The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1859-05-05
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
THURSDAY. MAY {

The Legislature finally adjourned on Wednes
day, May 4, after the most protracted and tedi-
Gus session known in Hawaiian legislation. In
Guiding the session of 1858, it has sat l4O days or
n space of over five months. The great work be.
fore it, rs our readers have before been informed
has been the revision of the Civil Code of the
kingdom, which, as it now exists, extends through
some eight or more volumes, each of which con-
tains 50 many annulled laws, sections, or clauses,
that our best lawyers are sometimes puzzled in
regard to the actual statutes in force. The debate
ON this Code, particularly near the close of the
session, has been unnecessarily protracted by the
course pursued by the Ministers in aiming to
overthrow the existing liquor laws and install a
new order of things. In this effort, however,
they have been defeated, and the old law restrict
ing the traffic to foreigners, remains in force.
The representatives, as individuals and as a
body, deserve the thanks of the nation for so firm
ly outstanding the pressure brought to bear on
them, in order to dissuade them from the stand
they have so nobly taken on this question. Every
art, every argument, every persuasive which
ministerial influence could command, has been
brought against the Lower House but happily,
reason, law and the constitution have triumphed,
and the Ministers have been fairly defeated.
The principal features of the proposed new
liquor law which has just been defeated,-and
upon which the Ministry risked what under any
other constitutional monarchy would have been
the possession of their places-have been repeated
ly put before the public, but at the risk of repeti-
ton we will again state them:
1st.-To allow natives as well as foreigners to
take out wholesale and retail liquor licenses in
Honolulu, ON payment of the usual license fees.
2d.-To license the retail liquor traffic in
Lahaina.
3d.-To open all parts of the kingdom to the
liquor traffic, and allow the unrestricted sale of
liquors to natives
But the Ministers have been defeated-fairly
and honorably defeated-in their struggle to ex-
tend under the plea of " constitutional liberty
this pet liquor boon to the poor natives, who
dread its cursed touch as they dread the raging
fire. A few months longer residence here, par
ticularly if a hospital is established, may afford
the Ministers an insight into the true wants of
the native race.
By this action of the Lower House in remain
ing steadfast against the efforts Of the Ministers,
all the present enactments regulating the traffic
in spirits remain intact. Doubtless the attempt
to force rum upon the natives will again be made
next year, for it will be remembered that the
for members of the Legislature of 1860
takes place all over the islands next January.
Let the friends of the Hawaiian race be on the
alert, for the attempt will surely be made with
the aids of governmental strength and influence
to carry the elections, and create a House of
which, unlike the present, can
be managed.
PaStHaS fhA (sy.l n,1a xuL..L .lSI1,-l -
near as We can learn, is somewhat imperfect and
Objectionable in several of its details, the Legisla-
has passed and the King has approved, (" An
Act to promote Fencing" IN Act to prevent
the Larceny of Animals - IAN Act to provide
for rebuilding the Oahu Bridges - IAN Act
authorising the sale or lease of the Government
Press " :" An Act to promote Inter-island Steam
Communication - An Act to Incorporate the
Gas Company - "An Act relating to
the enlistment of native seamen - San Act to
provide Hospitals for INDECENT sick - San Act
Tor the protection of insectiverous birds - An
Act to provide n further supply of water for the
of Honolulu I" /" An Act to amend the Penal
Code, by forbidding the distillation of spirits -
and one or two minor bills upon matters of less
interest than the foregoing.
The New Code, however, is of the m~ostimport-
lnce in every respect, involving, as it does, many
radical changes in the system Of raising the reve-
nue. Among these the most important is the
for the first time on these islands. of
tax upon real estate. The tax is quite light to
De sure. but quite large enough to begin with.
To The people, as represented in the Legislature,
s due the credit of originating the idea of a prop
rty tax, some years ago, and they have continued
o agitate the subject, notwithstanding a defeat
II Two in the Upper House, until at last they
ave succeeded. with the help of one or two en-
Mobiles, in getting the entering wedge
ixed in the Civil Code, A change is also pro-
ided for in the tariff of duties imposed ON mer-
handise, by fixing the rate at ten per cent. in
tead of five, as at present. The prices of licenses,
lso, with the exception only Of those for the sale
{ spirits have been raiscd. in some instances |,
Dubbed, in amount.
Bat we propose to revert again to thk subject
f the New Code IN detail Is it Is a matter In which /.
b are much interested. We intend also, # prac-
ceble, 70 p~ubEhh'sone portions of the Code in I
he until nexf Ana ~