The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-11-19
'-..T'HE LEGISLATURE
One Hundred and Twenty Sixth
Day.

Rep. Smith presented a report of
ing an increase of the item for main-
tenance of lepers from $4,000 to
$685. 900, and the striking out of the
sum OF $4,000 in Section 2. The COM
mittee think the Settlement might be
more cheaply managed by paying a
greater attention to details. Tabled
for consideration with bill.
Minister Wilcox presented report
of the committee on Bills 154 and l65,
and offered substitute bill, No. 203,
authorizing the Minister of the In
terror to issue patents for certain
lands.
RESOLUTIONS.
Rep. Kanealii moved that Article
55 of the Constitution be made the
order of the day for to-day.
Noble Baldwin favored setting
day.
No day was set.
Minister Jones presented answers to
questions propounded by Rep. Ash
ford relating to the status of "a certain
claim of revenue against certain
Crown Lands situated at Kane0he,
Koolau, Oahu.
The same Minister read answers to
questions relating to the claim of the
Government against the late Kings
estate or against the Crown Lands, on
account of the bonds issued for pay
ment of His Majesty's debts.
Rep. Ashford moved reference of
4 49, I'D as
Committee to inquire whether the
Land Commissioners. While it was
claimed that the title of the present
Sovereign could not be affected by the
action of the Legislature of go, he
took issue with that because the
Crown Lands were simply public do
main, set apart for special purpose.
Attorney General Brown hardly
thought the Judiciary Committee
should constitute itself tribunal to
decide questions arising between the
Sovereign and the Minister of
Finance. That was roundabout
way of getting at the facts. 1t was
matter of law with which the House
had nothing to do. The question was
whether the Government should
make claim against his late Majes-
ty's estate, the claim being Govern
ment one, it would not be barred by
the mere fact that the administrator
had been discharged. He took issue
with the member from the Third Dis
trict on his statement that the House
has full control of the Crown Lands,
and that they are simply part of
the public domain. He had opposed
that position on the floor of this
House for ten years past. Another
objection was that such a reference to
the Judiciary Committee would be an
interference with the Executive.
Rep. Ashford thought that the At
torney-General had misinterpreted
the object of his molten. 1t was
merely to have the Judiciary Com
mittee refer their opinion to the
House so that the House might take
such action as they saw fit. The At
Cabinet. 'asPGt here was the law
adviser or the Crown already express
ing an opinion on the Crown lands
which involved the further opinion
that the Government had no claim
against the revenues of these lands to
pay the bonds. 1t was a proper thing
for the House to take into consider
alton. 1t was very serious matter;
100000 was O sum worth looking
after. He did not propose to infringe
on the rights of Her Majesty to the
extent OF a single cent. If the Crown
lands were not part of the public
domain, how could the Legislature
authorize the sale of the Wailuku
Commons? That with other cases was
an assumption of the right to dispose
of the Crown lands. If one acre could
be disposed of in that way so could
the whole domain, and if an acre was
under the control of the Legislature
then, so was every acre now. He
might be wrong-but the question
should be settled.
Rep. Smith could not agree with
the Attorney General that the House
had nothing to do with this matter.
1t certainly had a great deal to do
with it when the help was wanted
and the bonds were created. 1t had
just as much TO do with it now. The
status of these bonds was proper
subject for inquiry by this House.
General Brown said he
did not dispute the right of the Legis-
lature to inquire into the loan.
Noble Baldwin thought the ques-
ton of the title to the Crown lands
was not necessarily involved in the
question of this loan. 1t was proper
for the House to inquire into the
status of that matter, but not, he
thought, to instruct the Ministers
positively.
The motion to refer to the Judiciary
Committee was carried.
Minister Jones read by title the
bill which he had noticed the day
before, to place tax on legacies, ETC.
Noble Marsden moved reference to
the Judiciary Committee without
printing. Lost.
The Minister also read by title the
bill to license certain vOcations. Also
an Act to amend and consolidate the
law relating to the vending of mer-
chandise. Also, to amend the law re-
lating to stamp duties.
Noble Thurston, under suspension
of the rules, presented report of
Public Lands Committee on Bill 191,
concerning road supervisors. The
bill amends the law passed in August
by providing that road supervisor
shall always be employed in Homo
lulu ca re-enactment of the old law, SO
far as Honolulu is concerned).
The report was adopted, and Tues
day set for the third reading of the
bill.
AT 11:34 A. NJ. the House proceeded
to the
ORDER OF THE DAY.
Third reading of Bill lis, to amend
III u