The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-12-01
T H 4
WEDNESDAY December
STATUTES OF 1856.

The Statutes OF the Session of 1886
having been promulgated by authority
are now in operation. They will make
volume OF $50 pages, and are comprised
in seYenty-eight chapters. Ii the stoed
bills had been approved the Y line
as it is, it gives evidence Of a good deal
of hard work on the part of the Legisla-
ture. And here il is only fair TO say
that the Mobiles as a body took little
active part in the work OF legislation.
When any special question came up
there was an average attendance OF
members of the nominated House, but
ordinarily the seats Of the Mobiles were
nearly all vacant. We cannot say that
we approve of such Indifference to duty
on the part of gentlemen holding the
Kings commission as Ncbles who were
able to attend; and we further think
that gentlemen residing abroad, and who
cannot therefore attend to their legisla-
tive duties every second year, should re-
sign and let their places be filed by
those who could and would attend.
1t is not our purpose to analyze the
Session Laws of 1886, nor indeed is it
possible TO do so within the limits Of an
ordinary newspaper article. There are,
however, some salient points in the leg
islation OF last session to which reference
may with advantage be made The
various laws having reference to the
municipal affairs of Honolulu, result
ing from the changed conditions brought
about by the great IRE of April 18th, are
admirable in their policy and intent.
How fav they will be operative Is
another question. Everything depends
upon the Government in this respect
but there are likewise minor details in
these laws dependent more upon police
vigilance for their enforcement than upon
the Minister of the Interior, which are
certain to remain imperative to a very
great extent. The broader provisions,
however, will in all probability be en-
forced; but in our judgment it would
have been better if a local governing
body had been constituted to enforce the
laws in question instead of leaving it in
the hands of a Minister of the Crown.
with whom political reasons must neces-
sarily be a factor in determining his
duty. This was not done, however, nor
so far as we can recollect, was such a
plan even mooted during the session.
Encouragement has been given in a
variety of ways to shipping interests.
Chapter of the Session Laws OF 1856
exempts steamships carrying the Ha-
waiian mail to and from foreign
ports from charges for lighthouses,
buoys, wharfage and water from
the Government pipes; it also admits
free of duty all coal, machinery and sup
plies for the consumption Of said steam
ships, and authorizes the Minister OF the
Interior to set apart for the use of such
steamship lines as may comply with the
requirements OF the law, ga lot or lots Of
land for a coal depot and warehouse
accommodation for the storage Of ma
chinery, supplies and merchandise
which may be imported or exported by
such steamship companies" This is in
the line of free port, - which has been
steadily advocated by the ADVERTISER,
and it should 90 far towards making
Honolulu the great steamship depot OF
the North Pacific. The Act providing
for the measurement OF vessels upon
registry at the Custom House is another
boon to the shipping interests Of the
country. The new system will result in
i saving OF at least 40 per cent 10 ship
owners as compared with the measure
ment under the old rules. This law should
add very speedily to the number and
tonnage OF vessels upon the Hawaiian
Register, and will be of special advaut-
age to steamship owners. In this con-
nection we may add that the Legislature,
by chapter "a, continued the subsidy
heretofore granted for mail communica-
ton between the Hawaiian Islands and
the United States OF America 20 the
Oceanic Steamship Company. The
subsidy paid is $500 for each
round trip made by the steamers
of this company, not to exceed
two round trips each month.
An Act for preventing collisions at
sea Chapter So comes within the
category OF laws beneficial TO the ship