The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-07-13

opium smuggling. The Collector Genera
of Customs was not able 10 detail sufh
cient force Of men TO prevent the SNUG
Cling OF this contraband drug. 1t nigh
be possible to prevent it here IN Honolulu
but in the outlying ports he believed it Wa:
impossible He could not help thinking
that good morals we're more injuriously
affected by the illegal traffic in opium thar
they would be by the legalized sale OF thai
article. He did not propose to offer any
objection to the resolution, but in his idea
1t would be only what Scotchman would
say, "A chip in porridge.'
! Mr.. Thurston said the Minister OF For
eign Affairs had delivered his maiden
speech, but it was very disappointing to
| him From the manner in which he had
conducted a newspaper they should have
! expected him to have given straightfor-
/ ward argument, instead of the miserable
| bubble he had treated them to in this case.
| The Minister does not think the resolution
would accomplish any thing, as no one in
terested in the smuggling of opium would
appear before the committee. That was
simply trihing and quibbling, and splitting
hairs over the meaning of the English
word interested" The question OF the
Appropriation bill is considered the most
important one before this Legislature. But
it Is a matter of dollars and cents, and did
not enter into the life of the nation as did
the opium business. The resolution was
only intended to obtain Information on the
question from persons who could give it.
This was not the time to discuss the opium
bill, but it was the time for all persons to
say whether they believe in licensing it or
not. This was the time to look at the
question fairly and squarely from every
point OF view. The Minister of Foreign
Affairs had come into this House to treat
this matter in the same way as he did in
his newspaper, wOrshipping the very dirt
that Col. Spreckels walked on, and tramp
ling on everyone who did not. If the
Minister believes in licensing opium, let
him bring in his arguments, but let him
not go on and say that other people who
disagree with him are dishonest. There
fore, the resolution being simply for infor
nation, this was not the time for making
objections.
Mr. Brown said he was not in favor of
licensing opium, nor in favor of the reso-
luton. 1t was a little premature, he
thought, as there was no opium bill before
the House. He moved the resolution be
laid upon the table and taken up when the
opium bill is presented.
His Excellency Mr.. Gibson thought this
discussion on the opium question was out
of place. He would be glad to have in
formation on the subject that might be use
full. He had no objection to the resolu |
ton, but concurred with the Attorney
General that the time should be shorter |
As the Minister of Foreign Affairs had re- |
marked the use of opium was an evil they
all recognized. Would to God they could |
dismiss the drug from the land, or con- |
fine it to the apothecary shops. He was J
aware of its demOraliZing effects, having |
seen it among servants and others. He /
regretted that Mr.. ThurstOn should have |
INDUCED in a strain of remarks disposed to |
correct the Minister of Foreign Affairs for
fault that he made himself He says |
let US get at this matter, and appeals to
the Minister to come to the point directly |
without innuendo, yet he himself dragS in |
the name of an honorable private gentle
man and throws out insinuatiOns against
the Minister'S motives. 1t was improper
for Mr.. Thurston to bring in this element
of private affairs as he had done. The
Minister did not refer TO many persons
that he might have done, who were inter
ested in the question whether the licensed
sale would increase or reduce the con-
such as housekeepers, planters,
merchants, and so on.
Mr. Castle said he fixed the time in the
resolution at two weeks, but the committee
could report earlier. A shorter time would
suit him, and he only wished the House
could be prorogued III two weeks. He was
willing to amend it to ten days. The
Minister of Foreign Affairs had not been
long enough in the country to know what
the country had been doing in this matter
If he had looked back he would have found
on examining the records of the Legisla-
ture that when opium was licensed it
spread rapidly among the natives, whereas
to-day its use was almost entirely confined
TO Chinese and to such natives and foreign
ers as had acquired its use when it was IL
,ensed. He (the speaker) knew a good
Zeal about the effects of opium license
rom the police authorities and other
sources, but he did not wish what he had
- say to be taken as a guide in the matter.
The resolution asked for committee of
inquiry.
Mr.. Kaulukou did not believe in persons
coming here from the outside and the
House asking them for information. The
House could take care of itself and make
Is own laws He did not favor such an
Mr.. Lilikalani said he had given notice
If an opium bill and it was nearly readysI
or presentation.
On the question being put the resolution
vas laid upon the table.
ROAD IMPROv ENTs.
Mr. Aholo presented a resolution that an |
tenn of 81 800 be inserted in the Appropria- 4
ion bill for improving the roads in La
laina. Maui Referred to the Special
Committee on Roads and Bridges.
INTERIM REPORT OF THE PRINTING COMMITTEE.
His Excellency Mr.. Gibson, from the
Printing Committee, reported an Act to
organize the military forces of the King
lon1, and an Act relating to acknowledg-
nents to labor contracts as printed.
NOTICE OF QUESTION.
Mr.. Thurston gave notice that on Tues
Law he would ask the Minister of the In