The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-07-02
THE LEGISLATURE.


The new Ministry took their seats in
the Legislative Assembly yesterday.
After the minutes had been read and
confirmed His Excellency Mr. Gibson
made q statement in explanation of the
change of Administration. His speech
will be found in our report of the Parlia-
mentary doings. 1t was brief and to the
point. He explained that the late Min
istry had rendered their designations to
His Majesty on Wednesday evening last
in a body; that His Majesty had ac-
cepted of %hem, and instructed Mr. Glib
son to form new Government This
was accordingly done, and his colleagues
were present in their seats to-day
In few we'll chosen words His Excel
lency spoke of the ability and faithful
public service of his late colleagues, and
with equal felicity of expression he in
troduced his new colleagues to the Legis-
lature. The Cabinet, he said, we're
actuated by desire to promote the best
interests of the country, and hoped the
House would cooperate with them in
uocarrying out the principles of economy
and reform recommended by His Maj
esty.
After some routine business had been
transacted, debate arose upon a mo-
ton to adjourn until Friday morning
made by Mr.. Aholo. The Opposition
would not consent to adjournment un-
less Mini ~ters asked for it, but the latter
were quite prepared to go on. AS it was
mail day, however, it was deemed pru-
dent by the Assembly to adjourn and
afford the new Cabinet an opportunity
TO familiarize themselves with the duties
of their respective offices.
1t must be remarked at this point that
the spirit of the Opposition, as presented
by Mr.. Dole in this discussion, was far
from being generous, or even fairly APP
preciative of the responsibilities of the
new Administration. There is an in
finite variety of detail to be mastered,
and although this may be done during
continuous sittings of the Legislative AS
sembly, it would be accomplished under
great disadvantage. But the session has
already advanced too far to render pos
sible any heightened adjournment, and
under the circumstances we think the
House was correct in resolving to meet
to-day at the usual hour. There remain
two working days this week, and if the
House applies itself to business, and
does not wander off into proftless dis
cussion to waste time at the instigation
of the Opposition, good deal of prog
gress may be made in them.
Mr. Castle wanted a new Appropri-
alton bill; but the old one is sufficient
for all practical purposes, modified as it
has been in response to the Royal
message. 1t would be sheer waste of
time to undo the work that has been
done on the Appropriation bill, al
though it will doubtless come up for re-
vision in all its parts before it becomes
law. The Cabinet are not going to take
leap in the dark, if we may judge from
Mr.. Gibson's rejoinders during this de-
bate. They evidently mean business,
and intend to conform to the letter OF
Fo- this reason they do not want 6 loose
Appropriation Act, but seek on the con-
trary to bring the expenditure within
the income, and so place the country on
a sound financial basis. The intelligent
cooperation of the Legislature is neces-
sary to such result, but this is impos-
sible of attainment if time is to be frit-
tered away in verbal criticism and the
petulant repetition of absurd accusations
which form the stock-in-trade of OppO-
sition oratory. We hope that hereafter
the Assembly will keep close to bust
ness, and thereby economic time and
money.