The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-04-16
STATEMENT McCL ELAN BEFORE THE HOUSE COM
M1TTEE ON THE TERRITORIES, MARCH AND 25-HE De
sCR1BEs THE HEAVY BURDEN ENTERTAINING Wis
TToRs WHICH DEvoLvEs ON THE GOVERNOR.

me to emphasize the fact that this bill
is really not one for an increase of sal
aries, but is in substance a measure
designed to restore the salaries former
ly paid by the Hawaiian Government.
The bill provides for a salary of S1O,-
600 for the governor. Under the Re-
public of Hawaii, when our people
passed upon the question, we paid the
President $4,000 per year, and 1t was
then considered reasonable. This bill
calls for $4,000 less than we paid when
we had the authority and had to pro-
vide the funds ourselves.
Mr.. Kimball. Do you know the
amount of the annual salary of the
governor of Vermont?
Mr.. Mcclellan. l do not.
Mr.. Kimball It is $500.
Mr.. Mcclellan. Yes; and a good
many men fight for the honor of pre-
siding, but the proposition is consid-
erably different in Hawaii The class
of men whom we want to fill that Of
flee, the men who have the greatest eX-
perience and ability and the greatest
executive capacity, are difficult to OBJ
tain. Enough men could be found who
would be willing to serve for $4,000, but
to secure the men best fitted to fill the
office makes it necessary that an ade-
quate salary should be provided.
Mr.. Lloyd. If governors were select
ed by the native population from
among those who are residents could
they not be obtained for a much less
sum?
Mr.. Mcclellan. Under the organic
act the governorship is limited to resi-
dents of the Territory.
Mr.. Lloyd. The law does not require
that they shall have been born there
What is requisite for a residence?
Mr.. Mcclellan. One year.
Mr. Higgins Suppose the salary OF
the governor should remain as it Is
: now, and an appropriation should be
, made for the character of entertaining
to which you have referred.
2 Mr.. Mcclellan. | think that woulC
5 be a much better arrangement thai
D the one we have now, but it woult
= seem advisable to have the entir
2 amount provided as the salary attach
=. ing to the officer
= Mr.. Capron What is the present sal
t airy of the governor of Hawaii?
t Mr.. Mcclellan. 1t is $4,000.
= The Chairman. 1t is a question
- whether there would not be danger,
an appropriation were made for tn
e actual amount expended, that it woul
e run to an amount far greater than tn
= figure suggested by your amendment.
- Mr.. Mcclellan. I think it would
S The actual sum in any event woul
= run above that. The salary should b
Il more than $4,000. l happen to be pref
ty well acquainted with GovernO
e Frear, who was on the supreme bench
d and l know something of the circum
e stances leading up to his appOintmer
S as governor. A number of promineI
e citizens visited him last summer an
r had talk with him because he was
= doubt in his own mind whether h
d could consistently accept the Office {
It governor, as he was receiving on tn
l. supreme bench a salary of $500,
IL place which carried few of these n
If sponsibilities and outside expense
and he was urged by a great man
Is business and professional men to a,
i cept the office. He had never been
J. candidate. His acceptance of the otfit
n involved the loss in salary of $500 pr
year and the taking on of this add
+ tional burden of expense.
At Governor Frear, not being a man
10 large wealth like Governor Carter, a
# cepted the office out of sheer sense
10 public duty, giving up an Office
J. which he had practically a life tenuT
~ one which was congenial to him, and
n position of honor and trust; | think
of is greatly to his credit that he has CO..
in sented to accept the governorship b
PC cause many of the leading members
,v the community felt chat he was Il
M best man for the position and that
ought to accept it, even though on ma
10 rover personal grounds he did not d
,s sire the office. Governor Frear is n
,v pressing this matter of increase of So
no airy. He was on here last fall and
" went so far as to refuse to file data
W. regard to the matter before the Sc
rotary of the Interior. He filed mem
he randa on every other subject concer
IN ing Hawaii except on the question
r. salary. l think it is due to the COVE
10 nor of Hawaii that he should have
re salary of not less than $4,000, so tn
r. we could reasonably ask a proper
of equipped and trained man to carry
IN that office and properly represent t
nm people of the Territory and the FC
co eral Government.
n The Chairman. In order to get I
g. matter clearly before the commit
w. can you give any illustration to sh
a the increased cost of living in Haw
as over the ordinary cost of living in Il
country?
he Mr. Mcclellan. In the first place
-ht cost of house rent is greater there