The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1888-08-16


to the utmost to understand what |
we have written.
1t comes to this: A man cannot |
work at ordinary labor for pay with
out licences man cannot employ !
another to work at ordinary
labor for pay unless the workman
has liccnce; a man cannot get a
licence to work if two-thirds of the
voters of his district object; every
laborer must contribute to the sup
port OF photographers; any laborer
may be sent to Jail for being so un-
fortunate as to he destitute of the
means to procure picture of him
self and a licencc. A magnificent
sample of tinpot law, constructed by
set of tinkCrs.
This proposed labor licencc law is
not, after all, an unmiXcd evil. 1t
makes an opening for the gcntecl
unemployed. Every electoral dis
trict must have zone or more" Off
cials for granting licences, and these
officials receive 25 cents for each Ii
cence, which amount they retain as
their fee. 1t may seem rather
small sum for the recipient, but
single plantation with 1000 labor
ers contributes $3.50 at the start, for
a couple or three days work. Here
is employment for those who have
so often complained of having per-,
formed the laborious task of lear
rying a rifle without compensation.
The bill is also genuine streak of
gold for the photographer. He is
more benefited than the official, be-
cause he is not going to do his part
of the work for 20 cents per head,
nor for ten times that amount. But
perhaps the Government will under
take this job, and do it wholesale.
That would be in keeping with its
poi and light policy.
But the laborer must suffer. The
bill is especially constructed for his
oppression. What matter? In olden
| times he was considered "worthy of
his mre;" but not now and in the Ha-
waiian Islands. Here a special COM
mittee of the Legislature of the
kingdom would compel the poor fell
low to buy a licence and a picture
before he is allowed to work for
hire. Whether Hawaiian, Asiatic,
Portuguese, European, or American,
| if he is q laborer, this is the indig-
nifty to which the special committee
wishes to subject him.
| A poor fellow turns up in Homo
lulu "stumped," without cent in
his pocket, and scarcely rag to his
back. Work may be abundant, and
the man may be both able and will
ing to do it. But he has neither
photograph nor licence, and is des-
titutc of the means to procure either.
Therefore no one can employ him
and he must go to Jail as vagrant
because he is denied the right tC
work.
We are not informed who are th'
gentlemen comprising the specia
committee which brought in thi
bill. We simply see at the top o
the first page that it Is "by specia
committee" Perhaps they are YER,
nice men, and no doubt they are, il
their proper sphere. But legislat
ing for mixed population in fre
country is evidently not their forte
One such example as the bill "relat
ing to the licensing of laborers" i
, enough for a lifetime. We will nc
, insult the Legislature as whole b
supposing that it will otherwise tina
{ "indefinitely postpone" this ridicu
, lous measure; but feel impelled t
T advise the gentlemen of the specii
committee never again to attemr
f law-makiug. If you must renal
= in the House, look as wise as yo
know how while there, but keep pei
8 fectly still the balance of the se'
3 sion. You have made one dreat
, fully bad break. BE careful not t
: make another. You don't know no
contemplate you appear in the eye
of sensible men. You may poss
bly, redeem yourselves in the end b
long silence, severe penance, an
deep and protracted meditation
Heaven help you, gentlemen
s--------.-s-as--s-@-
nEnIun EAhTFCUc