The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1876-09-30
LEGISLATIVE JoTTINGs.

ago, was one to repeal the Poll-tax, and that the
attempt wac unsuccessfully made at once to get
the same bill before the House with 4 slight
amendment. On Saturday the friends OF the
measure made another reach for the pol-tax,
THE time by q bill to reduce it to twenty-five
cents. The Ministry spoke quite earnestly
against the bill, progrOsticating that 1t would
produce very evil effects, though they did not
particularlize what those effects would be and
the Minister of Foreign Affairs rather sharply
commented on the Inconsistency Of the mover oil
the bill, (the Hon. Mr.. Kaai) who he said had
By his influence helped TO swell the appropria-
ton bill, and otherwise done - things which he
ought not to do Ais aroused the ire Of the
Hon. Noble, and lie proceeded in n mingled
strain Of ~invective and satire to review the his
tory Of the session. wherein he claimed that he
had proved himself the best and strongest sup
porter the Ministry had in the Assembly. and
this, said he, : is my compensation ! to have
my motives questioned and TO be charged with
inconsistency" The bin was. under a suspen-
sion Of the rules, passed to be engrossed for Il
third reading.
As has been frequently the ease of late, there
was considerable delay in getting a quorum on
Monday morning, and the member for North
Kona (Ar. Pilipo) improved the absence of Min
listers and Mobiles by getting a consideration of
his bill for the return Of lepers from Molokai.
After n considerable discussion, the bill was
again indefinitely postponed. The like fate over
took the bill to impose an income tax, the vote
being 80 against 8. The Ministry moved that
the appropriation bill be made the special order
for Tuesday, but the motion vas lost. 4 bill
to regulate the carrying of freight and passen-
gers on drays and wagons, was passed to engroes-
ment, as was the bill to reduce the poll-tax to
25 cents-the latter by q vote of II to IA. a
resolution offered by the Hon. Mr.. Kaai, which
was virtually a censure of the Ministry, gave
rise to a warm discussion. The following is a
translation.
Whereas, 1t is reported that at the session of
the Privy Council held on Saturday Sept %, it
was decided that the Minister of Finance be in
structed to receive at the Treasury the coins
known as 6 soils ~ and 90 pesos , from those now
holding the same, and to pay current money
therefor and whereas, 1t is evident that those
who held coins of that description in the month
of July last have disposed of the same, and that
the few persons now holding such coins have
bought them at q large discount and that the
action indicated above will result in q large pro-
fit to the present holders of such coins and
whereas, The aforesaid action by the Privy Coun-
Gil is believed to be unlawful therefore,, Be it
resolved, That the Legislative Assembly hereby
rejects and disapproves the action Of the Privy
Council in the premises"
The mover of the resolution commented severe
ly on the action of Ministers in recommending
the measure, which he characterized as unconsti-
%tutional. The Minister of Foreign Affairs ex-
planned that the Privy Council had not 8 instruc-
ted the Minister in the matter, but had simply
sc recommended . the course indicated. Consid-
cradle sarcasm was INDUCED in as to the suppos-
ed secrecy of the doiDgs in the Privy Council
4 long and cratic debate was had, in which
members exhibited their wisdom on matters OF
finance and currency. An amendment from the
Ministerial side to the effect that the Minister of
Finance receive soils and pesos from parties hold
ing them, at the rate which had been paid, and
dispose of them to the best advantage, (presuma-
bly, to send them off to to be exchanged for
American halves)-was negatived, and the resolu'
ton was adopted, with an amendment instructing
the Minister not to regard the action of the
Privy Council, by a vote of q to Is. In order
to effectually nail the resolution, it was recon
sidered and again passed, when the Assembly al
once adjourned for the day.
The " law to mitigate which was repealed
last week, is not killed but only "scotched.
The Hon. Mr.. Kaai gave notice on Tuesday of
bill to amend the law by placing its execution
in the hands of the Board of Health, instead o
the Police as at present. The bill to regulat,
: the importation and sale of opium and the bill
to regulate the carriage of passengers and freigh
on Wagons and drays, passed a final reading
There being no other business on the clerk
table, the appropriation bill (at last) came up OIL
its third reading, and was considered and votet
: upon item by item. The Minister of Foreigl
Affairs moved the insertion of $4,000 for tn
purpose of sending articles to the Paris Exhibi
ton of 1873. A member moved to amend b,
sending the microscope and geological specimen
now in the museum aud after some remarks i
! favor of the original motion it was n~egative1
On the motion of the Minister of Finance tn
item for support of military, was reduced $40,
600, and now stands $50 $50, and we ma
thank His Excelleney for that amount saved
The Assembly thought better of its former actio
in regard to Postmasters on the other islands
: and inserted the amount required to pay them
;, and also for pay of road supervisors. 800
was voted for a new fence around Aliiolar
House, and repairing the veranda. Hon. Nj
Pilipo moved to strike out the item of $50, 90
for the encouragement of immigration, whic
- was lost by a vote of % to 81. A motion t
;, pass at $4,000 was lost, q to 10, and one t
reduce to $4,000 was also lost. Hon. MI
Kaai then moved to place the item at S35 600
n and pending the discussion on this, a disput
arose between the President and a member on
point of order, which, from the confusion an
excitement which ensued, resulted in the ma
jority of the members leaving the hall, when til
= President declared the Assembly adjourned 70
want Of n quorum.