The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1876-08-12
JOTTINGs.

During the two-hours session which was held
on Saturday, an act to indemnify the Minister of
Finance to the amount Of So, 997 ga as asked for
In the budget, was passed on its second reading;
and an act providing that prisoners at the expi-
ration OF their term of penal servitude should be
returned at the expense of government to their
respective districts, was indefinitely postponed.
On Monday the report of a select committee
to whom the subject was referred, was read, rec
ommending the merging of the three offices of
Superintendent of Public Works, Road Supervisor
for the island of Oahu, and Superintendent of
Water Works and Clerk of Market, and recon-
mending an annual salary of So 900 for the per-
son discharging the functions of the three several
Offices thus merged. In regard to the appropria-
tions for the health of the country, the item of
$55 900 for the support of the Leper Asylum was
passed without much demur, but the items for
physicians and nurses, and the general expenses
of the Board of Health, were deferred for consid-
Grafton at a future time. In favor of the motion
to defer these items, Hon. Mr.. Preston said that
he had no intention to support any action that
would deprive the lepers of their support, or in
any way interfere with the health regulations of
the country but that the Assembly, before pass
ing hastily upon such an appropriation, should
take carefully into consideration the altered cir
cumstances of the case the members should not
too readily forget their action of the week pre-
vious on a resolution of want of confidence in the
Board of Health, and the total disregard that had
been shown to SO open and SO unanimous a pro-
test and that they should also consider the fact
that there was at present a bill only awaiting the
Kings signature, which provided for an entire
.arooJo1;,o 80 4lo poozl IS IIo.1kL ID --I:.L "a
signed might require a corresponding adjustment
of the appropriations therefor. These considera-
tions were certainly sufficient to warrant the As
sembly in staying further action, until the Kings
pleasure had been made known to them through
the Enrolment Committee. Hons. S. Kaai and
T. Birch spoke to the same effect, and indicated
the difference of opinion that might arise accord
ing to the result of the proposed change. They
were more definite, however, in expressing their
appreciation of the slur that would be cast upon
their legislative action, should the present Board
Of Health receive the further support of govern
ment that the vetoing Of the bill would necessa-
rily carry with it. The vote to postpone was 80
against 6.
The appropriation Of $500 for expenses IN
der the "Act to Mitigate the evils and diseases
arising from Prostitution was the next item in
order, and was after some discussion voted out by
q strong majority. The speakers in favor of the
act and appropriation therefor were Messrs. W.
L. Green, S. n. Castle, E. Preston, G. Rhodes,
and S. G. Wilder, all foreigners, while the native
opposed it almost to a unit. The Hon.
II. Waterhouse was the only foreign member who
spoke against the act and opposed it upon the
untenable plea, that it's tendency was to encour-
age RIGHTEOUSNESS.
On Tuesday two different bills were read pro-
viding for inter-island steam navigation, one con-
templating the purchase of a steamer by govern
ment and allowing the sale of the vessel to pri-
vate parties, and a yearly subsidy under certain
considerations the other merely ar
ranging to subsidize any private party willing to
contract for a proper steam service. Both were
referred to a select committee, Of which Hon. E.
Preston was appointed chairman. The inference
is that with so intelligent a committee as was ap-
the consideration of the matter will be
properly attended to.
The appropriation of S13 900 for carrying on
the government surveying was very properly
passed without reduction, notwithstanding that
'ome of the more far-sighted of the Hawaiian
Solons expressed q little timidity at placing so
much power and opportunity in the hands of the
Z to steal land and make presents of
he same to their friends
The $4,000 appropriation for the seclusion
ind care of Hawaiian females, which was first