The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1886-05-25

same opinion as on Friday when the item
was first discussed that before this vote
was taken there should be some explana-
tion from the Minister. In the report of
the Minister of Finance there was an
item of some S2S,000 as Japanese fund.
There was no doubt that the money was
received according to that report, and fur
ther confirmation on that subject was had
by expression that fell from the Minister
OF Foreign Affairs, that money had been
paid back to parties depositiag it.
The Minister of Foreign Affaies said he
had not had any part in the transactions
IN the matter. Some small amounts had
been paid on the order of the Japanese
Consul, but he did not know that any di-
rect drafts had been made on the Treasury.
Hon. Godfrey Rhodes said, there was
something irregular in the information of
the Minister, the principal ought to be
pooyided for as well as the interest. The
fourth section of the Appropriation Bill
defines especially that money shall not be
paid from the treasury without authorize
ton OF law. Ii those were not certificates
of deposit they should not be in the AID
preparation Bill, but as they were there,
this sum appears as an asset of the coun-
try, and he should imagine that they
could not be paid out again except by
action of the Assembly, and if any OF
those sums had been paid to the Japanese.
He would ask what part the Auditor.
General took in paying them.
The Attorney General said he had made
some inquiries, but not enough to answer
the question Of Hon Godfrey Rhodes, and
that was, as to what money had been
paid out ? He might safely assume that
none of that fund had been paid back yet,
for two reasons LIST, it there had been
any such money paid out 1t would have
appeared in the account of the Finance
Department 2nd, the circumstances I'M
der which that fund had been deposited
led him to think that none had been paid
out. He had been informed by the Nj
mister of Finance that since his report
more had been paid in.
Continuing, the Attorney General said
that one of the members had asked whether
the Attorney General had authorized the
treasury to receive this money He was
aware that it was discussed, but although
he was not asked for his advice he thought
he might have said that the Government
was at perfect liberty to take it-more
than that, there was no reason for the
Government TO excuse itself from taking
it. Among the conditions of the conven-
ton with Japan was one. article IL, of
certain propositions made by the japanese
Government. twenty-five per cent. of the
wages and other savings of Japanese i'm
migrants were to be deposited with the
Hawaiian Government, at interest of five
per cent. A treaty had the same solemn
ty as any law which the Assembly NAV
pass aud which has the signature of the
King. When it is asked what right had
the Minister of Finance to receive that
money, he replies that it is one of the
privileges of the convention. Ii it is
asked VIZ at right has this Government, in
the absence of Legislative sanction, it may
be asked what right had this Government
to agree that japanese laborers should be
free from taxes for three years What
right had this Government, without sane
ton of the Legislative body, to make such
provision as this-to return Japanese
laborers, disabled by sickness or other
reason, without their voluntary consent.
He said that the action of the Govern
ment was perfectly legal. This policy had
saved the Hawaiian Government $1,000 or
5000. If they had not been bound to do
it, it would not have been done. The ar
rangement had to be carried out till they
had the consent of the Japanese Govern
ment to strike it out. When the Ha-
waiian charge d'affaires was here it was
concluded that the clause should be
stricken out, and that the Japanese Gov
ernment should seek bank elsewhere. 1t
could not have been done by this Govern
ment a pare without the other party,
and when that is done the entire fund
will be taken away, for it has been moth
ing but trouble Whether it was proper
to put this item in he was not prepared to
say, but at any rate it was intended to lay
this matter before the Legislature when it
came to the appropriation under the loan
fund