The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-07-11

amount deposited, charging the same TO
the depositors. Both these bankers.
Messrs. Bishop & Co. and Claus Spreckels
! & Co.. disputed the proposition that the
law obliged them to do SO. The question
was brought before the Cabinet, and 1t was
decided mat the law did not so compel
them to paw taxes on the amount of de-
posts, one of the main grounds urged and
which the Cabinet recognized as valid,
being that they had no such amount on
hand, but that the money was lent out to
other parties / personally saw Mr.. Da-
mon, of Bishop q Co., and Mr. VIM. Irwin,
of Claus Spreckels & Co., and agreed with
them, in accordance with the decision OF
the Cabinet, that they should return their
actual cash on hand and pay taxes upon
that and not upon the much larger amount
standing at the credit of the depOsltors.
The usual printed instructions accOmpa-
MED the assessment list, but there is moth
| ing in this instructing the parties named
| in the resolution, except the general state
| ment that "partieS having property belong
ing to others in their possession are as
| seSSed for the value thereof, and may re-
cover the amount of tax paid from the
| owners" By the same assessment list
| each party is shown to be expected to re-
turn, for himself, leash in bankers or
| agents hands,
Noble Widemann moved the Minister'S
| statement be made a special order for
| Tuesday, 18th inst.
| Minister Ashford moved it be referred to
| the Judiciary Committee 1t is a question
| of construction of the law. The Cabinet
| may have put a wrong construction of the
law; if so, the Judiciary Committee will
| be able to show it,
| Noble Widemann hoped this affair would
have ample publicity, so that every one
| may know what to expect in future.
| Rep. Brown did not think the Judiciary
| Committee should have the duty imposed
| upon them of interpreting the law for the
| Cabinet. If the latter had any doubt as to
| the meaning of the law, it was competent
| for them to obtain the opinion OF the SUI
| preme Court.
Minister ThurstOn said this is not a
| question that originated with the Cabinet.
| 1t arose out OF question to the Minister
| of Finance. The course taken by the Min
| lister was that decided on by the Cabinet as
! the right one, If the House thinks differ
emily, it is for them to say so.
| Noble Richardson moved that the Minis
ter's answer be translated and printed.
Carried, and the matter made a special
order for Tuesday next.
NEW BILL.
Minister ThurstOn read, first time, a
bill relating to the Postal Savings Bank.
ORDER OF THE DAY.
The Governor Bills. Second reading of
the Bill introduced by the Attorney Gen
eral to abolish the Office of Governor. !
Considered with the majority and minority
reports of the Judiciary Committee there |
on, the substitute bill of said majority re-
lating to the office of Governor and the |
duties appertaining there, and also sundry |
petitions for and against abOlishing the |
office.
CThe majority report appeared, slightly |
abbreviated in the ADVERTISERS account |
of proceedings of June 23d, and an alb |
stract of the minority report, in the pro- |
ceedingS of June 28th.)
After providing tor the appointment, |
qualifications and tenure of office Of Gov |
errors, the Bill submitted by the majority |
lays down the duties of the Office, in addi- |
n those dPVOV1nO them
law, in the following section:
Section 7. Each Governor shall person
ally visit each election district of his island |
at least twice in each year and inspect and |
report from time to time to the Minister of |
the Interior the condition of all school |
houses, court houses, jails, pounds, roads,
bridges, Wharves and landings, public hos
pltalS and all other public property of like |
nature, and make such suggestions there
upon as shall seem necessary. He shall also
report from time to time to the heads of the
several departments any instance of inn
proper conduct or neglect of duty of any of
the officials OF this Government coming to
his knowledge within his district. He shall
also, in his tours of inspection, visit all
plantations and other business enterprises
where immigrant or contract labor is en-
ployed, and shall inquire into the general
welfare and condition OF such immi grants |
or contract labOrerS, and shall also aScer-
tain whether the provisions of the 90 Act to
Provide for the Sanitary Condition of
Dwelling Houses" SO far respects con-
tract labOrerS, are observed, and in case of |
breach to direct prosecution.
An exception was made in the preceding |
section that the Governor of Oahu should
not exercise the powers given in section
seven.
Minister Ashford gave brief account of
the history of the measure to abolish the
office of Governor from it's introduction in
the session of 1887 to the present time.
Considerable time has been taken to see
whether any compromise could be reached,
but the Cabinet have been unable to come
to the conclusion that they could abandon
the bill. Several of the functions of the
gubernatorial office have already been as
signed by Acts passed last session and this,
to other officers, particularly those relating
to the police, and the appointment of Dis
trict Judges. Now there is a bill before the |
House to provide for looking after pounds
and estrays. When this last bill passes
three of the leading duties for which Gov
ernorS were supposed to exist will be taken |
out of their hands. 1t provision is made |
for an intermediate officer between the
Tax Collectors and the Treasury, there |
will really be nothing left for Governors to
do. The majority of the Judiciary Com |
mittee have made a scramble to find duties
for Governors. With the exception, per-
haps, of an inquisitorial supervision of |
schOol-houses and of other officers, the COM
mittee. have conceded that the Governor {
has nothing to do. If the duties are super
fuOus, the Office is unnecessary. The |
government would nave Doen glad IL an
honorable compromise could have been !
made. But they felt that they were bound
to stand by the platform of the Reform i
party, one plank of which was that useless
offices should be abolished t
Noble Smith had given the Ministers {
credit for sincerity at last session. although /
he doubted their wisdom. Now, however | G
he sees reasons for questioning their sin {
cerity. At that time they found obstacles {
in the Governors to the administration of I
the Government They complained of in 5
corrupt Governors; hence the
bill to abolish the office. The bill submit 7
ted by the Committee removes the obstac- i
les in the way of the administration then +
existing. The Bill gives the Cabinet power q
to remove the incumbents of the office q