The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-09-11

[
! Of the bill insufficient 10 kill it, probably
/ the fact that IL amends law which was re
/ pea,ed in 1868 would quite suffice.
| The measure introduced by the honor
I able member fol-. HiIo deals with a matter
! Of great Importance, to Wit, the constitution
/ and certain powers of the Board OF Inspec-
| tors of Election. a great deal OF discussion
has arisen relative to the power and author
fly of the members of the Board to appoint
substitutes in cases of their absence from
meetings of the Board and on election
day.
The difference of opinion on this subject
is very sharp, and unless something is
done trouble may arise in the future. 1t
is nanifestly unjust and wrong that candi-
dates for election should be the persons to
preside at the ballot box. 1t is equally
improper perhaps that such persons should
have the sole power to appoint such Board
of Inspectors. No doubt the law it ex-
lists was enacted in the belief that the Dis
trict or Police Judge, the Tax Assessor OF
Collector would not be candidates for
election. The fallacy of this theory was
never more completely demonstrated than
in the last election, when in nearly every
election district i'll the Kingdom excepting
in kaanapali, which has special law
some member of the Board was candi-
date for election. Not a single election in
the country excepting Kaanapali) was
held before the Board OF Inspectors con-
templated by the law, and more than one
half of the elective branch of the Assem-
bly, at the present session is composed of
members of the Board of Inspectors of
Election. This is not a pleasant state of
affairs to contemplate, for those who be-
lieve in absolute impartiality and freedom
from bias by those whose duties require
them to judge as to the uprightness and
fair conducting of an election ought not on
any account to be a candidate for election.
To pass such law, leaving the Board as at
present, would deprive the country of the
services of the very intelligent gentlemen
who now represent more than one-half of
the constituencies of the Kingdom. The
committee cannot regard such a COntin-
gency with any composure.
The measure introduced by the Hon.
Mr.. KaulukOu leaves the Board as at
present, but gives each member power to
appoint substitute on any occasion.
This bill gives no relief from the present
system, but if possible makes it even
worse. An Inspector can, if the bill should
pass, be present at the election as a candi-
date, running about among voters, at the
same time watching his interests at the
ballot box while some creature of his pre-
sides at the polls. No duty can be more
important and sacred than that placed in
the hands of the Inspectors of Election. If
the elective franchise is of any value, it is
worthy of being jealousy guarded. The
Inspectors whose duties extend to the reg
ulation of the list of voters as well as to
presiding on election day, can have no duty
paramount in importance to those devOlv-
ing upon them in this capacity. They
should be free from all bias or interest in
the result of any election. They should
personally attend to the duties required of
them. The present system provides for
certain things to be done by certain Board.
The law conflicts as to who shall constitute
the Board. The Hawaiian and English
versions do not agree. The committee be-
lieve that change in the entire constitu-
ton of the Board can be made with adj
vantage, and they herewith offer a bill
which provides for the appointment of
three disinterested persons for each such
the appointment to be made by
the Governor; also, that in case of alb
sences, the other members may appoint
etc.
This bill the committee recommend to be
passed, and that the said bill of the honor
able member for HilO be laid on the table. |
w. r. CASTLE,
S. B. DOLE,
J. WIGHT.
Mr.. Hayselden said he informed the |
Chairman of the committee this morning |
that he agreed with the committee that
the bill introduced by Mr.. Nahum should |
be indefinitely postponed, for the reasons |
stated in the report, that the law had been !
With the other recommended |
tons he could not agree, and would pre-
sent a minority report. He moved the re-
port be laid upon the table, until the mi |
nority report came in. Agreed to.
Mr.. Thurston moved the new bill be re
ferred to the Printing Committee. Agreed |
to.
ANOTHER REPORT FROM THE ELECTION CON-
MITTEE.
Mr.. Castle, from the Select Committee !
on Election Matters presented the follow
ing final report:
Hon. J. S. Walker, President Legislative
The Select Committee on
Election Matters having reported the sew
eral bills in their hands under the terms of
the resolution creating the committee,
hereby further report:
That the committee have considered the |
general law regarding elections and kim
bred matters, and while they are of the
opinion that the whole law ought to be re-
constructed, believe that such a measure
well be considered at the present
session. They are, however, of the opinion
that two amendments at least Ought to be
adopted, to do away wholly with the tax
receipt system, and to define clearly the
law regarding residence.
The committee therefore herewith sub
NIT two bills to provide for those two
points, the passage of which they recon-
mend.
They also recommend that commission
of three be appointed to consider new
election Act in all its parts and report the
same to the Legislature of 1888.
w. r. CASTLE,
). h. Dole,