The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-05-21
FRIDAY
THE LEGISLATURE.

The Legislative Assembly sustained
its reputation for work at yesterdays
sitting. In addition to general business
of more or less interest, the Fire Limit
bill was further amended and passed its
third reading. 1t now only awaits the
Kings approval to make it law. This is
certain to be given, there being. no
reason of State for interposing veto.
Indeed, we have rarely seen a measure
OF such importance pass any legislative
body with such unanimous approval as
the Honolulu Fire Limit Act The
Government (more especially the Minis
ter OF the INTERIOR deserves cOmmenda-
ton for the care bestowed upon the
preparation OF the bill, and for the state
of readiness, as regards information
upon all points of detail, when the Gov
eminent bill, with others covering the
same points, were before the select
committee. We regard the enactment
OF this law as the commencement of a
new era for Honolulu. Let there be no
evasions of the statute, and although the
progress of building may be slow, it
win be OF a permanent character. Above
all, it will be of incalculable benefit
from a sanitary point of view.
His Excellency Mr.. Gibson replied in
writing to Mr.. Dole's inquiry regarding
Mr.. Daggett's mission to Washington.
1t was a harmless as well as a proper
service upon which Mr.. Daggett was en-
gagged, as our readers will perceive by
referring to our report of the days do
ings in the Legislative chamber, and in
no wise warranted the lying statements
regarding a contemplated sale of these
Islands, which were published abroad,
and originated either in San Francisco
or at Honolulu. Perhaps it might have
been better for the Government if it had
disclosed the purport of Mr.. Daggett's
mission, but it was felt that this might
~~-zAs;-sdice against the work in
raise preJu,s.7z-zsss-ss--. Iov-al -
which he was engaged, anu, ~ - The
special agent accredited from this
country, Ministers submitted in silence
to unmerited opprobrium. We do not
know if Mr.. Dole was satisfied with the
reply of Mr. Gibson. 1t was the truth
but truth was not what Mr.. Dole was
seeking. He was on 'fstill hunt for
mistakes, or for some colorado excuse to
Justify the malicious faIsehoods of his
friends, in the Opposition newspapers,
upon this matter. He failed in this
hunt, and Mr.. Castle came to his aid by
moving the acceptance of the report, and
that it be laid on the table.
And this leads us to remark upon the
inconvenience and manifest unfairness
of calling upon Minister of the Crown
to reply forthwith to any question
sprr q upon him in the House. The
rule of most legislative bodies is that no
tice must be given at least day ahead
of an intention to put question, stating
precisely what it is. The Minister to
whom the question is to be addressed,
having notice, comes prepared to answer.
Furthermore, debatable matter cannot
be introduced into question; but the
practice here is to put questions without
notice in the form of resolutions, and origi
nate debates forthwith. Public business
would be facilitated by amending the
rules In this regard.
We are pleased to agree with Mr..
Thurston for once In the course of q
not altogether logical little speech, he
stated that the Lunatic Asylum was
wortilily managed, and that the appro-
priation asked for was greatly under
what it should be. This is precisely our
opinion. With the resources at COM
naand, the asylum for the insane is cred
liable to the superintendent and medical
officer in charge; but these resources are
wholly insufficient and should be en-
larged In no public institution is
cheese-paring economy so injurious in
every respect as in the lunatic asylum,
which contains some sixty inmates of
both sexes, representing nearly every
nationality We trust the Legislature
will make suitable provision for it in the
Appropriation bill.
The Attorney General introduced a
little pleasantly into the proceedings on
the Legislaturef by moving resolution
indirectly censuring himself for habitual
truancy, and ordering that the Secretary
call the roll of members each day after
prayers and enter the names of those
present in the journal of the Legislature.
The motion prevailed, but not before
DIR. Wight made vigorous protest as
his maiden effort. Mr.. Dole made an
ill-natured and wholly unnecessary at
tack upon the Secretary of the Legisla-
ture under cover of the Attorney Generals
motion, and there the matter rests for
the present.
Petitions of the usual miscellaneous
character were presented and suitably
referred to committees, after which the
Assembly adjourned.
Hawaiian Parliament.