Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1883-06-02
THE COTNtGF SCHEME.

pounded by citizens representing the various
spheres Of agricultural, commercial, mechanical
and professional life, we sought for information
at the fountain source Of the government by adj
dressing the "premer a few plain, straightfor
ward questions on the subject. This, with its
evasive answer, we published last week. 1t is
plainly evident from the reply that the govern
mcnt has no desire to impart knowledge on
this important matter, at least not in this way.
II does not suit the powers that be TO deal
with subjects directly. 1t does not permit Of
that diplomatic tact for which his excellency
the "premier desires TO be considered emi
nent: hence the evasive reply that was signed
by Jno. NJ. Kapena, as minister of finance.
:" The hand was the hand of Esau bu, the voice
was the voice Of Jacob" But, seriously con
sidcred evasive though it is, it admits at the
outset that the cabinet does not know the APP
prehension and alarm that exist in the public
mind II the government was deluding itself
with the idea that there was no cause for such
a state Of feeling as our queries implied, it can
not bu, know that its reply will tend in no wise
to relieve anxiety, but on the contrary will
greatly aggravate it, especially when it is
known that the final documents necessary in
the matter went forward by the last Suez. We
have reason to believe from this that not only
have "decisions been "arrived at by the
cabinet as to the issue Of Hawaiian coins"
but that all matters Of detail to which our let
ter referred were fully known to them, yet in
stead Of their being "promptly made known
to the public by gazette notice in the usual
manner an effort is made to defer the evil
day Of publicity. It's third paragraph Is one
of such soothing contrast that fears are enter
tanned that it was mixed in by mistake or over
sight, especially when viewed in connection
with the fourth paragraph as replying to our
third query. This ministerial reply would
have us believe that the coinage project was
TO be one of public service only and that " the
as it does everywhere else, not on any edict of
the government, but entirely on the power Of
the community to absorb it in its daily trans
actions" whereas the arrangements are com
pleted, we are informed, for the issue of one
million dollars, which the government expects
to receive by about the first of July Further
more, this issue is reported to be entirely a
silver one, for which bonds of the recent loan
act, at par, have been taken. When the inner
workings of this scheme become known, as
they will at no very distant day, the public
may then see why the cabinet failed to answer
the plain, straightforward questions we pro-
pounded. The evidence even now indicates
that they dare not. To cover their discontinue,
wasinferred that our enquiry was not suitable
channel for subjects on which business men
entertained apprehensions. The members Of
the ministry are well aware of the right of pub
lie journals to inquire into and deal with all
questions Of public interest. five, or any of
our correspondents, have been misled by erro-
neous information in the treatment of this sub
ject, and if injustice is dealt it in any particu
lar, the government has only itself TO blame.
1t is indirectly admitted, in the evasive reply
before us, that the government firm is to have
supply of new coin but as to quantity, quail
ity, cost and manner of payment, discreet
silence is religiously preserved. The public is
not to see the invoice, though it will be per-
mitted to purchase the new goods when at
hand-at profit to somebody. Mr.. Kapena's
master, the senior partner in what cores
pondent aptly terms " the opposition shop,
has too much craft to try and explain the law
or say wherein it has been or may be violated.
He is now attorney-general, and is far too cum
ming to show to the country how much he does
not know about "the statute laws Of the king.
dom," to which his querist is reierred-as il
any one could tell by the law what the govern
ment is likely to do. The act to provide for a
national coinage, passed in 1880, says;
| 1t shall be lawful for the minister Of finance,
and he is hereby authorized to purchase gold
and silver bullion with any moneys which may
from time to time BE- ia tie treasury. and To
cause to be coined therefrom gold and silver
coins
The coins are to be of equal weight and
fineness with United States gold and silver
coins of same values" II was evidently in
tended that the government should purchase
the bullion with money, and, if there was any.
thing made out of it, the public, through the
treasury, would get the profit. Has this
statute law been complied witha Current
report says million dollars in government
bonds, issued under the new loan act, are to
be paid for with million silver dollars, new
coinage, at par. Can the ministry find a
statute law authorizing such transaction The
act to authorize loan states what use may be
made Of the money borrowed, and also that
the bonds are "to be issued at not less than
par" But il there is any statute law Of the
kingdom authorizing the exchange Of those
bonds for bullion, or uncurIent or deprecated
coin, the ministry will do the public service
by calling attention to such law or laws.
Would il be lawful to sell bonds in San Fran
cisco and take in payment Mexican dollars at
par' A while ago the community was
threatened with strict enforcement Of the
legal tender act, without regard Of consequen.
ces. Perhaps the government may deign to
inform the public, by gazette notice y, what
would be done with the one million or more
OF their new dollars in such a case. In the
serenity Of their conceit, with their relatives
and servants provided for, and with the first
choice Of the coin in the treasury for payment
Of their own salaries, the members oi the cabi-
net fail to realize that the currency Of this
country is in a very unsatisfactory statei and
that their actions are not, apparently, helping
to make matters any more satisfactory. Or II
the ministry does realize the condition OF affairs.
its members do no, care. A real government,
having public interests At heart. would be anx-
ioas and ready to consider measures and take
steps 10 improve the situation with the least
possible danger to all the interests concerned. A