The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-10-18
VETOED BILLS.

LgED D4LA4S"
Sane time ago the Royal veto was
exercised in a way that commended
iself to the intelligence of every sensi-
bic person. We refer to the veto Of the
bill which gave the Hawaiian version OF
the laws preference over the English
text. when the two versions did not
agree. This would have been a retro
grade step and the King most properly
disallowed the bill. The truth is, Eng
fish is the official language Of this coun-
try, and it has been so for the past fifty
years. English is also fast superseding
Hawaiian in the public schools, and it
would be sound policy to teach English
only, thereby fitting native boys and
girls when they grow up to fill any posi-
ton Of trust and emelument in the King
dom. There is no fear Of the Hawaiian
language being forgotten. 1t is pre-
served in the literature of the country,
thanks to the Jealous intelligence of the
early missionaries and other educated
men and scientists who visited these
Islands, and whose names are identified
with their history for all time. But for
utilitarian purposes, English should be-
come the language of the people as rap
idly as possible.
The Bankruptcy bill was also vetoed.
1t was properly disallowed, we think,
because under the guise of a gen
eral law it was intended to meet special
cases. Moreover, great hardship might
have been inflicted upon honest men
who were unfortunate in business; and
it would have been possible under its
provisions to have thrown almost any
man into bankruptcy on a disputed ac-
count Of 5000 The difficulty in bank
ruptcy legislation is recognized every
where An effective insolyent debtor
law has never been enacted by any
Legislature, and we DO not think a salts
factory bankruptcy law ever will be
made. The difficulties in the way of
sound legislation are almost insuperable,
and we do not imagine the assembled
NlSNlOll1 VI Lid ali W III SUI ulOltlll lIiCl4l
when the wisdom of so many other
countries has failed. If the recovery of
debt by civil process We're abolished the
credit system would be simplifed and
dishonest trading practically suppressed.
What makes fraudulent bankrupts and
dishonest trading is the encouragement
which the law gives to reckless credit.
If exporters and importers OF merchan
disc and traders generally knew that
they could not fall back upon the Courts
to collect their debts, or punish their
dishonest clients, they would conduct
their business with greater care, and
credit would be based upon personal
probity, which is not now the case.
it is not just or fair to tax
the people at large to keep an expensive
judicial machinery going for the purpose
Of relieving traders from the conse- !
4uences Of their own reckless or shiftless
business methods.
Two bills were also vetoed which will /
be very differently regarded in the |
COUNTRY Olc W as Jiit blli creating hOdu (
Commissioners, and prescribing their
luties and those OF Road Supervisors.
This bill was opposed by the ADVERTISER
iuring its passage through the House,
because it contemplated the collection
md disbursement of taxes without any
Treasury check or accounting. It's veto,
therefore, meets with our approval, but
t will be a sore disappointment to all
hose who looked forward to it to pro-
-ide well paid offices and the irrespon-
ible handling OF public money Just
low far the districts will be deprived of
Dad tax arrearages by reason OF this
-eto we cannot say. Everything will
.epend upon the state OF the Treasury
nd the disposition OF Ministers. The
econd bill vetoed in this connection was
ne relating to the rights and property
f married women. In our judgment, it
hould have become law.