Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-12-10
CHAMBER OF commerce RESOLVES
FOR BETTER ACCOUNTING method

IL
an agreement and arrangement which
we had with the special committee
appointed by the Ad Club to look into
government administration, finance
| and accounting, has worked for and
with the joint committee with par
! ticular earnestness
In order that we might know of and
: definitely ascertainothe conditions that
exist in the public ofnces and be able
to suggest a constructive policy, we
requested OF the governor that we
, might have access TO the government
offices and asked Governor Plnkham
for his assistance and cooperation.
1 This assistance and interest was given
by the governor, and Mr.. Field has
! prepared several reports bearing upon
his findings. These reports are par
, ticularly valuable, not only in pointing
out certain defects in the existing sys-
tenn but as suggesting remedies for
weaknesses which prevail and which
now continue to exist. The suggestion
that many Of the faults have been well
known for long time does not in any
way help matters or is the cry OF
can't at all in order.
1T is particularly apparent that We
must have reconstruction and remedy
for the present conditions which en-
courage Iooseness,- waste and ineffici-
sncy, in the administration of our pub
lie affairs.
1T is hardly necessary for this COM
mittee to go into details or to offer
Individual ideas as to what special
methods should be adopted to remedy
these conditions as there are one or
more standard systems of municipal
accounting which are in operation on
the mainland which would be particu-
larly useful in the territory of Hawaii
and provide a safeguard against the
irregularities which are pointed out in
Mr. Fields findings.
I'VE find and are aware of too much
duplication In. clerical work, and are Of
the opinion that ar standard method of
public accounting should be adopted
and put into operation in this county
and for the territory Of Hawaii. These
matters should not be left to every
public servant that may be appointed
II elected TO office, but should be laid
down and put in force by some master
mind who may, by keen knowledge
If government affairs and especially
Of local conditions, and by wide COM
parison, be ablefto suggest the best
possible system for our needs.
"Your committee feels that the ter
ritory and government can well afford
and should employ the services of an
expert on this work and not continue
to leave the matter to the considera-
ton of the senate and house commit
tees or for the board of supervisors
to work out a system. Questions af-
fecting methods of control over public
finances, and what constitutes econ
omy In organization and the most eff
fcient administration of government
offices, are matters which call not only
for technical knowledge of public &C.
counting but wide experience in bust
ness administration generally, and a
thorough insight into the working
scheme of both our territorial and mu-
nicipal governments. There has been
altogether too much of the 'mahope'
policy, and it is very opportune and
high time that some reconstruetive ac-
ion should be undertaken. This is
no time for experimenting, and. be-
sides, there are remedies quite avail
able and we cannot afford to procras-
innate. ~.
I'VE recommend that the governor
appoint and secure the services Of an
expert capable of pointing out the loop
holes in the present system and Of
applying the standard methods to our
local conditional We further recon-
mend and urge that the next territorial
legislature set aside and appropriate
sufficient funds to compensate the ap-
pointee Of the governor" -.
1t is in a somewhat different way,
however, that Mr.. Guild summarizes
the situation. He closed his report
as follows:
Instead of our public offices keep
ing pace in matters of administration
with progressive communities else
where, it is shown that we are still
retfograding to such an extent that
without excessive taxation, our public
business will come to standstill for
want OF funds to Keep the machine go
ling. There is no use eyading the is
sue; for three years past we have been
shown the way, yet conditions exist in
our public departments which would
spell bankruptcy, in unmistakable
terms, to any private concern.
There is not the slightest excuse
to be offered for existing conditions;
IL our progressive citizens are resigned
to their fate and accept the inevitable,
then there is no. further comment to be
made, but now, that the matter has
been taken up oy both the honolulu
Chamber of Commerce and the Homo
luluz Ad Club, ,,ne business men of
this community should not allow the
matter Eteebe dropped. They should
strain eVery,efIorI 70 place before the
next legislature, through the governor,
q constructive policy embracing both
the organization and financial control
of all the terrtor1al and municipal de-
partments4 1t is in urging and insist
ing on action of this nature that an
organization like the Honolulu Ad
Club, composed of men from all walks
of life. can render to the community