The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-06-25
THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY.

SATURDAY, June %


SATURDAY, June %.
The House met at 10 O'Clock, the Presi-
dent. Hon. w. r. Castle, in the chair.
| Minutes read and confirmed.
PETITIONS.
Rep. c. Brown read petition from Il.
| K. MEYERS for payment OF a balance OF
STOPS, claimed to be due him by the
| Water Works Office Referred to the Judi
! ciary Committee.
| Noble Dole presented petition from the
| residents of Wailua-kal praying that that
place be restored to the district of Hawai-
| hea. Referred to the special committee
on election laws.
Rep Kalaukoa presented petition from
| Koolaupoko, with 178 signatures, praying
| that T. A Lloyd be retained in the office
| of Road Supervisor Referred to Public
Lands and Improvements Committee.
Noble Waterhouse presented a petition
from 81 residents of Honolulu for the COM
pletion of the Queen street extension to-
wards Waikiki. Referred to the same COM
mittee as the preceding.
Rep. Kamauoha presented a petition
praying that where Government lands are
sold in any district, they be sold to resi-
the same committee as the preceding.
Noble Widemann presented a petition
from Olowalu Sugar Co., for refund of
overpaid taxes. Referred to the select
committee on double taxation.
Rep. PaehaOle presented petition from
Moses X. Nakuina, John X. Nakuina and
Mrs. r. K. Nakuina, praying for $500,
compensation for buildings belonging to
the late ]. w. Nakuina, deceased, and
taken possession of by the Board of Health.
/ nfo, 70, ha Sala inf
ed to visit KalawaO
Rep. Paehaole read petition from KIM
maka (w.), for compensation tor lands
which the Government are said to be
about to take possession of, and setting
forth that petitioner has lived on such land
all her life. Referred to the same COM
mittee as the preceding.
Rep. Kinney presented a petition from
f. NJ. Miller of New York, for rebate of
duties on liquors in bond. Referred to the
Committee on Commerce.
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.
Noble Baldwin, for the Finance Commit
tee to whom were referred the printed
biennial report of the Minister of Finance,
presented ON the first day of the session,
read an elaborate report thereon. On mo-
ton, the report was ordered to be trans
lated and printed.
Rep. c. Brown read a majority report of
the Judiciary Committee on the bill to
abolish the office of governor. Committee
have come to the conclusion that it is not
advisable to do away with the office of
governor. The principal objections to the
office of governor are three: % to the
personnel of the present lncumbentS, (2)
the uselessnesS OF the office, (3) the eX~
pcnse in maintaining the same. The ma
jOrity OF committee agree with the minor
itY that some of the present inCumbentS
have shown themselves unfit in more ways
than one for the position, but think that is
not sufficient reason for doing away with
the office, as the cause can be remedied.
The majority of committee maintain that
the office in the hands of good persons and
those who would faithfully perform their
duties, will be useful and almost necessary
to the Government in the administration
of affairs on the different islands and
would insure OF each island, among the
numerous Government officials, close and
stricter attention to duty, if they knew
that the Governor was likely to report on
or visit them at any time.
The majority of committee have drafted
a new bill continuing the office of Governor
and defining the duties, and which they
submit for consideration.
AS to the third objection, the expense |
they think that in the assessment and col !
lection of taxes alone, more money will be |
saved than will pay the salaries of the Gov |
ernOrs. They see no necessity for the |
office of Governors clerk, and this office |
could be done away with. There are other |
places in which economy can be practised |
with better results than in the abOliShing |
OF the office of Governor. This is a mon |
should be some officer on the different !
islands to represent the King and govern
ment other than a member of the police |
force, or some subordinate officer.
The bill introduced by the majority of |
the committee provides that the office of |
Governor shall be held by some male citI-
zen, and prescribes the duties which, with
the duties already pertaining to the office,
will, in their opinion, keep the incumbent
fully occupied The bill abolishes the law
as it at present exists and if the bill INTRO
1uced by the Attorney-General disposed of
the office of Governor, and thus legislates
out Of office the persons now holding that
office, the bill introduced by the ma jority of
committee will certainly have the same
effect. 1t is so guarded that a repetition of
the complaints made against certain pre-
sent lncumbentS can be easily remedied in
the hands OF competent and faithful
Ministry.
In the opinion of the majority of Com
nitttee it will be impossible for the Minister
Of Finance or the Registrar of Public Ac-
counts to attend to or perform the duties
IF attending to or performing the assess
nent or collection of taxes without the
Government sustaining loss equal to or
greater than the amount expended in the
payment of the salaries of Governors.
The ma Orlty of committee are also of
he opinion that the abOlishing of the office
Of Governor is not the wish of the people
IN masse, and should the question be left
20 vote of the people, 1t is confidently
believed that the vote to retain the office
would be two to one against it's abolish
nent. The question was not raised at the
'ecent elections, and as to the office being
useless, every one is entitled to the privil-
zee OF an opinion on that subject, and that
90, without the motives or convictions of
uch opinion being impugned.
The majority of committee not favoring
he bill abolishing the office of Governor,
AN not report favOrably upon the bill pro
-iding for the manner in which the duties
It present appertaining to the office of