The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1886-07-09

he had introduced.
Rep. Kaulukou moved the bill be
indefinitely postponed, as the house
could deal with the measures separ-
ately. He was ready to hear the
reasons for the proposed change in
the Constitution.
Rep. Dickey said if the house
wanted to kill the bill they could
do SO, and that would prevent the
question coming up again this ses-
sion. His object in having it tabled
was to admit of his other bill COM
ing up.
Rep. Thurston said he had no ex-
pectation that this bill or the pro-
posed amendment to the Constitu-
ton would pass. But it ought to
pass, and the day would come when
this proposal would be the law of
the land. Other countries have had
their governments in the hands of
public officials, who had their own
way for time but they went down
and would go down in Hawaii.
There were some Government
officials in this house as good men
as there we're outside of the Legis-
lature, but it was impossible for
member of this house who was de-
pendent on the Government for his
bread and butter to be thoroughly
unbiased. Other countries had
dealt with this matter year after
year, and had got it down so fine
that if member Of the Legislature
belonged to firm that had gov
ernment contract, he must either
sever his connection with the firm
or resign his seat in the Legislature.
1t was the principle involved that he
looked to, and he was glad the ques-
tion came up, giving an opportunity
of agitation. 1t would be seen how
every Government official in the
house would vote against this mea-
sure. He moved that the bill pass.
Minister Dare believed the men,
Der must have overlooked the bear
ing of this bill. He had heard of
odium attaching to Government
officials in all countries, but heard
for the first time to-day that the
judge of a court of record, tax
assessor or collector, classed with
criminals and idiots. Who ever
heard of Judge or tax collector
classed in any civilized country
with an idiot or q thief? Suppose
they reversed the principle and say
that no person holding a seat in this
Legislature should ever after be
eligible for any Office? Who was
better able to represent an interior
district than gentleman who had
intelligently assessed it? Who was
better able to do so than man who
had visited every hamlet and every
home in that district? Who was better
able to adjust the inequalities and
harshness of law than a judge who
had administered it in his district
He asked the Hawaiian members if
they would put upon the statute
books a provision that their most
intelligent people should not repre-
sent their districts.
Rep. Dickey asked if the Attor-
ney-General wvs aware that judges
of courts of record could not now
represent them, according to the
present law.
Minister Dare replied in the af-
firmative, saying it should have
been wiped off years ago. He be-
lieved the people themselves should
be entitled to say who should repre-.
sent them, and if they choose 6
Judge, or tax assessor or collector
he should be entitled to represent
his district.
Rep. Dickey said His Excellency
proposed to make fun of this bill
because it put judges on the same
footing as insane people. There
were good reasons why insane peo
pie should not be representatives
also good reasons why judges should
not be. The Constitution recog.
nized that judges of courts Of
record should not be members OF
the Legislative Assembly,. Those
judges had the disposal of the inter.
ests of the people to great extent
If one of them was desirous of gain
ing a seat in the Legislature there
was danger that he might decide
cases wrongfully. He did not think
it was an insult to say that judges
should not be representatives at the
same time as the same was said o.
insane persons. There were just al
good reasons why district or police
judges should be ineligible as judge
of courts of record perhaps create
reasons, because of the small case
the police justice had to deal with
and because they had all the re
sponsibility. of jury, which til
judges of courts of record did no
always have. The tax assessor an
the tax collector we're by law mem
bers of the Election Board. Th
collector had to give receipts fo
taxes paid, and was liable to tn
temptation of allowing persons, i
lieu of giving them their receipt
before the day of election, to pa
: less than they should. That wa
not bribery. They did nc
pay man for his vote, br
: only for the privilege of holding hi