The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-10-14

has suffered any loss of prestige I'M
Ger the present Government.
Touching the appointment of
Special Inspectors of immigrants, the
report distinctly creates a false i'm
preston. There is no excuse for this,
because its authors cannot plead ig-
norance of the facts. 1T says: "FOr
some reason steps are now being
taken for the appointment of for
eiguers az protectors Of immigrants
without even the formaity of asking
that laws be introduced to authorize
such appointments" Let us say,
once for all, that no such appointment
as that spoken Of has been made.
Special Inspectors Of immigrant la
bOrers have been appointed, not
protectors" These inspectors have
no judicial powers. They can do
nothing of themselves beyond invest
igating complaints, and advising
laborers and planters with a view to
lessen friction; but their power is
limited to reporting TO the Board of
immigration. They are Hawaiian
Government officers, paid by it and
under its control. There was no ne
cessity for a special law authorizing
their appointment any more than
there is for a special law to appoint
an interpreter for the Court. The
foregoing allegation is therefore de-
void of truth, wherefore it follows that
the further one is absurd, that
'such demand flor the appointment
| of protectors ] can only be regarded
as reprOach to the nation, and the
compliance with the demand as an
act of humiliation;" or that at
is a virtual assurance that our
reputation for the administration
of justice in the local Courts is
not as good as it was.U mas
much as the facts assumed do not
and did not exist, this stilted rhOdo-
montade goes for nothing.
AS matter of fact, the japanese
| Government did no more than the
| Norwegian and Portuguese Govern
ments had previously done, and as
| they had a perfect right to do. They
respectively sent an officer to inquire
into the condition of their subjects.
The Portuguese Commissioner re-
manned in the country, and up to the
| appointment OF Mr.. Hutchinson
/ really acted as Inspector of Portu-
| guese immigrants, doing great deal
/ in that capacity to render pleasant
! the relations of planter and laborer.
| But who ever thought of "national
| humiliation" or impeaching the adj
ministration of Justice because :he
| Governments OfNorway and Portugal
discharged, in an agreeable way,
! very obvious national duty. Then
why do so in the case of Japan, which
exactly followed the course of Nor
way--a country which is still open,
we may add, as source Of immi-
grafton.
Space does not admit a thorough
analysis of the illogical conclusion the
report comes to in the premises.
/ After assuming that the administra-
| ton of the minor Courts "is not as
good as it was" owing to change in
the appointing power made in 1882,
it recommends the appointment of a
Royal Commission to report a plan
! of organization which would take the
minor Courts out of corrupt po-
| litical influences" Now, who is to
appoint the Royal Commission? The
King undoubtedly; but as the King
| consults his advisers the Commission
| itself will be the creature of the same
corrupt political Influences" as are
| to be got rid of through its agency in
the appointments to the lower Courts.
! Nay more, appointments to the SUI
prene Judiciary are made in the
same corrupt way. The King APP
points the Judges with the advice of
his Ministers. If then, Mr.. Gibson
and his colleagues are TO be trusted
with the selection of the Supreme
Court Judges and of the Royal Com
mission, which MessIs. Davies and
Dole aud the Planters Labor and
Supply Company say is necessary,
surely they are to be trusted with the
less responsible duty of selecting
Police and District Court Judges.
But they do not even do this. The
Governors of the various Islands are
responsible for these appointments
under the new law, and we venture
to say that Governor Dominis has
made no appointment without con-
sulting the Judges.
PLANTERS LABOR AND SUPPLY co.