The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1886-06-01


resolution
Whereas, it appears by the report
of the Hon. Il. Preston, Associate
Justice of the Supreme Court, that
Hon. +. kekoa, member of the AS
sembly from Puma, Hawaii, was con
victed of irregular practices in the
matter of the late election for repre-
sentatives at Puma, when he, the
said T.. kekoa, was returned to the
Legislature, against the statute on
elections, at the May term OF the
Third Judicial Circuit. Be ii
Resolved, that the seat of the said
f. Kekoa, as n member of this As
sembly, is hereby declared vacant.
Rep. Dole moved to refer this
resolution to the committee Of the
whole house tomorrow. Here was
a distinct charge. 1t mattered not
how it came into the house, but it
charged the hon. member with
practices that untitled him to hold
office under the Government. By
means of those irregular practices 1t
was alleged that the said member
held his seat in that house. 1t was
true that the law that disqualified
that man from holding any position
under the Government did not dis
qualify him from holding his seat in
that house, because the house
was the judge of the qulaifica-
tions of its own members. But
and he took it that the house
every member of it desired TO
have a clean record before the ma
ton, and not to have any member
sitting there under false pretences.
He took it that every member of the
house, excepting the hon. member
for Honolulu (keau)-and he could
not believe it of him unless he had
heard him-deslred that every mem
ber should have clean record. And
it would be very hard for him to be-
leve that any member of the house
even the member who had been
charged-would be afraid to have
his record investigated. AS the
good book says, "a city set on q
hill cannot be hid,' SO they were
there before the eyes of the whole
nation and the eyes of the whole
world, and if they, rs individuals
and as an organization, desired and
expected to be respected, they must
keep their record clean and be afraid
of no investigation whatever. Was
there any honorable man but would
demaud an investigation of any sus-
picions thrown upon his position or
his standing? 1t was nothing to
them that there was no petition sent in
from the people of Puma. Without
any personal application intended,
he would ask if man sitting there
by fraud might not prevent any peti-
ton going in against him. That
house had its own dignity to sus-
tain, and, to sustain it, it must be
utterly unrestrained in its dealings,
and it was unrestrained. lie made
this motion because it was an inn
portant matter, not only to that
member but to the status OF the
house. He wished to have it re-
ferred to the committee OF the
whole so that the house could have
fair and full statement of the
facts. They might well give day
or even u week to an investigation OF
that sort.
Rep. Kalua suggested that thu
resolution should appoint one weel
from to-day for the consideration o
the matter, as the member shoult
have ample time to make his de
fense. If necessary month should
be given.
Rep. Dole agreed to amend hi
resolution as suggested.
Minister Neumann moved il
amendment that the matter be refer
red to the Judiciary Committee. Ill
did not think the house had an,
right to look into this matter until
had report before it, and it hat
not time for its consideration. More
over, it would be necessary for tn
hon. member to bring forward proc
on his side, and it would be easic
to bring it before the committe
than before the house, leaving on
of sight the propriety.
Rep. Dole did not see the force o
the Attorney-General's remarks. !
was not proposed to bring it befor
the house, but before the committe
of the whole. 1t was just as eas
for the committee of the whole t
hear the case as it was for the jur
at Hilo. After hearing the repol
of the Judiciary Committee it woul
have to come before the whole hous
anyway. This was different issu
from almost any other issue eve
before the house. His EXcellenc
said they could not afford the time
He said they could afford the tim
to discuss such matter If it too