The Hawaiian gazette., 1876-05-24
The LegisIaIure.

Three days OF the past week were consumed
by the Legislative Assembly in the eonsidera-
ton Of the Bill TO repeal Section Of Chapter
Of the Penal Code, which reads: Whoever
shall sell, give, purchase, or procure for and in
behAlf Of any native Of this Kingdom, o. for
his use, any spirituops liquor or other intoxi-
eating drink or substance, shall be punished
BY \ fine not exceeding two hundred dollars and
IN default Of the payment Of such tine, by i'm
prisonment At hard laboS for term not ex-
ceeding two years A motion to indefinitely
postpone finally prevailed on Friday evening,
by vote Of 20 ayes, II noes. Two Of the
minority thought the vote was on the passage
Of the Bill, and therefore may be considered
as in favor Of indefinite postponement, which
would make the vote 81 ayes, 9 noes Again
hss the good sense Of the Assembly warded
Of from the people measure fraught with
dire disaster for the country.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and the
Attorney General spoke against the repeal as
did the Hons. S. y. Castle and J. NJ Kapena,
Of the MOBILES. The Hons Henry Waterhouse,
Naukana, Nawahi, Helekunihi and Halemanu,
Representatives, made effective speeches
a-aiust the repeal OF the law. The Hons. S. h
Kaai and Godfrey Rhodes, Mobiles, spoke in
favor Of the repeal the Hons Birch, Nahaku,
Preston, Mahelona, and Wana supported the
Bill The speech Of Mr.. Preston has been
considered as favoring the repeal of the law,
but We incline to the opinion that 1t was more
strongly in support Of an impartial admins
tration Of the existing law, than favoring re-
peal. He certainly stated that the idea Of the
present law being unconstitutional, was not
entertained by himself, and that he had come
to this conclusion after careful study of the
law. The Hon. member also stated that be was
satisfied that no Hawaiian born or naturalized
citizen Of the country could be furnished with
liquor without a vioIAtion of the law under
consideration. The 4s2nd Section of the Civil
Code says: Every foreigner, so naturalized,
shall-be deemed to all intents and purposes, a
native Of the Hawaiian Islands," SC. We
presume that that the Hon. member for Lahaina
bases his opinion upon this Section, which de-
fines citizenship. No doubt some Of the native
members were prepared to vote in favor of re-
peal, simply and only because they had been
led TO believe that the law was unconstitu-
tional. We therefore claim that the Hon. mem
Der for Lahaina did good service for the ma
jority.
An Act to repeal Chapter II OF the laws of
ls74 passed to engrossment BY large majo-
rity on Saturday. The law was to promote
agricultural and industrial pursuits in the
public schools of the Kingdom. and cannot be
said to be fairly on trial as yet. Through
negligence Of school agents, and greed of gain
on the part Of some teachers, abuses have been
permitted under the law Cases were cited
where children had been put to work in taro
patches who had hardly strength enough to
handle implements of labor, aud others in cane
felds.-no distinction being made as to age or
sex IN relation TO the work The Hon. Mr..
Birch gave an instance which came under his
observation where two girls died, the doctor
called to attend them giving his opinion that
they had been exposed too much to the YEA
ther, an examination into the matter developed |
the fact that the girls had been put to work in |
a cane field on a rainy day. It would seem to |
be the part Of wisdom to regulate the opera
ton Of Law which IS a good one, in, and of
itself, rather than repeal IT.
On Monday the Representatives exhibited an
inquiring frame Of mind, calling for items in
expenditures for 4 Ball and for the Steamer
KiIsuea. If the items are called for with the
honest desire to bring about reforms in public
the Assembly should be ap-
plauded; but If for the purposes Of delay and
annoyance, the practice Is reprehensible. An
lttempt was also msde the same day to i'm
1eaeh the Minister Of the Interior for ezpendi-
are Of money without authority, but the reso-
ution vas rejected as informal
On Tuesday, resolution was introduced
skiing for the items Of expenditure Of the ap-
,ropriatiou for " Improvement Of present pal
zee and grounds" The members still want to
nov, you know