ARTICLE XVII—OF THE APPOITMENT OF COLLECTORS, THEIR GENERAL DUTIES AND COMPENSATION.

 

§531.  The King in Privy Council, upon the nomination of the Minister of Finance, shall appoint a suitable person to be Collector-General of Customs, for all the ports of entry and departure in this Kingdom, who shall be ex officio collector of the port of Honolulu, and hold office during the pleasure of His Majesty.

 

§532.  Before entering upon the duties of his office, said Collector-General of Customs shall take and subscribe an oath, before the Minister of Finance, diligently and faithfully to execute the duties of his office; and shall enter into a bond to the Minister of Finance, and his successors in office, in the penal sum of at least ten thousand dollars, with one or more sureties to be approved by said minister, conditioned that he will faithfully and honestly discharge his duties as Collector-General of Customs, and punctually pay over to the Minister of Finance, as often as required, all moneys collected by him, or any of his deputies, and make quarterly returns of his receipts and transactions, as required by law.

 

§533.  Said Collector-General shall make quarterly returns to the Minister of Finance, commencing on the first day of January in each year, of all moneys received at the several custom houses of the Kingdom, from duties, storage, or any other source, settle his account with said Minister and pay over the balance.  He shall also make an annual report of the transactions and business of his department, and a statistical exhibit of the kinds, quantities, and values, of the several imports and exports of the Kingdom; and also of the national characters and tonnage of all vessels which enter the several ports of the Kingdom from foreign countries, and of the foreign countries from which such vessels shall arrive; and also of all vessels which depart form the Kingdom for foreign countries, and of the places for which such vessels depart; and of such other facts and matters as the Minister of Finance may from time to time require.

 

§534.  The Collector-General shall, with the approval of the Minister of Finance, appoint a collector for each of the several ports of the Kingdom, who shall be accountable to him for the faithful discharge of his duties, and who shall hold office during the pleasure of the Collector-General.

 

§535.  Every such collector, before entering upon the duties of his office, shall take and subscribe before the Collector-General, or some magistrate within his district, an oath that he will diligently and faithfully execute the duties of said office of collector, and that he will use his best endeavors to prevent and detect frauds against, and violations of the revenue laws of this Kingdom; he shall also enter into a bond to the Collector-General, with such sureties, in such penalty, and on such conditions as the Collector-General may require.

 

§536.  Every such collector shall make quarterly returns to the Collector-General of the receipts of his office, and settle his account; and as often as required pay over all moneys in his hands, from whatever source received. He shall also make such statistical exhibits as the Collector-General may from time to time require.

 

§537.  The collectors shall attend in person at the ports for which they are respectively appointed, and shall keep fair and true records of all their transactions, as officers of the customs, in such form and manner as may, from time to time, be directed by the Minister of Finance; and shall at all times, submit their books, papers and accounts to the inspection of such persons as may be appointed by said Minister for that purpose.

 

§538.  Every Collector, in case of sickness, or leave of absence obtained from the Minister of Finance, and not otherwise, may perform his several functions by deputy, duly constituted under his hand and seal; and for whom, in he execution of his trusts, he shall be answerable.

 

§539.  It shall be the duty of each collector, at the port for which he is appointed, to receive all reports, manifests, and documents to be made or exhibited, on the entry of any ship or vessel; to record all manifests, to receive the entries of all vessels and of the goods imported in them, to ascertain the amount of duties payable thereon, endorsing the amount upon the respective entries; to receive all moneys paid for duties, and to take bonds for securing the payment thereof; to grant all permits for the unlading and delivering of goods; to grant passports; and, with the approbation of the Minister of Finance, to appoint guards and storekeepers within his district, when necessary; to administer and certify all oaths and affirmations necessary for the performance of his duty; which oaths and affirmations may be produced as evidence in any court of justice of the Kingdom; and to do such other things as the law, or regulations made in pursuance thereof, may from time to time place in his charge.

 

§540.  In addition to the duties hereinbefore specified, the Collector-General is charged with the special duty of registering and licensing Hawaiian vessels.

 

§541.  The Collector-General of Customs, with the approval of the Minister of Finance, may appoint a deputy collector, for the port of Honolulu, to assist him in the discharge of his duties, which deputy shall receive such amount of compensation as the King in Privy Council may determine.

 

§542.  The Collector-General of Customs shall receive such annual salary as the Legislature may, from time to time, appropriate.

 

§543.  The Collector of Customs at Lahaina shall receive an annual salary of fifteen hundred dollars, to be paid quarterly. *

 

* Sheriffs made collectors, etc. from 1862.  See Appropriation Bill for 1862.

 

§544.  The Collectors of Customs at the several ports of Hilo, Kealakekua, Kawaihae and Koloa, shall receive such reasonable compensation as the Collector-General of Customs, with the approbation of the Minister of Finance, may determine.

 

 

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