The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1872-05-18
Legislative lettings.

Of course the session cannot pass without the
Usual attempt to reduce the tax on animals, and es-
pecially the horse tax. Petitions pour in from all
parts of the islands every session praying for the re-
auction of this tax. Two years ago, a slight reduc-
ton was made, resulting in q falling off in the
revenue from that source some seven thousand dol
lars. and now the request comes to cut it down still
farther. A good deal of time was expended on Sat-
urday in debating this subject, but not half the
members had an opportunity to have their say, and
the bill under discussion was laid over. Doubtless
there should if possible be a system of discrimina-
ton adopted in the taxation of horses. There are
large numbers of horses in the islands which, so far
from being of any benefit are an injury to the peo-
pie, a fruitful means of encouragement to idlers.
This is particularly and almost entirely the case in
the country, for in the towns the people cannot.
afford to keep a flock of horses. But animals used
for packing and other useful purposes, which is eX-
teusivelY done in some sections, ought not to be
taxed at the same rate as those which are kept sim
ply for pleasure. Like all other luxuries these latter
ought to bear the burden of taxation. 49, The petition
asking that no one who drinks liquor and gets drunk
be allowed to hold a Government position, was on
Saturday reported on by the Committee on Miscelln-
neous subjects through their chairman. MIR. AhOlo,
(Lahaina) recommending that the petition be in
definitely postponed, which was done. Though
opinions might differ as to the %propriety of framing
n law on the subject (as has been proposed in the
Congress of the United States) the moral effect
might have been good had the committee commented
on the correctness of the principle advanced in the
petition. 49, There are several projects on the tapis for
II amendment u II l1dSleIS III OeENauNS n
and one bill (that of Mr.. Martin, from Kau) has
been presented, but in an impracticable form, and
Withdrawn. The idea appears to prevail among
members that the rights of the law are at present all
on the side of the master, and little or none on that
of the servant. The sections of the Civil Code re-
latIng to this entire subject have been referred to a
select committee for consideration and report, with
MIR Carter (Honolulu) as chairman. Knowing that
gentleman's previously expressed opinions on the
matter, We may expect an elaborate and strong re-
port, even if it should be from a minority of the
committee, which is likely. \ good opportunity will
{ have been presented for a thorough ventilation of
the workings of our labor system, with a view to the
correction of evils which may be proved to exist.
4 Among the petitions on Monday morning was
one presented by The venerable member for koha-
IS, (Mr. Naihe) praying that the Ministers be I'M
peIched for having expended the public funds
without authority of law, in building the Hotel.
This is apparently the opening gun.-a sort Of
skirmishing fre.-On the Hotel question. Fremont
tory OF the general engagement which will follow
before the session Is over. Judge kamakau moved
10 indefinitely pOstpOn" the consideration OF the
4 petition. but the representatives were not IN the
humor to thus summarily dispose of the subject,
and il was laid on the table, whence 1t may be
taken at any time. 1t is true. the petitioners have
made the slight mistake of supPosing that the Min
listers have actually used the public money with
which to build the Hotel. when it is only the Gov
ernment's credit that they have used. The real
difference Is but trihing. The principle is the same.
And if they can assume to pledge the faith of the
nation for a few thousands, without authority.
Z what is to hinder them from again p~ledging that
faith for a still larger ssm. for some other purpose
which they may judge to be advisable-some spec
ulaiion that may not turn out so easily defensible
as the Hotel?
\ considerable portion of the time on Monday
and Tuesday was taken up in the discussion of pro-
posed amendments to the Sunday law. brought for
ward in a bill by Mr.. Kupakee Is. kOna) In the
new bill. the Ene for breaking the sabbath was
fixed at 500 tor each otfense. instead OF $40. as
under the present Code. aud several kinds of Sab
bath-bTeaking were mentioned by name. particu-
larry the loading and unloading Of vessels. It
transpired during the debate that this latter ofense
was what was particularly aimed at IN the bill,
/ country members declaring that there wa no ne
cessity for amending the law as applied to theirown
districts.-which was more than could be said for
wicked Honolulu. BY the more conservative, 1t
was we'll argued that if the officers of the law would
not prosecute tor It's infraction when the fine was
$40, It was less likely that they wOuld do so when
SIOs was the penalty. One member proposed to
abolish the Sunday law altogether. as being IN
constitutional. but his bill was killed as soon as
born. After an immense amount OF talking, the
proposed amendments were indefinitely postponed.
and the law stands intact--.A most impracucabie
bill TO amend the law IN regard to the Board of
Health, intended 10 bear particularly upon native
practitioners OF medicine. UcGhuE1S) occupied the
House during the afternoon of Tuesday. Many Of
the members spoke strongly of the restrictions i'm
posed by those whose province it IL to execute the
law 10 regard TO pTacyicing medicine. and IL was
asserted that even parents had in some instances