The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1878-05-11
LEGISLATIVE JOTTINGs.

members-a resolution appropriatlng $4,000 for
payment Of expenses Of the session, which includes
$3.50 each for the Representatives, exclusive Of
mileage. \ resolution was also adopted instructing
the Secretary to be economical in expanding this
sum Of Sl5, 900 and a resolution TO provide each
member with postage stamps was modestly mega
lived. eve are yirtuous, messieurs but by and
bye there shall be cakes and ale enow) Hon. Mr..
Keau (Honolulu) gave notice Of a bill to tax beef
cattle % cts. per head also a bill to repeal the
poll tax. Hon. Mr.. Kuihelaui (of the Nobles)
introduced q bill to re-apportion the representa-
ton of the people. Hon. Mr.. Smith, Wailuku)
read a bill to repeal the Act Of 1876. relating to
the assessment and collection Of taxes and a bill
to authorize the appointment Of a Police Magistrate
for Waikiki. Hon. Mr.. Bickerton Hamakua) gave
notice of a bill to repeal Chap. l6, Laws Of 1876
in regard to bail taken by Police and District
Justices. Hon. Mr.. Kapahu (Kau) gave rotice
of a bill to amend Sec. 1923, Civil Code Masters
and servants). y resolution was adopted authoriz-
ing the appointment of Inspectors of boilers through
out the Kingdom. (Rather loose, this. A care
fully drawn Act is requisite, if anything)
On Monday a good portion Of the morning was
taken up in discussing the report of the Judiciary
committee on the petition of one Naaikauna, who
it appears some sixteen years ago deposited the sum
of SIC with Mr.. Wiltze, the government surveyor
(since dead) in part or whole payment for Il piece
of government land on Hawaii. The man, being
probably ignorant, had never applied for n Royal
Patent and now finds that he has no title TO the
land on which he has been living so long. The
committee recommended that the above sum be
refunded by government. Ministers objected TO
the recommendation of the report, for the reasons
that the man had slept so long on his claim and
that there was no proof that the money had ever
been received by government. But this was,
pr ina tacie, a case where a poor ignorant Hawai-
ian had been deprived Of his rights, and the report
Of the Committee was adopted by Il large majority.
Hon. Mr.. Halstead read n first time n bill to amend
secs. 81 and 81 of the Act Of 1876, ITO
regulate the proceedings in Criminal Cases.
Hon. Mr.. Bickerton (Hamakua) read a first time
a bill to repeal Chap. Is Of the laws Of 1876, and
to re-enact Sec. G73 Of the Civil Code. THE object
IS TO forbid any person entitled TO a share in any
fine, forfeiture or penalty, from being used as "A
witness on the trial.) The Attorney Generals
bill to amend the divorce law, was read a first
time.
The usual host of petitions on all sorts Of subjects
from all parts OF the country was presented on
Tuesday morning, among which were two asking
that the lepers be released from Molokai and one
(from Kauai) that circuit judges be empowered
to grant divorces. Hon. Mr.. Kaai (of the Nobles)
gave notice of a bill TO forbid the introduction
of Chinese laborers into the Kingdom. The bill TO
repeal the poll tax, was after a lengthy discussion
in Committee Of the whole, indefinitely postponed.
Among the petitions presented on Wednesday was
one from Chinese in Honolulu, praying that the sale
VI bPluAA ihdJ " ~ OhI L uuig llh-
wall, that lepers remain in their own districts. Hon.
