The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1891-12-04
MECHANICS UNION.
Election of Officials Again the Wor'
ried subject


The president called the meeting
shortly after 1870 O'Clock. Sixteen
applicants for membership were pro-
posed and on motion b. j. Bowler
they were admitted under suspen-
sion of the rules.
Under the head of unfinished bust
ness the president stated that the
subject for further discussion that
evening was the election of govern
ment officials. but he was sorry to
see that the gentlemen who had
introduced the subject for argument
were not present. His views were
opposed to theirs with regard to the
general election of government OIL
Gals. The better plan was to elect
the Cabinet either by the people or
the Legislature and let the Legis-
Iature appoint government officials.
The country would scarcely be bene-
flied by having the heads of bureaus
elected. For himself he would rather
see workingman at the head of q
bureau than a hgurehead capitalist.
The speaker favored not only the
curtailing of the pay of government
officials but also a reduction in their
number
Mr.. J. c. Quinn being called up
said he had been disturbed while
preparing speech on the question
under discussion. However, he
would say that he did not favor the
election of the government save to
certain extent. Gne judiciary should
not be elected, as it would be an
incentive for them to neddle in poll
tics. 1t is said they dabbled in poll
tics now bat he questioned the truth
ofahls. The constitution would not
require to be changed, he under
stood, if some minor officials were to
be elected. The speaker thought
that several government officials
could be elected, but there is another
question uppermost in the minds of
workingmen, viz, the Chinese ques
ton. He spoke at some length on
that question, dwelling somewhat on
what the Chinese may reach in the
future, naturalization, and right to
vote. The Asiatic question was the
main thing at next election, and he
hoped that all would fight it on prin-
ciple, and the way was to make a
good platform and send men to the
Legislature who will stand by it.
Mr.. j. Il. S. Williams was re-
quested by the president to express
his sentiments. and said that he was
born in England where they did not
elect their government officers, but
had them appointed. He did not
think it a proper principle to elect
officials, as the Cabinet would then
have no control over them. In
America where they elected even the
| judiciary, the country was in a con-
slant state of political turmoil, and
he thought it was not the proper
thing for this country. The reasons
why he doubted the success of the
proposed change were, first, it was
not fair to the Cabinet and, secondly,
because of the enormous expenses
such elections would incur. If the
heads of bureaus were elected the
Cabinet would have no control what
| ever, The expenses of the country
are enormous ct present. How
would it be when elections ct gov
eminent officials were carried?
Jno. j.. Bowler covered the same
| ground as at the previous meeting.
He favored the election of officers.
The transactions OF the cabinet and
/ all government officials should be ex-
amined by the Legislature. Officials
in the employ of the government
should remember and bear in mind
that he was not working for himself
but for the people, and they were
supposed to be faithful and true to
the people. The wealthy heads of
the different industries in the United
States send delegates in an under
handed way to the powers that be,
and work for their own benefit while
under cover. He believed there was
a similar faction in this little coun-
try. lie considered the loose condi-
ton OF the present administration
should be attended To, and chat by
the Workingmen, and the man OBJ
ject and one TO be attended to by the
next Legislature was the amendment
to the Constitution. He spoke about
Asiatic hordes from the plantations
being flooded into Honolulu to com
I pete with them and their families,
and what would they think of leaving
their little oAos ghan they died, to
compete with the Mongolians? Cap
ital and labor should 60 hand in hand.
f ection time was coming and they
had certain rights which they must
exercise. He did not advocate the
bayonet system which was inaugur-
ated four years ago, but wished a
| peaceful settlement of all Gov
mental affairs. He despised the
IDEAS and the principles OF the
wealthy class with regard TO their
estimation of the native race. ia-
wall was for the Ilawaians and they
should be first in all things.
Mr., ?. O'Sulivan favored Mr..
/ Quinn's idea of the question. The
speaker did not like to Interfere with