Polynesian., 1860-08-25
HOUSE OF REPREsENTATTvEs.


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
SEvEyTY-THIRD DAY, Aug. I6.-Mr Dowsett pre-
sented petition signed by merchants and others, of
Honolulu praying that the auction Laws may be amend
ed to the restrictions present existing Referred
to Committee upon Commerce, with leave to report by
bill or otherwise.
Mr. Webster presented resolution that the Speaker
wait upon, His Majesty the King and communicate to
Hi Majesty that this House has received with respect,
his Royal Message and that this House will loyalty
slider the proposed Amendments the Constitution
referred TO therein. Mir. Webster introduced the
Amendments 10 the Constitution, and moved them
their second reading Ordered for Committee Of the
House tomorrow.
In Committee of the Whole on the bill amending the
law of Commissioners Of Private Ways. Mr.. Webster
suggested that the amendment should give the Com
msSiOners jurisdiction controversies of rights to
water and moved to refer to a Select Committee.
In Committee, the bill relating to deserton Of mar
ried people taken up. 1t provides that upon
complaint before police district justice Of
party tht his wife, or her husband as the case may
be- has deserted complainant without just cause, the
justice may issue summons, hear the case, procure
reconciliation if practicable, and if the offending party
refuse it. sentence to imprisonment, not to exceed one
month. Passed.
In Committee upon the bill to regulate the Public
He8h introduced by Mr.. Dowsett, for the provisions
of which see our report of the 69th day, Mr.. Hopu
moved to lay on the table. Mr. McCully moved that
to time the House precisely the Hae HaCa
recommended, (prnted slips of the editorial of that
paper for next week having just been laid on each
members desk, representing the bill license to
prostitution and urging to reject it)
Mr.. Webster said that while we heard what this
silent member (the editoria) had to say, he hoped
would give the bill little consideration, and not lay
it Immediately upon the table.
Mr.. kamakau made a vigorous speech in support Of
the bill. The evil which the bill aimed to diminish
the gaping crater Of destruction TO which this
nation, young and old, Fastening. We had built
churches in numbers from Hawaii to Niihau, while the
people were being destroyed.
The bill was strenuOusy supported by Messrs Dow
sett and Widemann, and opposed by Messrs. Green,
Ukeke and Nlahoe.
Mr. Dowset said in conclusion that those who would
lay upon the table deny the existence of prosti-
tuition in this kingdom, must ignore the name Brothe
of the Pacific Read an extract from a medical journal
exhibiting tn proportion Of venerea disease prevalent
in London where there no sanitary regulation Of
prostitutes as compared with Brussels, where there is
such system.
The Committee rose without action.
SEvExTY-FoURTH DAY, Aug. 1.-THE first business
Of the day the third reading of the Act to prevent
married people from deserting each other yesterday
debated and passed in Committee. Mr. Kaama made
an earnest protest and exhibited the mischiefs which
would, in his opinion, follow its enactment. 1t gave
party power to call back truant husband wife 10
their great annoyance 1tmight, and would probably,
yesterdays debate by Mr.. Chamberlayne, who moved
to amend the title to An Act for the promotion Of
poisoning &c.
The friends of this Act have acknowledge that it
was peculiar legislation to attempt to force married
couples live together but said that the peculiar status
of the native mind required it. Feeling little OF the
solemn moral weight of the covenant which has made
of twain one hesh and being even less under a
of the requirements of public decency to observe at
least an outward semblance of union and affection, and
10 by-t tha dutia bornp and family and
being little dependent each other for support
assistance, and both the and the easily
finding other homes with friends and kindred in all
parts of the kingdom the married separate from each
other often within few days after the marriage. until
the evil has become Of such magnitude as to
threaten all idea of sanction TO this most solemn
There being no law, other than the divine laws
touching it. the native feels under restraint What
the law does forbid he believes to be permitted and
perhaps, to be right the to any remOnsrance
being there is no law If, therefore, the native
mind requires a statute in order to compel him to So
cial duties let him have it. Already parents and
teachers appeal to the law to sustain their authority
their children, and if in the matrimonial relation,
which of all, in the foreign mind resents inter-
ference they ask the help of the constable, why then
let them have their wish That such is their wish is
proved by the large number of petitions for It, by the
movements of the native Representatives, and by the
memorial from the whole body Of the Protestant Mis-
sionaries. The very knowledge that there can be
pickering from resulting in separation, and hearing
before magistrate will generally bring about recon
citation among these placable and judgeelring people
and If this law may be made instrument of
noyance and oppression indeed may half the statutes
in the code of misdemeanors, if injudcously admins
tered and literally construed.
The yeas and nays being taken the bill passed
In Committee of the Whole the debate resumed
from yesterday upon the bill which introduced
der the title Of An Act Promote the Public Health,
etc. more commonly known the g Act Regulating
Prostitution and continued with vehemence
through several hours, ending in the passage of the
bill in Committee, by majority Of one, the yeas and
nays being demanded and taken .ch several section
| and standing IA TO l3
The following is brief resume Of the arguments for
the bill The " social evil'' prevails in all the ports Of
this kingd to the extent that it called the " Brothel
of the Pacific 1t is practically without check
strction from present laws the diseases aad fatal mis-
chiefs resulting from il unchecked they poison
and ruin. kill, such proportion Of seamen visiting
here, often disabling ships crews. Most Of ALL the
females who have resored the towns communicate
to the population of every part of the kingdom; the
blood Of the whole people is contaminated thousands
die, Thousands linger in nvadism it prevents in
crease of population, and entails disease offspring
in Short comparison with all other evils, the
tives il is the prime one for it goes its existence
More than all the former wars the several epidemes,
famine and more than all the other adverse influences
of foreign contact This has reduced the population from
the three or four hundred thousand Of Capt Cooks
time to its present say sixtyye thousand the alter
native presented of either continuing to ignore the