The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1859-01-06
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
G.

I. u.
Now that the shipping season is over and the
holidays gone by, the public may find leisure and
inclination to inquire what the Legislature is
doing. The lower House has been in session
since the first of December, and has passed some
four hundred sections out of the fifteen hum
dred of which the Civil Code consists. At this
rate of progress at least two months longer will
be required to complete the consideration of the
Code alone besides which there will be the APP
preparation bill and number of outside measures
to come up, which will take up time, and we
may safely reckon upon three months longer sit
ting at an expense to the treasury of nine or ten
thousand dollars. This seems a large sum to be
devoted to law making in a country like this, and
more especially when our limited means are con-
sidered. But the work must be done, and the
sooner the better. 1t is, however, a subject of
regret that the lower House is not formed of diff
ferent materials. AS it is, some of the honorable
gentlemen seem determined to throw every obsta-
Gle in the way of progress. Most extraordinary
objections are raised and frivolous grounds are
taken apparently for the sole object of making
debate, and frittering away the time: and when
it is remembered that every day the House sits. it
costs the country sos, we do not wonder that
the Speaker, burdened as he is with other duties,
has resigned his thankless position. Although
the House was induced to adopt the ten minute
rule, that has not as yet appeared to have the effect
of curtailing debate upon the simplest PROPOSE
tions. We would suggest as a means of expedi-
ting business. that whenever a chapter or article
is brought up, some one of the members who
were on the Joint Committee point out the new
features, if any, and that such only be considered
in detail, while those portions which are simply
repetitions of the old laws be passed in bulk. In
connection with this subject, we are pleased to
see that the House, on Tuesday last, voted to
meet twice 4 day hereafter, thus evincing a dis
position to expedite the business of the session.
A few days ago that part of the New Code re-
ferring to the Department of Foreign Relations
came before the House, and that body passed it
over rather cooMy with Il simple reading, in the
native version. Whether this arose from con-
tempt of the Office, was meant as a slight to the
incumbent, or whether they believed him and his
official routine to be perfection, does not appear. |
But a very important change from the present
relating to foreigners entering the kingdom
noticed and some of the members very nat
urally considering it absurd, and liable to prove a
serious annoyance to the travelling public, as well
as adding a little too much authority and promi-
hence to the Minister, opposed its passage. 1t
referred to a select committee, who will prob
ably report on it to-day.
Section 43s. Every Minister, Commissioner, or Consul of the
Islands, in any foreign country, may. under his Off
cal seal. grant passports to the subjects or citizens Of the nation
To which he is accredited. emitting them to enter this kingdom;
lowed to land, his passport shall be rised by the Minister of
Foreign Affairs or his agent. No such subject or citizen arriving |
here VifhOuf such pasSDort shal he at Iherfy tn land Withant l
he written permission of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
This is carrying the flibuster humbug a little
too far to suit the travelling public.
Besides passing four hundred and odd sec
tions of the Civil Code, the lower House have
passed the following bills An Act for the pro-
lection of Graziers; An Act authorising the use
Of the upper part of the Market by the t" Homo
Rifles as an Armory An Act for the sup
of Hulas An Act to provide Hospitals
or INDECENT sick An Act authorising the sale OF
ease of the Government Press and Joint Reso-
ution for the relief of G. p. Judd. Besides the
above, they have now before them An Act to
provide means to rebuild the bridges in this dis
1rict which were destroyed by the late food. The
Dill us reported by the Select Committee to whom
vas referred the Minister Communication on the
mbject, will he found among the Legislative pro-
in another column. 1t will be seen that
he committee have broken the ice, and have
boldly brought up that long dreaded but inevita-
Die subject, a tax on real estate. They certainly
deserve credit for their courage, and we hope they
will succeed in carrying the measure. As a be-
a sort of entering wedge, they propose
very light tax on real property-.'not to erceed
me quarter Of ono per cent tax which cam
~ H. huurdenaouae on anv one II il frue that |
taxation IL vexat,on." in whatever form it ia