The daily herald. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1886-1887, 1886-10-16
TERMS or SUBSCRIPTION.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1886
END OF THE SESSION.

The Legislature is to be prorogued
on this, the hundred and twenty-ninth
day of its deliberations. For one thing
the session has been remarkable for its
undue length. Various reasons are
adducible for this feature, which may
be discussed by themselves at another
time. Another marked peculiarly OF
the session is found in the astounding
vagaries of some Of its decisions tend
ing to establish precedents for govern
ing the status of future Assemblies. II
the present Legislature is to form a
new rule for succeeding ones, it is
established that nonresident voters
may elect representatives in one dis.
trict and not in another, the question
in each case to be decided by the sinl-
pie fact as to whether the member
declared elected by the returning officer
belongs to the majority or to the
minority in the House. 1t is also
established that man may be elected
by fraud so fragrant as to procure his
conviction and punishment by the
courts of law, and yet cannot be un-
seated provided he belongs to the
party having majority in the Assem-
bly,.
Some very useful legislation was ini-
tiated by the original Ministry that
met the House at opening, a portion
of it being perfected before that Minis
try was elected by secret conspiracy.
Orner usefui auA -,s...~Ay -ies.-l.-si-~---
introduced and promoted to accom-
plishment by private members, notably
by those belonging to the party op-
posed to the administration. Accept
able and necessary laws were also
framed and passed at the instance Of
the Ministry in existence for the
three months prior to Thurs
day last. An amendment to the tax
law, promoted by representative
closely identified with all three Minis
tries, passed in form much mutllated
from the original bill, but with the valu-
able features mainly preserved and
several absurdities pruned. The same
member brought in rider to the law
thus amended, increasing the direct
taxation from three-quarters to one per
cent This would not be Objectionable,
provided the revenue was to be it,
creased thereby for the benefit OF
necessary services, but it was rightfully
though unsuccessfully opposed because
the proposed expenditures had been
swelled for objects, not only of no
utility but in many cases likely to be Of
injury to the country
Probably what will most distinguish
the session hereafter will be the sudden
changes in the policy and personnel of
the Ministry. The changes in policy
have been numberless, while there
have been two reconstructions Of the
Cabinet. Besides the changes in the
Cabinet there have been changes in
important offices, and the mutations in
both respects have unsettled the public
mind injuriously in extent and degree.
1t is impossible to forecast or measure
all the results to follow so much eccen-
trio manipulation and disturbance Of
the public service, They must be very.
injurious to the common welfare. 1t
would take up too much space, especi-
ally as this does mot pretend to be a
review of the session, to more than
refer to the adoption of policy of
borrowing more money and going
abroad to do SO. The ten million loan
act is not so serious a matter as the
continuance at the head of the admin
istration of man who changed his
base on that most important question
not once but many times during the
session.