The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-05-05
T II e
THE LEGISLATURES.

Lie NOiuluC vi DuSlilC55 IIdilSdtLCu
yesterday by the Legislative Assembly
was not large. 1t consisted mainly in
discussing unimportant motions and re-
ceiving notices of bills. Three members
of the administration gave notices of
measures embodying the Government
policy upon certain points, and provid-
ing for well established public needs.
The Premier gave notice of loan bill
to cover certain exceptional and neces-
sary expenditure in the way of internal
Improvements and for the promotion of
immigration. The aggregate amount
asked for is 1870 900, and the objects are
specifically set out as under:
immigration ................. $3.50, 900
WaterWOrks, Honolulu -........ 200 900
Sewerage, Honolulu ...-.-... 800. 100 900
Wharyes. ..---...... ......--- -...... 1O0, 900
Dredging Honolulu harbor .. $4,000
Roads and Bridges. ............... $4,000
The fact that so small sum is to be
asked for must be a sore disappointment
to the Opposition, which figured upon
ten million dollars at the very least.
But when less than one million is the
modest proposal OF the Government the
recklessness of their prediction utter
ances must come TO them now. 1t can
not be said for an instant that the uses
for which the money is to be applied are
of a questionable character Everyone
admits the necessity for sufficient
water supply combined with an adequate
drainage ssetena for Honolulu, and the
only point that occurs to us is that the
amount asked for may be too small. 1t
il of course understood that compre-
hensive drainage works cannot be carried
out for anything like 100000 but
good beginning may be made upon
a general plan, so that the con-
templated expenditure may not be for a
mere temporary purpose. In the fire
swept district of Honolulu, for example,
permanent sewers may be constructed
now at comparatively less cost and in
convenience than if the district were
built upon. One hundred thousand dol
lars will do "A satisfactory amount of
work, therefore, under competent super
vision, such as is contemplated by the
Government With regard to wharves
and dredging the harbor, similar re-
mark would apply. Dredging is abso-
lutely necessary, so is increased wharf
accommodation and greater facilities for
handling cargo and merchandise. A
loan for roads and bridges is likewise ex
pedient.
The immigration expenditure is set
down at $3.50 900, and if population is to
be introduced on an extensive scale at
all during the next biennial period, this
is not an excessive amount. But it is
clearly an expenditure which should
be borne upon loan and not upon
current revenue. If we are not mis-
taken, the expenditure on immi-
grafton was almost wholly a charge
upon revenue in time past. There
is point, however, in this con-
nection to which reference may be made
in this place. immigration is promoted,
and properly 50, to stimulate agricultural
pursuits, and especially the growth of
cane and production of sugar on the
Islands. The settled policy of the coun-
try is to insist upon the introduction of a
fair proportion of the sexes as to num-
bers, but this requirement has not al
wavs been enforced. Hereafter, this
should be IN tde an absolute rule. But
the planters, for whose immediate and
prospective benefit this labor is intro |
duced, should in fairness bear a portion
of the cost of bringing the wives and
children of contract laborers here. Lat /
terly all this outlay fell upon the Treas |
ury. 1t should at least be divided unless
steps are taken to introduce sufficient |
female help to enable housekeepers to /
dispense with the Chinese domestics !
at their discretion.
The bills to be introduced by the /
Minister of the Interior and Attorney /
General are of importance. The meas .
ures in charge OF His Excellency Mr.. +
GuIick will not create so much contro- .
versy as some of those of which the Attor- .
nev General has given notice. The for I
ner relate to matters of internal inn
movement; the latter include social
questions, such as an amendment to the .
Sunday law, sagrancy, gaming and
pawnbrokiug. Upon some OF these at !.