The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-06-16
T H 4
THE LEGISLATURE.

The Legislative Assembly did not get
through much business yesterday, but il
wasted considerable time in profitless
talk. Two questions of paramount inter
es of their kind were debated One OF
these We have dealt with in a separate
article. We refer to the Pearl Harbor
cession affair, which came up rather
unexpectedly in consequence of the Cos
sip said to be caused by a letter
from Minister Carter to a friend in
this city, which does not accord
with his official correspondence. The
eign Affairs on the subject was a proper
one, and the reply of His Excellency
Mr.. Gibson all that the occasion de-
manded. 1t is satisfactory to know that
positive instructions have been sent to
His Majesty's representative in Wash
5ington to the effect that the cession, or
temporary occupation OF Pearl River
Harbor by the United States, or by any
other foreign power, will not be enter
tanned by this Government.
The second question related to the con-
stitutioR OF the House, and arose ont of
a consideration of the majority and mi
hority report of the select committee on
the petition against the return of Mr. J
A. Kaukau, for the district Of Kama
pail, Maui. We have already expressed
an opinion upon this issue, and despite
the arguments in favor of the minority
report, we abide by it. Any unbiased
person must admit that the minority re-
port is wrong in its conclusions as to law
and facts. But Mr. Thurston, who was
not member of the Election Commit
tee, jumped up when the order of the day
was read, and moved the adoption OF
the minority report, completely ignorin z
Mr.. Cecil Brown, vino drafted it and had
it in charge.
From this obtrusive exhibition of bad
taste followed, as might have been ex-
pected, an irregular and by no means
edifying wrangle. The question was
calmly and exclusively debated by His
Excellency the Attorney General, who
left no point untouched and no argu-
ment for the petition unanswered. His
speech was conclusive. Mr. Kaulukou
followed in a defense of the majority re-
port in quiet and dignifed manner,
concluding by moving the previous
question" which was seconded.
ThereupOn ensued remarkable scene.
The President stated the question, when
Mr.. Dole stood up and claimed the floor
on the ground that the motion for the
previous question" had not been sec
onded, as the rules required, by the
member so doing standing up. Although
repeatedly called to order, Mr. Dole
"held the floor on this plea in defiance
of the Chair for a considerable time. He
was challenged to name the rule re-
quiring the seconder of a motion to
stand up, but could not do 80. The TRUTHS,
there is no such rule, and Mr.. Dole
should have been promptly reprimanded
by the President Rule 80 says: "NO
motion shall be carried and considered
by the House until the same shall be
seconded" And that is all there is in
the rules upon the subject.
After the House had been democrat
lied by the loud tones and defiant atti-
tude of Mr.. Dole and his henchman,
Mr.. Thurston, the President succeeded
in putting the question, which was de
clared carried upon the voices. Another
and more demoralizing wrangle took
place after the President had stated the
main question. Mr.. Thurston claimed
that he had called for the "ayes" and
"noes' on the previous question:" and
although ruling against him, the Presi-
dent ultimately gave way and the vote
was again taken on the voices, with a
like result.
But this did not satisfy the two OBJ
structives Mr. Thurston interposed
before the main question could be again
stated, and claimed the right to reply,
as mover of the original motion that the
minority report be adopted. He did so
under rule SO, and thereupOn transferred
his right to speak to Mr.. Dole. This
was objected to on the ground that even
if ne had a right to a general reply he