The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1904-03-31
HOLLOWAY AND
APPROPRIATIONS
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC
WORKS WRITES TO CARTER
ABOUT CUTS IN HIS OFFICE.

superintendent of Public Works Hol-
ioway yesterday sent to Governor Car
ter a letter accompanying Holloway's
appropriation estimates, in which he
discussed the salary question and other
matters. Holloway wants all the de-
parements to cut alike. His letter saws.
Sir:-ln accordance with your letter
of the 25th inst, l beg to hand you
herewith an appropriation bill which l
consider will fill the requirements of
/ the Department of Public Works. If
rigid economy is followed
The amounts under the various heads
have been cut as much as possible. and
Will not allow of further reduction bv
| the Legislature Furthermore. we are
not allowing much margin for unfore-
seen expenditures which might be
necessary i'm any of the departments.
/ so / would strongly recommend tbe
appropriation of at least $4,000. as
shown on the last sheet, for an emer-
gency fund which could be used to help
/ out any appropriation that became ex-
hausted before the end of the period.
Again, rather than divide up expen-
ses of the various departments into
specific pay rolls and current expenses.
l believe the Legislature should appro-
pirate lump sums as shown, in order to
avoid small balances in each appro-
priation, which would naturally be left
at the end of the period, and while
of small amounts, when added together,
they would amount to quite a consid-
cradle sum, and form quite fair per-
centage of the total appropriation.
In the reduction of salaries, 1 have
followed suggestions as laid out by you
as far as possible, but l realize that, if
other heads of departments do not re-
duce in the same line, there will be
considerable unpleasant feeling on the
part Of the employees in the Public
Works Department
Il have been given to understand that
in certain departments, such reductions
have been avoided. If this is the case,
1 believe it is only fair to allow me the
same latitude. For instance, l prepared
a scale Of reduction for the Fire De-
partment, which l considered feasible,
but on talking the matter over with
one of the Fire Commissioners, 1 find
that they do not intend to make any
reduction in the pay of employees as
they claim that the efficiency of the
department will be impaired. If this is
so, it applies equally as well to the
engineers, firemen, and reservoir keep
ers of the Water Works Department,
upon whom the Fire Department is
forced to rely for proper water supply.
OF course, l have no official right to
schedule wages for the Fire Depart
ment, and simply did it to ascertain if
my ideas would meet with the approval
of the Fire Commissioners.
q have reduced the salaries of the
engineers and fremen of the pumping
stations, which We're raised by the last
Legislature, but l understand this in
crease was to avoid paying overtime,
which is often necessary when any
packing, repairing to the engines or
/ cleaning of the boilers is to be done.
believe, however, that intelligent and
competent men can be obtained at the
reduced salaries.
Il beg to say that there really should
be the same line of reduction in all the
| department salaries as far as possible,
and 1 trust that my department will
not have to stand more than others.
In order that my appropriations may
be ineligible to you, and the Legisla-
/ ture, 1 have segregated certain sums
which include current expenses and
pay rolls, and have itemized same as
shown on sheets enclosed but as I have
stated before, it is not with the inten-
! ton of having them included in the
new appropriation bill in this form,
but for the information of the Legisla-
ture if they desire to inquire into the
details of the appropriations.
1T is impossible to take up the Car
bage Department in this way, owing
to the large reduction made in the APP
preparation for period ending Decem-
Der 81, 1903 and we will have to rely on
paying day wages rather than monthly
salaries, in order to make both ends
meet.
Il am working on a schedule of char
ges for this service, as well as sewer
rates, and trust that l will have then
in such shape so that they will meet
with the approval of the Legislature
1t is a difficult matter to regulate the
garbage charges, as we cannot enforce
payment as we do in the water anc
sewerage departments by shutting of
the connection, I believe the only sat
isfactory way to adjust these matters
would be to assess property owners
directly for such betterments on theil
street frontage where the improve
ments are installed and this should alsc
apply to new pavements or sidewalks
I doubt however if the time can b,
taken during the present session Of thu
Legislature to prepare and pass sat
isfactory BILL but this certainly SHOULD
be prepared for the next regular ses
sion.
q enclose estimate OF expenditure
for the Board Of Agriculture and For
estry as prepared by Mr., L. A. Thurstol
for various periods, and understand
that this meets with the approval of tn
othpr members of the Board.