The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1886-08-07
WHEN THE LEGISLATURE MEETS.

vacation, resumes business next
Monday. 1t is to be hoped that the
recess will prove to have been help
full to the work of the session, and
that the temporary delay will really
have been the means of advancing
the public business. An oppor-
tunity has been afforded for advan-
cling backward committee work, and
all matters referred to committees
should be in readiness for presenta-
tion at the re-assembling of the
House. The new Ministers have
had time to familiarize themselves
somewhat with the routine and
requirements of their respective
departments, and for comforting
together and crystalizing their
policy, for the ministerial organ
intimates that they really have
policy. They should be prepared
with their measures, bring them
boldly forward, and stand or fall by
them. Refuge may be taken, and
with some show of reason, in the
excuse that the session is now too
far advanced for the introduction of
new measures. But this is largely
neutralized by the fact that what is
not done now will have to remain
undone for two years longer. One
thing the Government certainly
should be prepared to do, and that
is to lead the House themselves, in
stead of delegating that function to
private members. BY so doing
much valuable time can be given to
useful work that will otherwise be
wasted in desultory and fruitless
talk. The Government ought to be
able to control their own party,
which is a majority of the House.
Judging by the past, the Opposi-
tion will be ready to support the
Government in all measures that
are for the country's good. We
say judging by the past, because
the Fire Limits, Street Grading,
and other useful bills-Government
measures-were assisted by the
Opposition. 1t is all empty balder-
dash to say that those men stand in
the way of progress and obstruct
legislation that is in the interest of
the country. They certainly have
entered vigorous protest and taken
a bold stand against admitting to
the membership of the House men
illegally elected, the granting of
money for specified object without
the previous vote for the same pur-
pose being accounted for, the appro-
priating of money for objects that
are of no benefit to the country
whatever, and against a slip-shod
tax bill that showed injustice on its
face. In this they have done thelr
duty, and their country owes them
debt of gratitude. When the
future historian writes the history OF
the present times the names of those
mel will be mentioned with admira-
ton. That they have committed no
errors and made no mistakes, no
one pretends to say. But their
general course is approved by the
intelligence OF the country, from the
nethermost end of Hawaii to the
farthest point of Niihau. How ridi-
cnlous to talk of the Opposition as
obstructionists to the country:
interests, when they represent the
bulk of its wealth. 1t is too absurt
for any sensible man to swallow
What Injuries the country injure
the Opposition, and what benefit
the country benefits the Opposition
And to them either the injury or tn
benefit is greater than to the part,
in majority in the Legislature, be
cause they have greater interest
involved. Having much at stake
they desire the welfare of the coun
try, and that portion of the Legisla
tive body which represents thi
party can always be relied upon Il
support the wise and oppose th'
foolish measures of the Govern
ment.
The people at large probably car,
but little as to which party is il
the majority, or as to who are tn
persons forming the Administration
80 long as legislation is wise an