The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-07-08
Thu LEGISLATURE
Tbirty-fhird Day.
THURSDAY, July Z.

At 1O:H Rep. Kamauoha moved the
House proceed to the
ORDER OF THE DAY.
Rem. White moved that the House |
consider his bill.
Noble Neumann said that he had
been studying the bill and had talked |
with other members about it, and he |
would withdraw his motion to indefi |
nitely postpone it. He moved to refer
it for consideration with other similar
bills in the hands of the committees.
The rative members seem to think
that we have the intention of killing
bills from native members. 1t is not
so. l thought it was bill that ought
to be killed.
Rep. Whites Pakapio bill was re-
ferred to a select committee, the vote
standing Is to Is.
Third reading of Bill 50, relating to
licenses for feeding, sheltering and
pasturing animals.
Noble Pua moved it be indefinitely
postponed.
Noble Neumann moved it pass, for
two reasons, viz: There are nc such
laws in the statute books, and also
because Noble Pua moved indefinite
postponement. He does not know
what he is talking about. The bill
contains merit Somebody asked
Senator Hoar about q certain bill.
The senator asked him If the bill was
thieviug bill. The answer was in
the negative. The senator replied
that it would not pass. That is ex-
actly Noble Pua's position.
Rep. White said that he favored
passing the bill, but not in hoopili-
meaai spirit. He thought the bill was
really good one. He moved the
previous question, which was carried.
The bill passed its third reading.
The Attorney-Ge moved Bill
SO be taken up and referred to a COM
mittee. The bill related to the pre-
jurors. Referred to Judiciary Com
mittee.
Second reading of Bill ola, an Act to
amend Section 14l9 of the Civil Code.
Rep. Kamauoha said the sole object
of the bill was to summon the laborer
instead of bringing him before the
Court by warrant.
Rep. Smith said that was the object
of the bill. The Judiciary Committee
came to the conclusion that that
would not be wise provision. There
are but 922 Hawaiians under contract,
to over 5000 Japanese. Issuing sum
mons would be entirely futile. The
laborer would simply laugh at it and
depart for parts unknown. Moreover,
any process bringing a party before
the Court should be under oath. With
the present low price of sugar and the
critical condition of the country, it
would be folly to throw any obstacles
in the way. These Asiatics were very
glad to come to this country, where
they were much better off than at
home. They were eager to come.
After they had been brought here at
large expense, should there be no
control over them?
Rep. Kamauoha said there was an
amendment to the Constitution which
would permit special legislation in re-
gard to Chinese. Why did not the Jul
dietary Committee report on that.
Rep.Smith said the present law was
no hardship to honest people, but only
to the dishonest
Rep. Koahou asked whether the
Master and Servant law was civil oil
criminal.
Rep. Smith said the Court had held
it to be q civil action with q penal
consequence. 1t was not entirely alone
the arrest of fraudulent debtors pre-.
senting similar case. The member
from Kohala had compared the sys
tenn to American slavery. 1t was
totally different. The contract la.
borer had legal remedy for every
wrong. The fact was that the system
as now existing was protection fol
the laborer and not a hardship. 1t wa:
only hardship to dishonest rascals
who wanted to get their employers
money, and then run away. The EN-
ployers as rule were humane men
and the Courts were always open tt
afford protection. To make thi:
change now would be to add to the
ruin that is impending. He saw nt
necessity for referring the bill to the
Labor Committee, but had no objec
ton if the House wished that course
taken.
Rep. Kamauoha said man wa.
often brought up four or five times il
month, and had to pay the costs
which was very unjust. He also haC
to work out the time of his absence
which was also very unjust.
Rep. Smith said If the man had viii
fully deserted it was only just fo
him to work out the time of which HI
Hau WllIuliy u6lrduQSu us employer
Rep. White said everybody knew
the labor law worked great hardship
1t was really slavery, but people shu
their eyes to it. If we were annexed
it would not be allowed.
Noble Baldwin said there was s
growing feeling among planters them
selves against the contract labor sys
tenn, and he had that feeling himself
Gu the three plantations in which ht
was interested, employing 1900 la
borers, there were only forty Hawaii
ans under contract. He would be glaC
TO see the system repealed entirely, i
iaborers could come in freely from
other countries, but that could not bt
done for well-known reasons. There
were a great many natives employed
but only about forty under contract
A great many were working by the
month, because the plantation encour
aged it. When he saw a native com
ing to him he dreaded it, because ht
felt sure that he was going to ask t.
contract, or have contract extended
Hawaiians, therefore, did not really
figure as factor in the contract labo
system. The effect of this bill woulC
be to annul the contract system. Tn,
planter will not make advances, if h,
has no hold on the laborer. At tn,
present time when the plantations ar
in Strengthened circumstances, tn,
plantations are entitled to protection
for iS