Mr.. Smith (Wailuku) read first time a bill respect
ing roads and bridges on Maui. A resolution was
introduced and referred TO the Committed on Foreign
Relations, asking for copies Of the correspondence
of the Hon. ii. A. p. Carter respecting treaty nego-
tiatiOns with Great Britain, and also in regard to the
proposed immigration from the East Indies. The
member for Lahaina QHon. Mr.. Gibson) seconded
the reference Of the correspondence to a Special Com
mittee, as he considered the Standing Committee on
Foreign Affairs had been rather negligent in this
matter-as well as the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
He would call the attention of the Assembly TO the
important reports Of n former Minister for Foreign
Affairs, the illustrious Wyllie, and devoted friend Of
this Kingdom, which were invariably presented,
along with reports Of other Departments, at the
opening Of the session. And now we had grave rea-
sons for desiring the fullest Of information. The
expression from the Throne in the address TO the
Assembly, which intimated that the operation Of the
treaty of reciprocity with America had infringed up
on our treaty relations with Great Britain, had
awakened a feeling Of great anxiety in the minds Of
all devoted to the maintenance Of the independence
Of the Hawaiian Kingdom. In the negotiation Of the
treaty Of reciprocity we had indeed been needless Of
the third article of our treaty with Great Britain,
and he must also add that we had disregarded the
twenty-ffth article Of our treaty with France, an
article that cannot be denounced. Shall we be care
less of our relations with these two great, friendly,
and guaranteeing Powers? No lover of this country,
nor friend Of Hawaiian undergraduates, will feel so.
Therefore we must have all the information on this
subject and no part or abstract ought TO satisfy US,
or will satisfy the public mind. There is now n bill
before this Assembly TO abolish the twenty-five per
cent. duty, and as Chairman Of the Committee on
Finance, he must say that the Committee will re-
quire the fullest information in order TO rightly
judge how far British, and other foreign interests,
have been affected by the operation Of our tariff, and
to take intelligent action thereon. We have been told
that a discretion must be exercised in giving or with
holding information as required by public interests.
He did not doubt that. But it was generally
the case, that information was mainly held back
because it might be damaging to Ministers, and
they seldom will give any unless it was authorita-
lively demanded by representatives, Of the people,
backed by a strong public openion. Information
in respect to our foreign relations should have
been laid at once before this Assembly in order 10
allay exaggeration, and give reinsurance TO the
But be regretted that at this advanced
day in the proceedings of the Assembly, our Min
lister Of Foreign Affairs had not yet opened his
mouth on any subject pertaining to his department.
were also made on the same subject by
the Hon. Messrs w. O.. Smith, Nawahi, Bickerton
others. On motion of Hon w. II. Castle
(Kohala) the Minister Of Interior was requested
to furnish copies Of agreement or other documents
with the lease Of the Hawaiian Hotel.
Hon. Mr.. Kaiaikawaha (Waialua) gave notice Of
intention to bring in a bill making books Of &C
count legal in the English language only. The
bill to repeat the Act Of 1876, entitled IAN Act
to increase the import duties upon certain goods
-(25 per cent, and specific duties) was, on its
second reading, referred TO the Finance Committee.
NN-D DAfh (DAfs Ahhhlu ]
overseers on plantations equally liable with the
masters for any cruelty on or misusage Of servants,)
was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time
on Friday.
The first thing on Thursday morning was a
petition from Maui, that no more Chinese be per-
to come into the country followed by a
prayer from Hawaii that lepers be allowed 10 re-
main at their homes. The Hon. Mr.. Kapahu (KaU)
requested the Attorney General to state how long a
time a bound servant must be absent from service
to constitute absenting under the law, and render
himself liable to suit by the master. lie had
known servants to be proceeded against who had
been absent but one hour. His Excellency said that
in his opinion, ifa servant applied to the Court
for redress Of grievances. that was not to be con-
strued absenting himself from service, under the
law. On motion Of Hon. Mr.. Kaai (of the Nobles)
the Attorney General was requested TO explain,
the newspapers, for the benefit Of Justices
and Of masters, what constitutes absentation from
service under the law. Hon. Mr.. Kaiaikawaba
(Waialua) gave notice Of intention to bring in a
bill to send all Chinese out Of the country on the
expiration Of their terms Of service. By resolution,
the hour Of converting was changed from 10 a. m.
to l p. m. every day, for the next fortnight.
Yesterday the report Of the Board Of Health was