused an additional expense in his de-
partmenL In order to keep within the
appropriation a general reduction IN
expenses is ordered.
The following Is a copy of the letter:
Territory of Hawaii,
ONCE of the Attorney General,
Honolulu, II. l.. Jan. 9Th 1902.
Dear Sir:-rhe rapid increase of popu-
iation; the large influx of disorderly and
criminal characters; the failure OF the
legislature to reduce most misdemeanors
under the laws of the Republic of IIa-
wall to the grade of m;sdemeanors under
the constitution of the United States,
making 1t necessary to prosecute petty
offenses. IL prosecuted at all, by the eN-
pensive machinery of a grand jury; the
introduction of the grand jury system it
self; the enormous growth of court bust
ness with protracted, extended and spe-
the habeas corpus cases, the substantial
advance in the price of beef, poi and 9TH
er prison supplies and various necessa-
ries of the departmental these things
make 1t possible for us to keep within
our appropriations only by the most
painstak.ng economy.
The expenditures of the attorney gen.
erals department for the year 1890 were
s42, 020.00 less than the pro rata of the
appropriations for its support, saving
of trifle more than thirty-five hundred
dollars month. Our present appropria-
tons are less and our expenses are great
err. The bills for December. 1901, are not
yet all in; but during the five preceding
months, July, August, September Octo-
Der and November. we spent only $197Si
less than the pro rata OF our appropr1a-
tons. a saving of only 1886 a month.
This is living very close to our possible
average income and leaves nothing for
unforeseen and extraordinary emergen-
cies.
During these five months we spent
s1190.66 more than our pro rata for the
support and maintenance Of prisoners,
S1671.51 more than our pro rata for
incidental civil and criminal expenses.
and s237.G2 more than our pro rata for
expenses of witnesses in criminal cases
a total excess of our pro rata on these
three appropriations of So, 093.fS: and 1t Is
only by saving on other app opriauons
Of our pro rata.
BY careful administration It Is believ
ed that the Territorial treasury will be
able to meet the most pressing demands,
and that public improvements VIII not be
delayed to the serious prejudice of public
interests. But to do this requires good
fnanciering and that all Territorial Off
Gals shall work together for the com
mon welfare At a recent executive meet /
ing the whole subject was gone over with
a view of cutting down expenses pro
rata The reduction assigned to our de- |.
partment is $4,000 month for January. /
February and March. of this year.
I feel that whatever success l have had /
as attorney general Is due to the honest
and loyal support of the department. as
a whole: that it was almost Impossible /
for me to utterly fail with such good /
Of existing financial conditions, / ask
cordial aid in the endeavor to keep down
expenses IN all ways that may be just
and proper and that do not interfere
with the efficiency of our work
The appropriation for civil and crirpi-
nal incidentals IS, so to speak, the pin
money of the department. which one on
cial may spend lavishly with honest in
tent and another economize without
nea mess. The appropriation for wit
1esses In criminal cases is necessarily
irawn upon heavily, perhaps TO the fun
Init under new conditions; but constant
in all Circuit and District
Courts that witnesses are not kept on ex-
1ense when they are not needed, results
n the course of year in substantial
;aving. An average saving of even
liclzel IN the dollar on our appropriations
IS a whole would materially aid the pub
&c treasury and leave our department
With safe margin to its credit. Let us
~ TO save the nickel
1 am sending copy of this letter TO
III the chief officials of the department.
Thanking you in advance for the atten-
ion which ! know you will give TO this
natter. / am,
Very truly yours,
f. p. DOLE.
Attorney General