The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1890-05-29

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arrived at a conclusion differing
rom the general opinion, that is,
hat no necessity exists or existed
Tor any further inquests. Acct
dents accounted for 20 deaths, alco-
hol 3, drowning 2, natural causes 5.
Several pages of the report con-
tain q discussion of the Chinese
question, more particular with
reference to its criminal aspect.
It is pointed out that part of the |
murders were caused by the zee
Wo Hung secret society, q 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 a secret renders
them very powerful and equally
dangerous. The Opium law is dis
cussed and in manner and spirit
which will commend itself to the
appropriated. 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
demoralizing: 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. It is a 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 gcn-
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 codification. One reason given
is the antiquated character of many
of our statutes. There is tend.
ency at the present time towards
codifcation, 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.
organize the Judiciary, submitted
last session but not acted upon
should be revived by the present
Legislature and something be done
with it. Attention is also directed
to the severity of our laws regard
ing exemptions from execution
and more liberal legislation i.
recommended. Our present Law
was enacted for the Hawaiian
and it is perfectly evident that what
would be ample exemption for {
simple method of living, would fal
very far short of the needs of ou1
more complex civilization.
| Attention is called to the grow
ing Importance of corporations il
the country and the necessity O.
greater control. It is suggested
that discrimination be made agains
foreign corporations. This is only
in line with the legislation of many
foreign states. 1t is shown agar
that many of our wealthy corpora
tons do dot pay their just proper
ton of taxes.
The matter of the transfer of tn,
of prisoners from the Interiol
to the Attorney Generals Depart
ment, has already appeared. in tn,
Legislature in a bill.
The riot of,slast July receives
notice. but very little is said excep
as to the trials. No comment il
made upon the disgrace of the re
fusal of the jury to punish tn
crime-perhaps the fact was s,
evident as to render comment un
necessary.
u The report of the Marshal show
that 13, $40 arrests have been mad
during the stwo years last past, o
which 67B only were women whicl