The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-05-27

HOE. fTSO w. Beckleyp speaker OF Ine
House OF Representatives. Honolulu,
T. H. .xa.
SIR
Your Committee on Public Expendi-
lures in conformance with House Rule
No. q has made an investigation OF
Public Expenditures, and beg to re-
port as follows:
We have taken into consideration
the Auditors Report, and determined
that his statements OF receipts and ex-
penditures agree with the Books of the
Department.
Taking the report up in detail as to
expenditures to December 81, 1902, we
find:
1st-Permanent Settlements.
These payments have been made pro-
rata to date as per appropriation, viz:
S12, $4,000.
2nd-Secretary of Territory.
Expenditures in this Department
amounting to s21. sS46O. are apparently
in order. We believe that past appro-
priations will be sufficient for the tu-
ture.
3rd-Judiciary Department.
The expenditures under this Depart
ment amounting to $132,056.SS have
and found to be in order. Our inves-
tigation shows that sufficient money
has not been appropriated heretofore,
owing to the great increase of litiga-
ton and recommend that the increased
appropriations asked for have the
serious consideration of this House.
4th-Fire Claims Commission.
We find expenditures of $159,650,2 %
are correct. $147 80 of this amount
being paid as 10 per cent of awards
to claimants, $40. 10000 of which was
received by the Territory from the
United States Government on account
of interest on bonds advanced by this
Government. The balance making up
this item. 81, 81 so, having been drawn
from the current cash account, the re-
mainder S12, 1888 represents the ex-
penses of the Fire Claims Commission
in determining awards to claimants.
5th - Attorney Generals Depart
ment.
Expenditures in the sum of $462, 031.-
81 have been made by this Department.
We have checked the specific salaries
and find payments have been made
conformably with the appropriations.
An examination of the item of "Sup-
port and Maintenance of Prisoners"
10 OfsoOO.OO SAOWS cCOHOItly
of administration which other Depart
ments Of the Government might well
emulate. An examination of the Po-
lice Department shows a high state Of
efficiency and economy of management
in view of the work performed.
We find under the expenditures of
Incidentals of this Department that an
excessive amount has been paid for
professional services of outside attor-
neys for prosecuting Government
work which should have been per-
formed in our opinion by employees of
the Department.
6th-Treasury Department
Salaries of this Department have
been checked and found in order. The
expenditures under this Department
have been Sis, 666.97. Under the head
of Incidentals, $5.966.65, we find a
monthly charge of $500 for the keep
ing Of a horse and buggy of the Lii
cense Collector in a private stable.
This rig should be kept in Government
Stables. also Attorneys fees in suit
against the Treasurer in the sum of
$4,000. which should in our opinion
have been defended by the Attorney
Generals Department, and stenogra-
pher and typewriter.,s fees In the sum
of the Department. for office work
7th-Bureau of Taxes.
We find the expenditures in this De-
partment to be $1O5,s4ss2 Out of an
appropriation comprising pay of AS
SCISSORS and Commission for CoIIec-
lions of $144 10000, we find only four
Assessors salaries are specifically ap-
propriated. We recommend that SAL
aries for all permanent positions ulI-
der this Bureau be specified.
We find that this Bureau has paid
attorneys fees in litigation in con-
nection with the Bureau, the sum of
81. S65.00. and stenographer's fees in
the sum of $1,33440 We are of the
opinion that these expenditures should
be stopped and a regular attorney and
stenographer and typewriter be en-
ployed by the Treasury Department to
look after litigation of this Bureau, as
well as other matters under said DE-
partment.
A stenographer and typewriter Is at
present employed in the Treasurer's
at $500 per month, and
for a slight increase, a competent man
could be obtained to do this and the
Tax Bureaus work, as well as to at
tend to other duties. In fact we have
come TO the conclusion tnat a conlDNI-
alton in one Office of the Treasury De-
partment and the Tax Bureau of Ho-
nolulu would materially reduce the ex-
pense of both bureaus and result 81
greater efficiency of work. We be-
lieve the plan is entirely feasible and
can be accomplished
The Incidentals for all Assessors Of
the Islands are punched in one lump
sum. and an examination shows ex-
such as hiring of rigs at
5000 per day by deputies. We are OF
the opinion that each Assessor should
have a separate appropriation of in
rideutafs for his office. which would
bring about greater economy Of ex-
penditures-
sth-Bureau of Conveyance