The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1874-05-30

Honolulu amounting 10 over 5000 IN value the
assent Of a majority Of the Privy Council must
be had. While this process is infinitely prefer
able to the absurd one proposed, OF leaving tue
transaction Of land sales TO the whim and caprice
Of a Legislature once in two years, Yet this put
ting forward Of the irresponsible body Of Priyy
Councillors as the Executive, Is in marked con-
trast with the policy of Kamehameha V, who
in the Constitution granted by him in 1864, left
the Priyy Council with next to no functions or
responsibilities
On Wednesday, really nothing was done, ex-
cept to refer sundry bills to Special Committees
for consideration, amendment and report. Among
others that went to a committee was the Appro-
~priation Bill as prepared by the Cabinet. 1t viii
probably emerge from the hands of the Commit
tee on Monday, considerably shOrn of ITS taiE
proportions. The unusual course pursued with
regard to this, the bill Of the session, is siguif-
can't Of the economic tendencies Of the House.
An amusing feature Of this reference is, that the
Minister of Finance, who is suPposititiously the
author of the budget, and who should. be pre-
pared to defend it, tooth and nail, Is on the Com
mittee appointed to amend it. But in the mean
time, We beg briefly to express our surprise and
regret that the Cabinet should have allowed
themselves to be placed in such 4 questionable
position before the country, as having put forth
a budget in the Assembly on which they cannot
stand, and whereby the 8 tribunes OF the peo-
pie IF we may use the term in this connection
will obtain the entire credit of being the true
economlzers and the champions of retrenchment.
Thus, instead of the Cabinet appearing before
the people, as they ought, the leaders and prime
movers in measures for reducing expenditures
and reforming the financial administration of the
government generally, in accordance with the
evident necessities of the situation, they have
committed the blunder of leaving this important
duty TO be performed by Representatives, in such
manner and style as to them may seem best. We
repeat, that in thus putting forth a budget which
they apparently did not expect to carry and
which they cannot defend, the Ministry have
shown themselves in an unfortunately weak con-
dition, and have not only lowered their own
official dignity and detracted from their influence
both in the Assembly and with the public, but
their action has the tendency to place their Con-
stitutional Head, His Majesty himself, in Il false
position before the country.
On Thursday, the Pill '' To regulate the sale
of opium and other drugs.' was postponed in
uCllllIclJy ny u nearly uiiduiLlOus fOlc. Inc
object and scope of this bill, which had been
drawn with care, was to put an end to the pres
ent iniquitous and ruinous system of licensing
the sale of the drug to Cinnamon, which it is
well known is the cause Of rapidly spreading the
habit of opium smoking among the native Ha-
waiians. The members of the Assembly thor
onghly understood the subject. Numerous petit
tions from all parts of the country,-and notably
from the Chinese themselves, Shave been pre-
scented, asking that the importation and sale of
opium be prohibited. They knew all about its
fearful effects, but they preferred to let it con-
tinue to curse their country, rather than to forego
the money to be derived from the traffic. Now
then, let us have some more eloquent speeches
about the earnest desire of members to save their
race from extinction The Hawaiian Legislature
claims and exercises the right to obtain revenue
to make mOney-by the destruction of the
lives and happiness of the peoples Who that
believes that God judges in the earth, can for
one moment doubt that He will make inquisition
opium, and that this Christina g57eF mnrdH a@nI eg
tolerates and fosters this traffic in the life of its
people, will surely reap a retribution?
Our readers will perceive that the foregoing
- Legislative Jottings" were penned before the
dissolution of the Ministry was known.