The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-04-07
THE GovERKoRs MESSAGE.

Governor Carriers message. as
whole. is one of the most admirable
Executive papers we have ever read
1t has the clearness and precision of
a bank statement; and its recon-
mendations are those of a thoughtful,
Fwell-informed. earnest and patriotic
man.
Condensed to the bare outlines this
message states that the Territory of
Hawaii is making a deficit at the rate
of sss. 1S1.25 per month; that the way
to deal with this deficit is not to try
and bond it. but to cut off unnecessary
taxes, overpaid salaries and the main
tenance of institutions which can be
named as the Land Registration court.
Hospital subsidies, Jury fees, Govern
ment physicians, Honolulu Dispensary,
the Militia, the Band and the Summer
School for teachers. There is a top
heavy system of government to be |
trimmed down and simplified; and it
is desirable to keep accounts so that |
the taxpayers of each district may |
know where their money is going.
The Governor seems to feel that the
people cannot yet afford cumbersome
county governments and he suggests,
as a substitute, that the next Legis-
lature, after segregating certain things
like. education, finance, the care of
Iarars 90 ry,arritoriol aayoo,-,,r should |
provide for them by a pro rata charge
against each island. leaving the funds
remaining of the taxes paid by each
island to be expended as the people
living there may direct. This enlarges
the sphere of local self-government
without increasing the public expenses
and is in line with the simpler adj
ministration which all well-wishers of
the Territory desire.
The Governor, to aid the Legislature
az far as he may, provides a scheme of
appropriation which will expend $685.
107 out of an estimated revenue of
s.. 16a. s72.4s, leaving s1O5.2o2.4s to be
applied towards the reduction of the
current debt of $685.
In conclusion the Governor says:
On behalf of the people of this Terri
DRY, I ask of you the following
First. That you Iegalize no expendi-
lure beyond the estimated revenue;
hat you repeal all present appropri- I
alton bills. including those special g
acts passed at the last session of the c
legislature. c
i
Second. That in order to overtake e
,ur income and to return to a cash | b
oasis, thereby doing away with the {
necessity of registering warrants, you |
1eep your appropriations, as far as
consistent with sound judgment, below '
he income.
Third. That you justify the expense
# your session by special legislation I
which will relieve the general revenues
f the costs of litigation, and establish
policy of requiring direct charges for
pecial services in particular districts,
hus relieving the general revenues of a
be charges for Honolulu garbage and y
ever systems.
Fourth, and lastly. That, as you con- Z 9.
rol the purse strings of our Territory, :,
ou prove true to the trust imposed =
pom you by setting an example to the :.
eopIe and to the Administration in the =
economy and publicity of your own
fairs, thus proving your legislative
ody to be worthy of the people of the v
erritory of Hawaii
Governor Carter does not attempt to
ictate to the Legislature. the rights
which as a coordinate body he is
arefu1 to respect, and he is willing to
ccept a better plan than his own. or =
$ good a one, if it is presented to o
i'm All he asks is that the Legisla- al
ire shall put the finances of Hawaii Dl
pom a sound and economical basis e.
ltting the coat according to the cloth. TT
is a reasonable request; it is one III
hich cannot be. refused without COM w
cling public bankruptcy and i'm -
cling Congress to reorganfze the -.
erritorial government. j
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