The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-12-09

ere, and of others resident abroad,
while it is no less obvious that the i'm
moral and illegal enterprise receives
sanction, and even active assistance from
many OF the officers of the law.
1t is also we'll known and notorious in
this community that fixed price obtains
for the landing Of opium; this rate varies
bat little, and usually stands at Loo per
half-pound tin, or So per pound. Your
committee have been assured by the
Marshal of the Kingdom that he has in
formation of the smuggling into the
Kingdom of about eight and half tons
of that drug 1000 pounds) per year OF
late. In addition to that amount, 1t is
reasonable to suppose that much has
been Struggled which has escaped the no
tice OF the police.
It is therefore evident to your committee
that the prohibitory opium laws are
complete and dismal failure, and that the
drug is commonly and openly introduced
into and consumed in this Kingdom, TO
the decentralization of the police and Gus
toms forces, the serious detrinent Of the
native population, the sustenance of a
class of smugglers, and the loss to the
Treasury of large sums that might be de-
rived from the traffic if it were put under
regulation.
We therefore recommend the passage
of license law in the full belief that such
course will not only yield a handsome
revenue. but it will place the opium traf-
fic under such control and supervision as
will minimize its injurious and democrat
izing effects.
With this object in view we have Sc
lected Bill 147 as the basis of our recon-
mendation, and have drafted some sub
stitute sections to be inserted in place of
certain sections now in the bill.
AS now recommended by your commit
tee the bill will permit the importation of
opium by any person. upon payment OF a
duty of S. per pound. 1t should, we
think, be the object to SO far cheaper, by
means of light duty, the importation of
the drug as to make further smuggling
improbable. We believe that with the
duty fixed at S. per pound that result
will be attained.
1t is the opinion OF your committee that
in the interest both of regulation and of
revenue, a number of independent licen-
ces should exist in the hands of different
individuals, rather than that the entire
traffic should be concentrated in the
hands of one person or firm. Ii but one
license be granted, it would involve
travelling peddlers throughout the coun-
try, whose operations could not we'll be
supervised and regulated. It shoult be
our aim to prohibit any sale of opium
except upon premises described in the
different licenses, and thus will be pre-
vented much Illicit trade in this drug that
would otherwise be carried on.
The bill as recommended, provides for
in Stria r,f In
group; in Honolulu, four such licenses
are provided for, and two in Wailuku.
The feature of selling the licenses at
auction in much the same manner as
ava licenses are now sold, has been in
corporated in the amendments submit
ted, and your committee believe that a
very large revenue will result from the
adoption Of the bill. The sale of the Ii
censes provided for, at the upset price of
each, would alone yield $77 900 per year,
and duty of So per pound upon eight
tons OF opium per annum, would yield
$4,000. 1t is probable, however, that
some of the proposed licenses will find
no purchasers, though others may sell
for moIe than the upset price. 1t is not
probable, your committee believe, that
the consumption OF opium will be mate.
rally affected in amount by the passage
of this bill, but the introduction of large
numbers of Chinese laborers under re-
cent legislation may cause an increase in
such consumption.
A revenue of 1914, 1000 per biennial pc
riod would follow the sale of all licenses
at their upset prices, and the annual i'm
portation through the Customs of eight
tons of opium; and your committee feel
that it is safe estimate, considering all
probable DEFICIENCIES, to place the ex-
pected income from opium at $3.50 600
per period.
Against this expected revenue. and the
regulation of the traffic incident to this
Act, we have only the sentimental objec-
ton to opium in any and all forms and I'M
der any conditions which give nominal
| prohibition and an actual indulgence
without restraint.
One of the most important features of
| the proposed law is that it allows full
| latitude for sale to and use by adult Chi
nese, and prohibits such use by others,
except in the regular course Of medical
| treatment.
1t is true that this proposal involves a
restriction to one race OF the privilege of
using opium, and may be thought OBJ
noxious to the Constitution. But SIM
liar provision in our former liquor laws,
whereby liquor was forbidden to be fur
nished to native Hawaiians, has been up
held by our Supreme Court and declared
to be constitutional.
| Your committee see no reason why a
different rule should be followed in the
decision as to the validity OF an Act re-
stricting the sale and use of opium. If,
however, there be even a doubt upon
this point, such doubt should not, we
submit, be allowed to defeat the bill,
but if it be thought desirable, the ques-
ton colld be put beyond the reach OF
doubt by the passage of Constitutional
Amendment to cover it. At the worst,
the bill would not fail, as whole, even
if such restriction should not be upheld.
In case it be held that the law cannot
forbid the use of opium by others, while
permitting it to adult Chinese, we would
be no worse off than at present, when all
races, ages and sexes are practically at
risk Or restraint.
We append hereto q printed copy oil
Bill Nc. 147, with the proposed amend
ments, and recommend that it pass, and
that Bills Nos 81 and 122 be laid on the
table.
Respectfully submitted,
c. w. ASHFORD,
J. MARsDEN,
r. d. WALBRIDGE.
Tabled with bill.
At 1857, out of respect to the me.
mory of the late Jonathan Austin, the
House adjourned for the day.
|