The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1888-06-12
QUESTIONS ASKED MINISTERS.

QUESTIONS ASKED MINISTER'S.
Rep. Kalaukoa asked the Minister of
Interior (l) does the wood taken to kala-
wac belong to the government, ~ Is the
wood to be given to the lepers, (3) has the
Board of Health given orders that such
wood should be sold to the lepers?
Rep C. Brown enQuired of the Minister
of Finance when the Appropriation Bill
will be ready to bring before the house?
MINISTERIAL ANSWERS.
Minister Thurston said he was ready to
answer, at once, the questions OF Rep.
Kalaukoa
Noble Smith raised point of order under
the rule calling for such answers on the
day following that on which the questions
are asked.
Rep. C. Brown cited the rule requiring
questions 10 Ministers to be IN writing,
whence he would infer that the answers
ought also to be in writing.
The President ruled that the point OF
order was correctly taken, but 1t was at the
option OF the house whether to hear the
Minister'S answer Immediately or not. On
being put the vote was given In favor OF
allowing the Minister to proceed.
The Minister stated o. that the wood
taken to the leper settlement, as
also the growing wood, belongs TO the
Government; ~ the growing wood Is Tree
to ANYBODY who chooses to take it the
wood that was recently sent there was In
consequence of complaints OF lepers that
they were suffering for want OF wood. On
going to the place he ascertained that
people were paying Sc and So cord Tor
wood brought in from the mountains ana
low lands, the hardwood being brought
from the mountains and the kukul from
the low lands; these prices were for bring
ing 1t in and not for the wood itself; ~ the
wood sent there by the Government was
purchased at $40 cord, and the price set
on it at the settlement was $6 per cord.
One of the causes of complaint arises from
the circumstance tina the leperS had moth
ing to do except TO find fuel for them
selves, their food, clothing and other sup
plies being given to them gratis. When
there, he went in person to 90 or 60 OF the
houses of the people, enquiring into their
condition and wants, but heard complaints
in only one house, as to the scarcity OF
fuel.
The same Minister then read a
communication from the Postmaster
General relative to the petition for mail
carrier from PuEoo to Wailau, Molokal,
introduced by Rep. Paehaole on Saturday,
the purport of which was that efforts had
been made to establish a mail carrier on
this route, but as yet without success.
ORDER OF THE DAY.
Second reading of the bill to amend
chapter LXI. of the penal code, ito pre-
vent married persons from deserting each
other" Referred to the Judiciary commit
tee.
Second reading of the bill to repeal chap.
| XXXII., session laws of 1856, relating to
the increase of the internal tax on real and
personal property. And to re-enact the
| former law.
Rep. c. Brown moved the bill be indefn-
| itely postponed. The country is not in a
| condition to have the proposed reduction
made in the revenues. He would be one
! of the first to vote for such a reduction il
| he thought it for the good of the country
| If We reduce the tax, we will have to borrow
more money, which ne does not want to
see done The tax bill sought to be repeal
ed was a devise TO the new regime from
| the previous government, and we must
bear it as best we can until the circumstan,
| ces of the country will warrant a reduc.
ton.
Noble Smith moved the bill be referred
| to the Finance Committee.
Noble Widemann referred to the report
of the Minister of Finance. He thought il
as well to indefinitely postpone the bill
now as refer it to the committee.
Noble Young did not think it worth
while to occupy the time of the house by
| staving this matter off by a reference tC
| committee The time may come wher
this change can be made, but there are toe
! many demands on us that must be met, tC
make it now. He favored indefinite post
| po1ement.
Noble H Hitchcock said that the proposed
| reduction would involve a lessening of the
| revenue to the amount of $162 600, and
that would make deficit of $4,000 il
meeting current expenses. He could SEE
no advantage in referring the bill to com
! mittee.
Noble Castle did not think we could af
ford to do away with any revenue at tht
present time. He believed in the policy o.
referring measures to committees. The
house has a good Finance Committee anC
this reference might elicit valuable infor
nation on the general question of revenue
and expenditure. He supported the mo
ton to refer.
Noble Waterhouse supported the motion
made by Noble Smith. The citizens ot
Honolulu and members constituents wan
to get facts and figures to know just how
we stand.
Noble Baldwin could see no benefit likely
to result from reference to the Finance
Committee, as it would not probably bt
deemed by the committee an essential par
]
tions of revenue They would be called
only to report on the bill before them. He
did not think the country was prepared fol
this measure at present. He would bt
glad to see taxation lessened if it could bt
done
Minister Green said the Cabinet haG
carefully considered the subject matter o.
this bill and they would be pleased to make
the proposed reduction if it waspr; Cticable
but with the present expenditures OF the
Government, we believe it to be impossible
He favored indefinite postponement of the
bill; but if it should be referred to the
Finance Committee, he would be very glaC
if they can shed any light on it.
Rep. Kalaukoa admired what had beer
said by the men of property in the house
H referred to the manner in which the
present law had been brought about. L
was introduced by one of the members fol
Honolulu simply to have more money tt
handle and TO be the better able to fill VI
the gaps made by improper expenditures
The increase of taxes was prime cause o
the movement that eliminated on the 30tl
June last. When men of means felt it
effects, then they began to make fuss
Rep. Kamauoha favored the reference t.
committee. He had introduced the bill
because his constituents and voters in ad
jacent districts desired it. The matter o
i L