The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-06-11
LegIsIativc JottIngs.

Legislative lettings.
There is one feature in the Legislative bod
which is new, 80 far as this country is concerned
and it should be noted, as showing their advance
1nent, or the contrary, in the science of carrying
on a deliberative body, to which, it is to be sup
posed, is entrusted the interests of the Nation al
large. The House meets each day at the hour o.
II. An hour after, pretty much all Of the mem
bers feel the necessity or the inclination for q
lunch, and between u and l, many of the mem
bers, Representatives as well as Mobiles, by twos,
threes, and tours, quietly take their hats and
proceed to some restaurant, or other place where
refreshments are to be bad, whence they return
in an hour or less, quite oblivious of what
has been done in their absence. Some of the
Ministers, however, appear to have a "plant .
of their own, within the precincts of the Court
House, to the neighborhood of which they may
be seen daily descending about the hour of II,
holding affectionately by the arm some favored
Representative of the beloved people, on whom is
bestowed the most gracious mods and smiles.
Arrived at the location of the 90 plant - the door
is closed, and shortly after are heard sounds re-
sembling the drawing of corks, mingled with
those of laughter, and pretty loud talking.
The only proper way to regulate the time of
holding the sessions, and to keep the members in
their seats, is to meet at 10 o'clock, adjourn for
lunch at II or /, for an hour only, and then 60
vigorously at the business before them. At
present the seats of one half the members are
vacant during a good portion of the session.
There is an Act before the House, introduced
by a member from Hilo. providing that all ocean
and river fishing grounds shall be purchased by
Government, and made free to all. The idea of
course strikes one as unjust that certain persons
should possess the monopoly of large fishing
grounds in the sea, to the exclusion of the poor,
or perhaps to make them little else than servants
who earn money to support their masters. But
such is the case in these islands, and is so not
only by ancient custom but by decisions of the
Land Commission. The obstacle in the way of
the bill becoming of any use, even should it be
finally passed, is that the konohikis who legally
own the fishing grounds, would ask their own
price for a quit-claim of their rights therein, and
it would amount to such a sum as would more
than swamp the Treasury.
Mr.. Kuapuu's resolution on Thursday, request
ing information from the Minister of the Interior,
as to the reason why the Thirty-First of July
6 Restoration Day no longer observed as a
holiday, whereas it was the anniversary of the
day on which Kauikeaouli the Good pronounced
the words which form the motto of the Nation
to-day The life of the land is established in
righteousness ,''-seemed rather pertinent. 1t
was listened to by the Minister with undisguised
levity, and of course, came to naught. For the
Ministry seem to have arranged matters so that
they have a working majority in the House, and
- 49, -.ooG H.. -.14A. .-,o1 .Ios, o-o
way. In the early part of the present week, for
instance, it was stated by one of the ministerial
supporters, that noses had been counted, and
there were only eleven Representatives who would
vote for the repeal of the Masters and Servants
Act.
There has been some discussion both in and
out of the Assembly, regarding the meaning Of
the word kaut0d, which is used in our statutes and
is applied to every description of servants in the
kingdom. Andrews, in his dictionary, defines it
as a servant in the most general sense-a house
hold or domestic servant-a slave, a menial SER
want The term kGuuoa kuapaa, an oppressed SER
rGnf,-one who serves without PAYS that gen.
orally applied to. American slaves. The term
kautod, as understood by natives, embraces all
kinds of labOrers, including coolies or other bonded
laborers, who enter into contract for any term of
service.
While Mr.. Thompson was speaking on the
Master and Servant act on Monday last, Mr.. Harris
came into the hall, and commenced questioning
Mr.. Thompson as to what he had SAID. We were
surprised that the latter gentleman should sub
NIT to any such catechizing, when he was the
peer of the Minister, who undertook to arraign
him before the House as q witness against himself.
1t was the Minister'S place to be in his seat, and
if he desired any information as to what had
tnnspired during his absence to inquire of the
clerk. We hope no Representative who, while in
the House, is the peer of q Noble or Minister, will
submit to any such treatment from whatever
quarter it may come.
With all his faults and blunders there are some
creditable things about the Minister of the In
terror. For instance, in referring to the petition
of the Fire Department, for $4,000 to pay off a
debt incurred in erecting the bell tower, His Ex-
cellency wished it distinctly understood in future
that where any such job exceeded the estimate,
the parties interested must look elsewhere for the
defclency,-a very good rule, if applied to all.
Komoikeehuehu's rejoinder was excellent
that the same rule had better be established in
all the departments, which are asking for more
appropriations to meet defciencies-as for in
stance, Sc 900 asked by Mr.. Hutchinson for the
new post-ofice. It's a poor rule that won't
work both ways" dT
Again on Friday last, the Minister of Finance,
ought to have known better, stated that the
Government native paper paid its expenses, or
words to that purport. DR.. Hutchinson, however,
contradicted him, and said that it was in
debt at least SO 900 over and above its income.
Politics must have a demoralizing influence on
men. where it leads them. for any cause whatever.