The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-05-28
Legislative .JottIngs.

One Of the most important proposed measures
of the session is now under discussion in the AS
sembly,-the Act to repeal certain sections of
the Civil Code commonly known as the 50 Masters
and Servants Law" The bill was introduced by
the member for Kohala, Mr.. Lyons, who opened
the fsht-fOr fight it is between the NJ inistry
and the lndependents-with a lengthy and argu-
mentative speech, Gorcibly setting forth the evil
working of the present law. Mr.. Henry Thomp-
son (member for Honolulu) spoke at length and
very ably in favor Of the bill, and several other
members of the Independent side ventilated their
ideas on the ame subject. It was the order of
the day for Thursday, when Mr.. Thompson, who
had the floor, made a most powerful argument on
the evils of the system legalized by the Civil Code.
During his speech he produced 4 contract
made in 1867, under which n native bound
himself to serve two months, and by the system Of
getting into debt his muster lad kept him in
service for nearly three years, the laborer only
obtaining his freedom this present week. 1t was
the most convincing evidence of the rottenness
and iniquity of the present labor system that has
yet been brought to light. The Ministry kept
a discreet silence during his speech while the ar
guments brought forward last fall at the Kauma-
hdIlAA 81 - ANN-GN 1890 $1,000
Mr.. Boyd made an attempt to answer the able
speech of Mr.. Thompson, but his arguments eli
cited nothing new, and the House adjourned with
out coming to a vote, the Act being made the
special order for Monday next.
An amusing episode occurred on Tuesday,
when Mr.. Kumahoa, (Puna) brought forward a
resolution to the effect that the editor of the
KuokOa newspaper be brought to the bar of the
House and censured-and perhaps done something
else witll-for having called him (the member)
something ne thought untrue. The member was
evidently a good deal annoyed that so damaging
an aspersion on his character should go to his
constituents through the press, and spoke at some
length and with great earnestness for his resoiu-
ton. He Indignantly repealed the insinuations
made, as his constituents were all constant readers
of the KuOkod, and it was quite fearful to contem-
plate the probable result-(i. G. that he would not
be re-elected) when this wicked assertion of the
newspaper should be read from one end to the
other of Puma. The Minister of the Interior very
properly moved to indefinitely postpone the reso-
luton, but allowing himself to be betrayed into
making a speech on the subject of the . press"
which he seemed to have forgotten is the fourth
some rather singular things, in his
own original rambling way. The gist of it, how
ever was, that : We, the Ministry, don't care a
snap for what the KuOkOG, or even the CONNER
cIAL ADYERTIsER-that vile sheet-choose to say
about US. We are beyond their power for good
or i'll"
1t must strike every one as particularly anus
ing that the Minister should thus allow his wrath
to get the better of his discretion, seeing that
90 the press , in the shape Of the Gazette, is the