The Hawaiian gazette., 1898-06-10
UNANIMOUS VOTE
The Opium Measure Passes Third
Reading in Senate.
MINOR BUSINESS TRANSACTED
House Working on Appropriations
still to Count
ing Ayes
MINOR BUSINESS TRANSACTED
SENATE.
Nine.y-slxth Day. June !.

Owing 70 the illness Of President
Wilder. yice-Presidenr Kauhane tool
The chair. After the opening exer-
cises, the yiee-President called Sena-
Tor Rice 10 the chair.
In response 10 the question OF Sen
ator McCandIess, Minister Cooper fur
nished q copy OF the correspondence
between Vice-COusul Renjes and the
Foreign ONCE on the protest made
by the Vice-ConsuI for Spain that the
neutrality laws had been violated.
The House bill relating TO the de-
scent Of property passed third read
ing as did also the House bill per-
mit-ing appeals from District Magis-
1raCes 70 Circuit Judges in Chambers.
The same action was taken on the
bill directing foreign corporations 10
file annual reports with the Minister
Of the Interior. The bill relating 10
pounds and ss-rays passed third read
ing The bill authorizing the Minis
Ter Of Finance 10 open current ac-
cUrn-s az local banks passed third
reading.
The Joint conference committee on
the amendments 10 the cemetery act
reported that the Senate amendments
had been adopted
The Revision Committee reported
that the opium bin had been revised
and prepared.
Senator Baldwin said: I have been
criticised for the way I have voted on
rhis opium bill, and I wish TO make
brief statement Of my views. I am
satisfied that most Of those who have
criticised the bill have not understood
il. especially as II now stands after
we have amended II. The bill is not,
properly speaking, a License Act, as
the term is usually understood. Il Is
an act TO carry out on a larger scale
The idea that has been adopted by the
Board Of Health for several years
past OF furnishing opium in small
quantities here in Honolulu, 10 con-
frmed users Of opium on the recon-
mendatiOn Of The Government physi-
clan The Act provides for q Board
in each district. 10 consist Of the Gov
ernment physician, the Magistrate and
the Sheriff. or Deputy Sheriff Of the
district. who shall have authority, IN
der the regulations Of the Board of
Health, 10 issue permits 10 confirmed
users OF opium only, 10 use the drug,
which is 70 be furnished them in
small quantities from time 70 time
by said Board The bill Is in every
respect well guarded
What TO do with the opium ques-
ton has been one OF the very difficult
problems we have had to deal with in
this country. We have such an eI-
Ieusive coast line around each Island
that it is almost impossible 10 prevent
smuggling. and We have q large pOpu-
lati0l here VINO are bound TO obtain
opium in that way if the law prohibits
them from obtaining II in any. other
way. The smugglers are said 10 bribe
and corrupt the Custom House and
Police Officers, and in this way demo-
ralize the officials TO whom We look to
execute and carry out our laws.
For Ihirty-fye years 1t has been my
business 70 superiutend laborers on
various plantations, and I can say,
without osteEtation. that I have had
a good deal Of experience in dealing
with men One result OF my expert
ence, which I have observed at differ
enI times in a marked way, is that
there Is no one thing more demoraliz-
ing 10 men on a plantation, or that
tends more 10 disturb law and order
and discipline, than some secret evil
or wrong that IS being carried on,
some wrong that the men are engaged
IN on the sly. So, when the Marshal
and the Sherifs call on US to, in soma
way, regulate the opium evil, l fully
appreciate their reasons for the re-
quest. Now, I do not believe that
many OF the good people who criticise
this bill give due consideration to the
evils that result from opium SNUG
Cling. They look with horror on tha
mere thought OF licensing the drug in
any form, and do not balance up care
fully all Of the evils pro and con.
] would not vote for bill 10 license
opium joints, OF a bill that would
allow IL 10 come 10 any importer. IN
der a duty, or any bill that I thought
would tend TO increase the use of the
drug on the Islands.
The bill We have before US in my
Judgment viii discourage smuggling,
as the Board OF Health viii furnish
opium al less cost than smugglers
can afford 10 furnish the article, owing
TO the risky nature of their nefarious
business If We are annexed to the
United States. and. have no law on
our statutes authorizing opium we viii
undoubtedly come under the United
States law which allows any one to
import il under duty Of six dollars a
pound II We pass this bill-which
i consider much preferable 10 the Unit
ed States law-it may be allowed TO
remain on our statutes in case Of an
nexation- Then again, as It has been
said, We have in the past repealed
three opium laws at different times.
and this law can be repealed if II is
found that il does not work well. The
Chinese, who are the principal users
OF opium, are not voters and cannot
control legislation
The bill was then brought to third |
reading and passed, Senators Baldwin.