The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1886-09-14

bill be indefinitely postponed. Were the i'm
practicable features of the bill insufficient to kill
it, probably the fact that it amends law which
was repealed in 1868 would quite suffice.
"Jhe measure introduced by the honorable
member for Hilo deals with matter of great
Importance, to wit, the Constitution and certain
powers of the Board of Inspectors of Election. A
great deal of discussion has arisen relative to the
power and authority of the members of the Board
to appoint substitutes in cases of their absence
from meetings of the Board and on election day.
The difference of opinion on this subject IS
very sharp, and unless something is done trouble
may arise in the future. 1t is manife5tly unjust
the persons to preside at the ballot box. 1t IS
equally improper perhaps that such persons
should have the sole power to appoint such Board
of Inspectors. No doubt the law as it exists was
enacted in the belief that the District or Police
Judge, the Tax Assessor or Collector would not be
candidates for election. The fallacy of this theory
was never more completely demonstrated than in
the last election, when in nearly every election
district in the Kingdom Excepting in Kaanapali,
which has special law same member of the
Board was candidate for election Not single
election In the country excepting kaanapalD was
held before the Board of Inspectors contemplated
by the law, and than one-half of the elective
branch of the Assembly at the present session Is
composed of members of the Board of Inspectors
of Election This is not pleasant state of affairs
to contemplate, for those who believe in absolute
whose duties require them to judge as to the up
rightness and fair conducting of election ought
not on any account to be candidates for election.
10 pass such law, leaving the Board as at pre-
SENT would deprive the country of the services of
the very intelligent gentlemen who now represent
more than one-half of the constituencies of the
Kingdom The committee cannot regard such
contingency with any composure.
1.-The measure introduced by Rep. Kaulukou
leaves the Board at present, but gives each men,
Der power to appoint substitute on any occasion.
"This bill gives no relief from the present sys-
tenn, but if possible makes it even worse. An In
spector can if the bill should pass, be present at the
election as a candidate running about among
voters at the same time watching his interests at
the ballot box while some creature of his presides
at the polls. No duty can be more important and
sacred than that placed in the hands of the In
spectors of Election. If the elective franchise is
of any value, it is worthy of being ieaously guard
ed. The Inspectors whose duties extend to the
regulation of the list of voters, as we'll as to pre-
siding on election day, can have no duty paramount
in importance to those devolving upon them in
this capacity. They should be free from all bias
or interest IN the result of any election. They
should personally attend to the duties required of
them. The present system provides for certain
things to be done by certain Board. The law
conflicts as to who shall constitute the Board The
Hawaiian and English versions do not agree. The
committee believe that change in the entire con-
stitution of the Board can be made with advantage,
and they herewith offer bill which provides for
the appointment of three disinterested persons for
each such district, the appointment to be made by
the Governor; also, that in case of absences, the
other members may appoint substitutes, etc.
~ his bill the committee recommend to be pass
ed, and that the said bill of the hon. member for
Hilo be laid on the table,"
Tabled for consideration with the minority re-
port.
Representative Castle also presented report
from the same committee signed by himself, and
Reps. Dole and Wight, as follows:
:" The Select Committee on Election Matters
having reported the several bills IN their hands
under the terms of the resolution creating the
committee hereby further report
That the committee have considered the
general law regarding elections and kindred mat
tiers, and while they are of the opinion that the
whole ought to be re constructed believe that such
measure cannot we'll be considered at the present
session. They are, however, of the opinion that
two amendments at least ought to be adopted, to
do away wholly with the tax receipt system, and
to define clearly the law regarding residence. The
committee therefore, herewith submit two bills to
provide for those two points, the passage of which
they recommend. They also recommend that a
commission of three be appointed to consider
new Election Act in allits parts, and report the
same to the Legislature of 1885,"
Representative Hayselden presented and read
another statement IN connection with the above,
signed by himself and Rep. Kaulukou and the
Attorney General, as follows:
We agree with the other members of the COM
mttee regarding the necessity for the re-construc
ton of the Electoral Laws and the appointment
of committee as recommended for that purpose,
to report to the Legislature of 1888. We are also
in favor of fixing the residence clause of GO days,
as recommended, but we are not at present IN
favor of doing away with the tax receipt system,
preferrng to await the report of the committee IN
1882
Report tabled, and bills ordered to print.
Representative Heyselden now presented the
following minority report of the Election Commit
tee, signed by himself, Rep Kaulukou and the
Attorney General, viz.
no Of
referred sundry election bills beg leave to report
that they have had under consideration an Act IN
troduced by Representative Kaulukou, entitled
An Act to amend Section of Chapter Sc of the
Criminal Code At the request of the honorable
ntroducer of the bill, your committee added to 1t
portion of the section proposed to be amended,
as 1t had, in the hurry of copying, been nadVert-
emily left out of the bill Your committee found
that the only change contemplated by this Act is
to leave out the words during their absence IN
the English version. 1t was found that the Ha-
waiian version did not contain the words during
their ABSENCE and it is the opinion of your COM
mittee that these words should be left out of the
English version of the law as it at present stands
and they therefore recommend that this bill pass.
Report tabled, to be considered with bill.
Representative Thurston, from the Select Com
mittee on Ramie Culture, presented an exhaustive
report, the following being the principal points
contained therein
"Your Select Committee, to whom was referred
an item from the Appropriation Bill, viz. To the
Hawaiian Ramie Company, for the encouragement
of ramie culture $4,000 report that they have
carefully considered each item, and find the situa-
ton to be as follows:
1.-THE ramie fibre is one of the most valuable
known. It grows luxuriously in such localities on
the Islands as are suitable for its culture-notably
in Kona, Puma and Hilo. The preparing of the
fibre for use involves two distinct processes lst
Separating the woody material from the fibre.
ID A chemical and bleaching process for the pur-
pose of removing the gummy substance adhering
to the raw fibre and reducing it to condition
from the woody material is worth five cents
pound, or 800 ton and upwards. After being
chemically treated, it is worth from $500 to $500
ton.
..Sr, Al. H.