The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1900-11-20
AN UsURPArtoN OF POWER.

AN USURPAT[oN OF POWER.
Again are the Illegal acts Of the admin
istrat.ou OF Governor Dole made promi-
uert. Several times has The Republican
called attention 20 the meetings of the
so-,alIed executive council. a body th2t
has uo more legal rights or existence
than has the King Of Dahomy" that
IIoyt created in his play Of a Texas
Steer When the Hawaiian commits
sion. of which Mr.. Dole was a member.
wa, drafting an organic act for Hawaii.
Nj. Dol. WAS iussicnt that it should
provide for an executive council" but
all OF the other members Of the commits
son were opposed 20 such useless body.
considering IL like the proyerbial nth
wheel Co the wagon, and refused TO con
slider his contentious. So insistent was
Mr.. Dole that such a body should be pro-
ydrd for that be presented minority re-
port. which Congress in its wisdom treat
eel with even less consideration than had
the commission and refused absolutely to
consider such a clause in the Cullom bill.
AhAA n NiAA tlh W. hAAA INV Win ~.
Dole occupying the Governors chair:
We find him creating. directly contrary
10 the act of Congress. an executive
council in Hawaii, which meets in secret
session twice a week. and for long time
this Illegal body met in secret session
three times week Knowing its acts
and meetings TO be illegal the Governor
and the members Of his official family
claim that these meetings are mere con
fer,nces TO talk over public affairs 80
that there may be unity Of action.
This is an false. as every member cf
the administration knows. If it were
true. why is it that certain officials are,
Mt nearly every meeting. directed to per
form certain acts at the behest of this
executive council: Why is il necessary
for this sacred body to direct officials 10
perform their sworn duty:
The fact is that this congregation Of
men the Governor has drawn about him
self is without semhlance of authority in
law. Knowing this. it resorts TO secret
sessions So that the people may not keep
Informed Of its illegal proceedings And
TO Try to fool the people certain of lis
acts are pretended TO be given out TO the
public through the Governors secretary.
At the meeting Of this executive coua-
cil Yesterday the following was given ouy
as one of the acts performed 10y the body:
The council authorized Treasurer
lansing to transfer 100000 from
the current fund TO the loan fund"
Unless Treasurer Lansing is anxious
60 be impcached for malfeasance in office,
and we do not believe he is we warn
him now that he had best disohey the
order Treasurer Lansing has no more
right To transfer 100000 from the cur
rent fund to the loan fund than has one
of his clerks to take money out of she
treasurerS office 10 buy a horse for his
personal use. Only the legislature or
legislative authority can order moneys of
the Territory transferred from one fund
10 another. Treasurer Lansing must
know this Governor Dole has no more
authority TO order money transferred
from one fund belonging to the Territory
10 another fund that has one of the dock
lahorers along the water front. Secre-
tarv Cooper has no more authority to
transfer money from one account
in the treaSurer's Office to an
other than has his bcothlack. wray
Taylor. Commissioner of Agricul-
ture. cannot order or authorize the treas
uor of tho Territory TO transfer money
from one account 10 some other account.
Neither does Mr. Atkinson. Superintend-
ent Of Public Instruction. POSSESS sneh
nor does Mr.. McCsnileSs SUI
perintenden, Of Public Works, nor Mr.. Z.
L. Dole the Attorney General. nor any
other Territorial appointee OF the Gov
ernor.
And as no one Of these men in his in
dividual capacity as Territorial official
has any authority whatever to order. or
direct. or authorize the Treasurer TO
transfer money from the current accoau;
10 the loan fund, neither do all of them
possess such authority. II is
the mos, stupenaous usurration of au-
ihority that the Dole administration has
yet been guilty Of II shows that what
this paper has said about this executive
council being formed for illegal purposes
Is true. IL has no being in law or
equity. II has no rights or authority |
not possessed by any equal number If |
citizens Of the Territory who might as.
senhle upon the street corner. But ~ |
It's act Of yesterday il is assuming 10 l. /
self 10 usurp the power of the legislature.
a power that Congress and the laws III |
this Territory have expressly reserved /
10 the legislature. II took upon itself |
the power vested in the executive council |
of the old Republic of Hawaii which was
wiped out of existence by the formation
OF the Territory of Hawaii.
II shows thar the charges. that this
body Of men the Governor has surround