The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1909-02-09
FIGURE DEFICIT
FOR TERRITORY
tFrom Saturdays Advertiser.) }

-hN'N%N-N'J
The exact financial condition of the
Territorial government is shown in a
summary statement that was given out
yestorda, by Governor Frear and the
1inal figures disclose the interesting
fact that there will be deficit of ex.
aetly 500, ,s23.53 to be presented to the
consideration of the approaching Leg
islature. All of the Territorial officials
whose functions connect them with the
responsibilities of government finance
have worked diligently over the
figures that came within their province
and the issuance of the Governor s
statement yesterday shows the results.
Although the deficit of approximate.
ly $4,000 does not look particularly
well on paper the fact that the figure
is not materially larger proves that
the subtleties of higher public finance
have been well applied by the execu-
tive officers of the Territory.
The deficit figure has been scaled
down materially from the amount that
was first calculated. The county IL
cense question played an important
part in the figures, it being estimated
that there would be a deficit of $685.,
45299 at June 3Oth of 1909 If the IL
cense fees did net have to be turned
over to the county governments. Should
it be decided that the counties were
10 get only one-half. of the amounts
collected through license then it was
believed that the deficit would total
s266602.99.
Question of License.
The question as to whether or not
counties should receive one half of the
license fees was then passed over to the
Legislature and after that body of
lawmakers had given their Endorsement
to the bill it became n law after be-
ing carried to the Supreme Court on a
question of validity by the Governor.
As Governor Frear stated yesterday,
the last Legislature began business
with a $4,000 balance for the present
hscal period. By policy of retrench'
ment, the government has saved about
$4,000 of this amount which has
brought the deficit down to approxi'
mately $4,000. "After l had taken
Office declared Governor Frear yes
terday, "we anticipated a deficit OF
about $lll, 900, but as matters have
turned out we have been enabled tC
considerably better it by some thou
sands of dollars.'
Governor Frear and Secretary Mott
Smith are hopeful that the deficit o
500, ,s23.53 may be even yet reduced t
n smaller figure. The Territory ha
n prospect in this connection by tn
possibility of Congress passing the bill
that will return the money that wa
used on lighthouses. There is also tn
possibility of the Territory realizing
on the legal judgment that was give
in an action against Cotton Brothers
Just at present the Governor an
Secretary Mott-Smith are deep in tn
appropriation estimates that have bee
drawn up by the departmental heads
The total of these, it is believed, wi
be in excess of half million dollar
and the work of scaling down the est
mates to figures that in total will com
somewhere near equaling the revenue
is the problem that is just now receiN
ing earnest consideration.
May Consolidate.
Secretary Mott Smith declared yes
terday he believed that from the eS
perience of previous years it is tn
policy of wisdom to figure on Terr
torial revenue of $3,20O,0OO and to fo
low out a policy of scaling down AZ
preparations to agree with that igur
as near as possible.
The men who have been analyzin
the household accounts of the Territor
for this year have come to the unar
imous conclusion that it is not goo
finance to make appropriations on e1
pectation and that something MOI
tangible is needed to assure SAT
sound and conservative basis for ca
culating into the future. The appo
tionments will be worked out with Il
greatest care ami nothing that ca
possibly reduce and simplify the a
ministrative departments will be owe
looked.
1t is known that Governor Frear hi
well formed ideas on the consolidate
of some of the Territorial Offices al
there is good ground for the belief tn
he will make recommendations in tn
connection in his message to the Le
islature Economy is the keynote tn
has been sounded in the executive
fees and that this can be best secur
by an intelligent consolidation of
partments is belieyed to have beco
the conclusion of the Governor, j
what he win recommend in this reg
is the question that more than one