The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1890-09-23

together. It is a mere fancy. If the
House spent its time in passing bills like
| this. people would think the House
| ought TO so there.
The bill was indefinitely postponed,
Second reading of Bill regulating the
police. The bill was read by title and
referred to the Police Committee,
The Constitutional Convention Bill
was passed over, awaiting tho report ol
| the committee.
Second reading OF the bill declaring
konohiki fisheries free.
The majority and minority committee
reports were read, recommending respec-
lively the rejection and the passage ol
| the bill.
Rep. Rickard opposed the bill because
it would involve a larger expenditure
| than the country could afford. He moved
adoption OF the majority report.
The first section was read.
Noble Widemann asked whether
Crown Lands are subject to this bill or
not rep. Bush said no.l This section
is unnecessary, for Government fisheries
are free anyway.
Rep. Brown moved section l be in
definitely postponed; since all Govern.
ment fisheries were already free, and
since, unless the konohiki actually set
apart each year certain fish for himself,
he had no right to it, and as matter of
fact he knew of no konohiki who did
that. The speaker went on to show that
the present law did not work any great
hardship. If the House went on to pay
the konohiki owners the value OF their
rights, it would take 1900 900, if not
more
Noble Widemann said nine-tenths OF
what the member from Honolulu had
stated was true, ii not all. He had
stated it fairly and well. Personally he
was not a great fish-eater, and SYM
pathized with the introducer of the
bill in his objects. But he underestim-
ated the value of these fishing rights.
The price we would have to give would
be ten times the value OF the property
acquired by the people. The konohiki
fishing right of the land OF Waianae
plantation alone was worth, on fair val
uation, $4,000.
Rep. Bush stated that he had prom
ised his constituents before the election
to bring in this bill. Holders of kono-
hiki fisheries had no right to lease their
right to other parties. He merely had
right to fish sufficient for his own use,
and nothing more. That was the way it
was under the old feudal system The
leasing OF these rights, which had become
a custom, was an abuse. Noble Wide
mann's right would hardly be worth
thousand dollars, especially a. he did not
eat much fish.
NOlla ViIap,onr caiI fha l-anObiI-i
had no right to sell, and neither had the
common people. But the common peo-
pie have the right to sell all they want,
and so have the konohiki, and so they
did in feudal times. II this law were
practicable, he should vote for it, but it
is not
Rep. Bush said that in OLD feudal
times there was no bartering.
Rep. Nawahi said the question was
vexed one, disturbing bigger nations
than ours. He moved it be referred to
the Judiciary Committee.
Rep. Kauhi wished to speak two min
utes, more or less. He was tired out
listening to the discussion over this bill.
1t was not practicable. The time to
break twig is when it is young and
tender When this bill has been to an
other committee it will be tough and
knotty Now is the time to break it.
We all think as much of our constituents
as the member from Koolaupoko, but he
asks something which cannot be carried
out. The law gives nearly all the fish to
the people now.
The ayes and noes were called on the
motion to indefinitely postpone the sec
ton.
Noble J. NJ Horner did not know
enough about it to vote intelligently, and
would ask to be excused.
Noble Marsden asked to be excused.
Noble Widemann said he would have
voted to send to committee, but the ma
jority was so large it was useless.
The section was indefinitely postponed
by the following vote:
Ayes-Ministers Cummins, g. Brown
Peterson; Mobiles Berger, Macfarlane,
Mccarthy, Phillips, Crabbe, Kauhane,
Hind, Burchardt, Baldwin, w. Y. Horner,
Cornwell, Anderson, Won Tempsky, G.
n. Wilcox, Kanoa, Isenberg; Reps.
c. Brown, Rosa, Kauhi, A. Horner,
Rickard, Kahookano, Waipuilani, Apiki,
Kanealii, Halstead, Knudsen, Rice, A.
S.Wilcox-32.
Noes-Nobles Muller, Pua; Reps. r.
w. Wilcox, Bush, Nawahi, Baker,
White.
The House adjourned at :9OP PM.