The Hawaiian gazette., 1890-06-03

sIokenIng tale, Seventeen eases oil
murder or manslaughter, besides
the seven deaths caused By the
Robert Wilcox Instruction last
July and twelve or more suicides,
makes y CHASTITY total and an
alarming number for our hitherto
orderly and quiet little community.
Either some of these cases were
surrounded with very unusual diff
heultlcs. or there is deficiency
with our machinery of justice, for
too many Of them have gone unde-
teeted and punished. The Attorney.
General, however, calls attention To
the energy and ability of the Sher-
III of Hawaii in these matters.
Kauai continues to maintain ITS
former reputation rs q well-gov-
erned and well-polieed Island.
The department of the Attorney
General is of necessity somewhat
meagre in variety, for, while cover
ing very important ground it is
limited in scope. The Attorney
General Is the legal adviser of the
Government, the pubhc prosecutor
and the head of the Police. 1t
might, therefore, have been expect
ed that the report would be con-
fined TO these matters, but His Ex-
celleney has succeeded in giving
variety and interest to the topics
he has treated, some of which con-
tain valuable suggestions. But the
report is disappointing in some re-
speets, where we had the right TO
expect Information.
1t appears that there have been
54 eoroner's lnquests and 10 fire
inquests. The latter shows Z fires
from incendiarism, without any dis
eovery of the ineendiaries; rather
of an uncomfortable state of affairs.
Besides the 81 eoroner's inquests, IL
examinations were made by coron-
ers apparently without jury and the
Attorney-General seems TO have
arrived st 8 conclusion differing
from the general opinion, that is,
that no necessity exists or existed
for any further inQuests. Acct
dents accounted for 20 deaths, alec
hol 3, drowning ,, natural causes 5.
Several pages of the report con-
tain s discussion of the Chinese
question, more particular with
reference TO its criminal aspect.
1t is pointed out that part of the
murders were caused by the zee
Wo Hung secret society, a most
dangerous organization which is
strong in this country with several
branches. While our laws are am
ply stringent against such organi-
cations it is shown to be very
nearly impossible to give effect to
them. The Chinese ability to
organize and keep secret renders
them very powerful and equally
dangerous. The Opium law is dis
eussed and in a manner and spirit
which will commend itself to the
unprejudieed. While we cannot
agree with the conclusions reached,
yet we must admit many of the
facts presented. There is no doubt
that many things in the law are
demoraIizing: that there is bribery
and corruption and that opium is
easily Struggled, but we believe
that it is equally true that with the
prohibition law opium is not so
freely used by others than Chinese
and particularly is this true of the
Hawaiians. 1t is possible thing
to control and check the use of the
drug with others than the Chinese
and this is sufficient to Justify a
prohibition law. More than this,
with opium prohibited the sugar
and rice plantations and other in
dustries are able to check its gen.
eral use and so do not suffer such
loss as otherwise might occur.
The matter of revision and COM
pilation receives attention. 1t is
urged that better than compilation
is codiication. One reason given
is the Anticipated character OF many
OF our statutes. There is tend
ency at the present time towards
codifieation, and it is net unlikely
that We shall be unable TO resist
the pressure, even if it were better
as it is. There are many among
our lawyers who favor it. In con-
nection with this, it is intimated
that the commission appointed last
session to submit a Practice Act
have no report to make but it is
strongly urged that the Act to Re-
the Judiciary, submitted |
last session but not acted upon,
should be revived by the present
and something be done |
with it. Attention is also directed |
to the severity of our laws regard |
ing exemptions from execution, |
and more liberal le0islafion IL |