The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1866-06-09

ting the past. and crying, d" tive, give. On,
consistency, thou art a jewel :"
The Eracns in the Legislature.
" There's something rotten in the state Of Denmark"
Ii becomes our duty to comment on the dis
graceful proceedings that took place in the
Legislature on Tuesday, June 5th-a report Of
which, and also of those on the day following,
which are a continuation of the same topic,
will be found on our first page. The whole
story is given with impartiality, and those who
wish to see the workings of our abnormal con-
stitutiynal system Will peruse it carefully. We
will briefly recapitulate the facts:
The Appropriation Bill was before the Assem-
bly,, and the salaries of the native District Judges
under debate. These items have always been
the cause of a great deal of yexatious dispute
and contention. y little tact on the part Of the
Ministry, in humoring the natives and yielding
a minor point or two in dispute, would always
carry the whole through without trouble. But
they We're either short-sighted or determined to
force their ends without yielding one jot or little.
The principal debate arose on the salary Of the
District Judge Of Eva and Waianae on this
Island. That finally passed as in the bill.
Then came the koolaupokO jUdgcship, on which
the disturbance eliminated. The item had
passed at $500, when Keawehunahala moved to
reconsider tomorrow. Minister Harris next
made 4 motion to reconsider to-day, which last
motion was put first before the House by the
Chairman, contrary to all parliamentary rules,
and carried. Keawehunahala took the floor
and claimed that his prior right had been viO-
lated and was arguing III his defence, amid con-
siderable confusion, which the Chairman APP
pearcd unable to quiet. 1t should De under
stood that this speaker has been the principal
opponent of Minister Harris all through the
session, and the ruling of the Chairman, in favor
Of the Minister'S motion, appears to have been
IN act Of unwarranted partiality.
vt this point of the proceedings, Minister
Harris. through the Interpreter, asked the
Chairman to let linn take the Chair, which the
Chairman consented to, and the Minister hur-
riedly walked up to the desk and, Selling the
gavel, ordered Mr.. Keawehunahala (his oppo-
ncnD to SIT down. The member very properly
refused, on the ground that the Minister had no
authority to command him. Thereupon the
Minister ordered the Sergeant-at-Arms 10 maize
him sit down, failing in which, he ordered the
officer to take him out Of the House. At this
iuncture the members, including two MOBILES,
rose en- n,asSe, some to throw off their coats,
others seized chairs, and the widest excitement
prevailed, during which cries of : Hustle him
out Come down from there &c, &c,
were heard. One member, in his speech, says
he started to pull the Minister from his seat,
another says he broke his desk in his anger.
About this time the former Chairman (AIr. Ka-
makau) went to the desk and sought to resume
Ills pIuov, hut ,he Minister declined to 5iro IL up
to him, evidently determined to fight the battle
out.
Such are the proceedings that we have to
comment on to-day, and such is the man who
fills the Office Of Minister of Finance. If the
proceedings are Il disgrace to the nation. no less
SO is the man who caused them. We feel as
much shame for the one ms of the other. His
conduct and acts, during the whole session, have
been of the same general character as what
transpired on T~uesday-,his is simply the crown
ing stroke in an attempt to badger the Assembly
into the adoption Of his measures-to coerce it
as he wishes. He has 'overstepped the mark
this time, and committed Il grave misdcmeanor-
one Of which the Assembly should take some
means to prevent Il repetition. We're there
any member in the House capable of leading his
associates, some action would he taken. But
the three foreign members are merely echoes OF
the Ministers, and, If We may Judge from the
past, are unable to say Il word against them.
They sat through Wednesday iikemute5. or if one
spoke, it was to apologize for the Minister'S con
duct.
On Wednesday the following resolution was
introduced
ResolceL. That this Assembly do express their
CONTEMPT for. and want Of confidence in. the Min
lister OF Finance. both in his acts before this, and
all which may come after.
Nothing can exhibit more clearly the want Of
Judgment in the native members of the Assem-
bly, than the above. OF course such a sweeping
declaration could never pass, because it vas un-
wise and uncalled for, but it might easily have
been modified So as to express the diulprobation
of the House, and had Il good effect, if passed.
The debate on the resolution shows the feeling
and Indignation created Ly the Minister'S az
tempt to control tie Assembly. But when it
came to the vote. few were found willing to
censure the Minister for every Iast act, and
everything that might be done in the future.
Consequently but five voted for its passage.
Here we should drop the subject, did not the
course Of the Minister on Wednesday, June 9th,
demand o notice. We refer the reader to
the opening proceedings of that day. The point
in dispute was whether Minister Harris ASKED
the Chairman to allow him to take the Chair.
The Chairman, MIR. Kamakau. got up and frank
" stated = THAT he WAS ASKED BY Mr.. HARRIS
to aHOiC him to take tie char. and that he con-
scnted." Minister Harris, in what took place i'm
mediatelv after. ATTEMPTED to make Mr.. kamakau