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

Afternoon.
Noble Smith continued his remarks on
the Governor bills.
1t is impossible for the Minister of FL
nance to know whether taxes are collected
or not without some one acquainted with
each district having personal oversight OF
the matter. A large and important class
of duties put in the committees bill, if the
office is abolished, will simply be left TO
occasional flying visits of some official
from Honolulu. 1t is proposed by the At
tOrney-General to place certain duties,
heretofore performed by Governors, in
charge of Sheriffs, who already are in
vested with large powers, almost arbitrary
1t would be unwIse to confer additional
powers on the Sheriffs. Anyone who at
tempts to construe this argument into an
attack upon the Ministry will be very
much mistaken. The Finance Committee
have taken exception to a proposition of
the Minister of Finance to abolish the
office of Auditor, but that was no attack
upon the Ministry. If the Ministers de-
eide upon standing or falling by this bill,
they will place themselves in a false posi-
ton.
Rep. Kinney said the measure to abolish
the office of Governor is in the line of policy
of local self government as against central
ization of power. This policy has been
adopted by Great Britain and the United
States. To abolish the Office of Governor
will carry local self government into every
district. The real issue is between local
self government by officials in the several
districts and government by one man on
each island. On that issue the Ministry
would be recreant if they did not come for
ward and throw their offices in the bal
ances. Their is no insincerity in their
present course. They would exhibit insin-
cerity if they lodged an issue when forced
upon them. The Bill of the majority of
Committee leaves all classes of officials
under the Governor. 1t makes no distinc-
ton between matters purely local and
those that are not. The empire of Great
Britain is spread over the world. Self
government IS allowed to the different Sec
lions. But there are matters reserved by
the Imperial authorities that the local
governments cannot touch. 1t was held
by Noble Smith that Government physi-
clans need the supervision of Governors.
He could not agree with him there. The
central government alone should exercise
control over the Government physicians.
In dealing with leprOsy for example, there
is not man here who would not pray to
be delivered from local sentiment. The
petitions read here from time to time in
dictate what the results would be if in deal
ing with leprosy local sentiment should
be a rule. The Governors would naturally
be expected to be influenced by that senti-
ment. They could not resist the appeals
against the officers of the central govern
ment executing unbending law. The Gov
physicians are appointed by the
Board of Health, and while they do their
duty they are supported by the central
government. The honorable Noble, in
stead of charging the Government with
should look to his own Bill
where he will find the causes of the opposi-
ton to it. His Bill disregards the princi-
pie of division of labor. The Governor is
supposed to be an inspector of all classes |
of officials The hon. Noble had spoken of |
flying visits" of officials from Honolulu. |
If an inspection of bridge were needed |
he would rather have flying visit of two |
hours of w. e. Rowell than whole DAYS |
of any Governor. There was a |
time when Governors filled we'll their posi- |
tions, but that time is gone. The power |
was then from above; it is now from be- |
OW. When natives find foreigners acting |
Governors, filling positions formerly re- |
served for high chiefs, they will get tired |
enough of it in two years.
Noble Widemann said the argument for |
ocal government by Sherifs did not seem
good to him. He preferred Governors to
oheriffs. The chief point made by the At
orney-General was the necessity of abol-
shing useless officers 1t did not seem to |
nave occurred to him that six months 90
here was good President of the Board |
II Health serving without pay. Now we
nave President, he would not say not a
good one, paid a salary equal to that of
wo or three Governors. He would vote
or the majority bill. If the Ministers
make 1t an issue, he should be exceedingly
sorry for it.
Minister Thurston said a great deal had
'een heard about the position of the Min
stry. Their sincerity was called in ques-
ION. The Ministers are perfectly honest
md sincere, and there are also many
others in the House who are of the opinion
hat Governors are useless This question
5 one that well illustrates the value of the
New Constitution. There are no office
holders in the House. Members can vote
IS their conscienees dictate. There are no
offices to win or lose by their votes. They
an all vote Tor either of the bills, as they
mink best. At the last session some rea-
ons existed for Governors that do not ex-
st now. The police and the inferior
judges have been taken out of their juris-
lctlOn. Care of pounds, brands, etc., are
Intended by another bill before the House
o be otherwise provided for. There will
hortly be nothing left for them but draw
ng of names for jurors and looking after
axes. Drawing of names of jurors is a
JUNCTION that ought to be exercised by the
}ourt. 1t does not belong to the Executive
,ranch of the Government. AS to the
axes, there is better and more practical
lie method that can be adopted than that
by the ma ority of the committee.
t is proposed by them to make the Gov
rnor a sort of general inspector or special
detective. He has no power to do single
ct to rectify any wrong. A Governor in
he State. This bill degrades the name.
ulZac i, into ,ac, ,