The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1884-07-30

Report accepted and ordered to print.
The Attorney-General also in compliance with
resolution of the Assembly requesting his OPT
Mon on the legality Of a certain lease in Hama
kua, Hawaii, 10 Claus Spreckels, Stated that Mr..
Spreckels had called upon him at his office and
stated that if the Assembly desired would consent
to an annulment of the lease upon the return to
him of such rents as he had paid the Government,
and that he was willing to lose the 50 600 he had
pended for surveying the premises He (the At
torney GENERALLY did not love work well enough to
hunt up the lease when it was unnecessary, as it
would be if the House accepted the proposition to
annul the lease and SO ordered, opinion then
to the legality of the lease being unnecessary.
Representative Cecil Brown moved that the Min.
lister of the Interior be instructed to cancel the
said lease, and that the rents paid by Mr. Spreclels
be refunded.
HonsH. A. Widemann seconded the motion, but
sail this action affected only this one case and
not any of the other leases of similar character
given TO Mr.. Spreckels.
The Attorney General (interrupting) ''Mr
President, / rise to point Of order" The hon
orabe noble mentions "other cases." now only
one case is embodied in the resolution and 1 sub
init that he should confine himself to the subject
of the resolution
Hon u. A. Widemann. II am speaking to the
subject. The Attorney General only tries to shut
up any one that gets up on this floor and is not of
the same opinion as he is"
Attorney General.-"Mr. President, / ask for
your ruling
lease, on that any member can speak as he pleases.
In speaking to that motion every member should
be careful as possible 10 coufne himself to the
subject matter. IL was not out of order TO refer
incidentally to other leases held by the same per-
son, long as the other leases were not made the
subject matter"
Hon. h. A. widemann (continuing.l This reso-
luton only disposes of one case. The members of
the Assembly should bear this in mind. The ques-
ton of the legality of this lease is especially vital
Representative Aholo thought it advisable TO stop
talking around about the subject. When Mr..
Spreckels has fully satisfied the Assembly that be
bad given up his lease, then it would be time
enough to talk about returning funds.
The Attorney General said that he considered
the lease perfectly valid. Journals and members
of the Assembly had cast reflections upon the adj
ministration for making this lease. He consid-
cred the easiest way would be to accept Mr. Spreck
els proposition. Probably the Minister of the In
terror alone had the power to cancel the lease,
be had the power to make it. But be thought 1t
might be well, during the present season of re-
pentance of the Ministry, to allow the Assembly to
act upon the matter. he was not infallible as
garded his opinion the validity Of the lease but
he willing to stake his reputation as lawyer,
that it is valid.
Representative Rowell thought that the resolu-
ton as presented was little improper, and moved
as an amendment; THAT the Minister of Interior
take the necessary steps to cancel the lease held
by Mr.. Spreckels.'
Amendment accepted by the maker of the orig
inal motion.
funny about this matter. Mr.. Spreckels is willing
to lose 5000 The Attorney -General had said the
lease was good one, and yet Mr.. Spreckels wanted
to give it up.
Hon. P. 1senberg.-'.If the Honorable member
will allow me, think can explain the situation.
1t is simply because water will not run up hill
| Laughter.
After a little further discussion the Attorney
General filed his opinion, in writing, relating to
the validity Of the lease Accepted and laid on the
table.
Hon. Il. A. Widemann moved the previous qnes-
| ton, bringing up the motion Of Representative
Cecil Brown.