The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1896-03-13

eign and Customs departments was
necessary to procure a reliable report
on the number of Immigrants.
Rep. Rycroft asked Minister Cooper
IL the Government couli not furnish a
complete report without getting the
figures of the three departments sug
gested
Minister Cooper said thatAa com
bined report was necessary.
Rep. Rycroft said that he registra
ito nil wOul do away with all this.
aud ali Of The Iaour coinibg into tn
country could be figured up without
so much trouble.
The matter was referred to the
Committee on Foreign Relations to
collect the reports OF the different de-
partments interested and report.
Auditor General Complains.
The following communication was
received from Auditor General Laws !:
"To the members of the Legislature
OF the Republic OF Hawali-Geutle-
men:
81 have twice formally protested
to Your honorable bodv against the
payment of "Exp-nses OF tue Legisla
ture" without previous approval by
the Auditor General, AS b-iug con
trary to the provisions OF S cIon 10 of
the Auditor In view of tile fact that
the appropriation Of SIS 900 for the
expenses of the pres-ut session has
become law by publication today,
without any provision exempting
such ext ense ON approval ty me
before payment, and in anticipation of
a pursuance of former methods in
regard to their payment, which have
been plainly contrary to law, L would
respectfully request q formal expires
sion by the legislature for record in
the audit office, on the legality of
such proceeding.
81 would FAY that before passage of
the appropriation L suggested to the
Minister OF Finance the insertion of a
clause in the Act exem pting sucn ex-
penses from approval by the Auditor
General, il such was the intention of
your honorable body, but as no such
clause appears in the Act, feel forced
to make this communication in order
to determine my course in The matter
of this appropriation.
Gan immediate reply is earnestly
requested
Communication referred to the
Joint Committee on Finance.
A communication from the Senate
announced passage on third reading o
House bill No 3, relating TO laundries
and washhouses; also Senate bill for
Improvement of Hilo streets passed
third reading.
Rep. Richards reported House bill
No. printed and ready for distribu
ton.
Rep. Robertson reported for the
Com mittee on Great Seal. Atera
tions had been made in accordance
with certain criticisms.
Rep. Rycroft made a report OF the
special committee on the preservation
of Jackets and records of district
magistrates, recommending several
changes.
Homestead Laws.
The bill relating to homesteads
came up for discussion with tue re-
port of the committee to have same
laid on the table.
Attorney General Smith moved
that the bill pass its second reading.
The came objections ma in the
House had been made in the Senate
but the latter branch OF the Legis-
lature had finally deemed the pro-
visions of the bill sound and had pass
ed it. Mr. Smith did NOT think that
hardship would be result of the bill
.hould it pass. To his mind it would
work q great amount of good and
would make the laud more valuable
4 Al. l. ID
to he great zeal of force in the
argument that the status would he
bettered More thought would be
expended on he occupancy of laud II
the homesteaders were required to DO as
the amendment to the Land Act pro-
posed. Under the present law thought
less persons would take up land for a
little while, get tired an then move
out Nothing had been put into the
land and nothing was there to keep
them.
Rep. Robertson was very much in
favor of q iopting the report of the
committee. The $500 exemption law
would not work. According to the
provisione man must build house
up the land he occupies before the ex-
piratiOn If two years. Any kind OF
mouse would cost at least 10000.
Then man would have his house aud
bis land together as his property. The
result would be that, taking the house
ami lot together he wOuli have to pay
taxes for the value of the same which
would be over $500.
Attorney General Smith said that
he had seen certain houses on Hawaii
that had been butt for $50
Rep. Robertson said that that was
the fault OF the Government. They
were hampered 10y the money thu y
had to pay on the land, and We're I'M
able to expend more than $50 on theil
houses.
Attorney General Smith said that,
il case Of necessity, hou-e could be
built for S. or $40
Rep. Robertson said that he had
enough OF these kind of houses, il such
they could be called 1t would be
found difficult matter to. build 9
house for very much less than $500
Rep. Robertson continuing, said
that if the conditions of the present
law we're insisted on the homestead, RS
would have their hands full. Their
cash would be exhausted, and they
would be unable to pay taxes, as was
proposed by the amendment TO tue
Land Act. One objection had not