The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-08-12
THE LEGISLATURE.

In the Legislative Assembly yesterday
a fair degree Of progress was made, al
though the greater part of the forenoon
sitting was given up to the discussion OF
the right of Mr.. f. Kekoa, member for
Puma, to retain his seat This question
arose on a resolution proposed 10y Mr.
Cecil Brown, which recited the fact Of
his conviction upon charge involving
a violation of the election laws, his APP
peals and the final adverse judgment of
the Supreme Court. The facts were not
disputed, but decision upon the merits
was not arrived at, owing TO a point Of
order raised by Mr.. Kaulukou, that a
similar resolution having been indefi-
nitely postponed earlier in the session, it
was incompetent for the House to con
slider Mr.. Browns motion. \ motion
to suspend the rules was intercepted by
q motion for the order of the day, which
prevailed. There can be no doubt as to
the duty of the Legislature in this case,
should Mr.. Kekoa persist in retaining
his seat. 1t is to be hoped, however,
that he will save further trouble by re-
signing
In the afternoon sitting the Appropri-
alton bill was considered in Committee
of the Whole, and several votes of great
public interest were passed. The vote
of $4,000 on the original estimates for
the pay of Road Chief
was passed, as was also the estimated
amount of road tax to be expended in
the districts where raised. This esti-
mate and the unexpended balance OF
$4,000 odd, which has already been
passed upon in committee, will place a
sum of at least $200,0 at the disposal
of the Government, or of local boards,
as the Legislature may determine, dur
ing the current biennial period. A great
deal OF useful work may be accomplished
by the expenditure of this money, and
we hope in whatever hands it may be
placed it will be judiciously disposed of.
The plan outlined in the bill reported by
the Select Committee on Road Bills
contemplates the collection of the road
tax by the Government and its disburse-
ment by local bodies, without check or
accountability. This would be an ex-
ceedingly loose way OF doing business.
It would use the machinery of the Gov
eminent to raise money by taxation,
and then turn it over to the local gov
erning bodies to spend as they pleased.
The money should be paid into the
Treasury and kept at special deposit for
the various districts, to be drawn upon
In regular way. Vouchers for every
dollar of expenditure should be forth
coming, and the accounts of the various
Road Boards should be properly audited.
With these restrictions, there is no OBJ
lection to giving the control of the roads
and bridges in various districts to local
bodies, as contemplated by measures
now before the Legislature.
His Excellency Mr.. Gibson moved
the appropriation of $50, 900 for water
supply. 1t was contemplated to lay a
new water main and nearly double the
supply of water for the city. Work had
been begun by his orders and was in
progress. The new pipe line would cost
about SO, 900, in labor mainly, and the
balance would be needed for land on
which to construct a new reservoir, and
for that work itself. The amount stated
he thought would be sufficient and the
city would have a greatly increased sup
ply of pure water. The present supply
was scanty and by no means of pure
quality. The House regarded this pro-
posal favorably and passed the item. 1t
afterwards referred vote of $4,000 to
extinguish water claims to a select COM
mittee, with instructions to report at an
early day the amount that might be
needed for that purpose.
A sum of $4,000 was likewise voted,
on Mr.. Gibson's motion, for wharf con-
struction and repairs at Honolulu. He
explained that it was intended to erect
new wharf at the end of the Pacific
Mail wharf extending toward the Marine
Railway, which would accommodate the
schoOners. This would en-
nance the value of Government property
in that quarter. 1t was further intended
to improve the wharf accommodation in
the vicinity of the Fish Market. His
exhibited plan OF the pro-
posed improvement near the Pacific
Mail wharf. This proposal was also
we'll received, and the vote passed with
comments.
His ExcelIency the Minister of the
Interior proposed a contingent vote of
100000 for road damages and improve
nents. This item was referred to a
select committee on His Excellency's
for the purpose of ascertain
ng the exact figure which shOu Id be in
ierted in the Appropriation bill. A
arge sum would be needed owing to the (
consequent on the late /
Ire and the widening OF Merchant and /.
Tort streets.
Mr.. Gibson next moved that $4,000 /
% inserted in the Appropriation bill for |
OF immigration. He
that this was to meet an obi
alton already incurred for a shipment OF
portuguese immigrants now on their
7ay. The Government had determined