The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-04-03

Besides that. they VIII have - ny a
lawyers fee. If the salaries the
members of the Court are TO l. paid
by tf Government, believe q at the
Council ought to see to 1t tina Justice
is given the people who bay small
claims. i am willing to he Bin,
but at the same time | think ne Coun-
Gil ought to allow Jhe Court to make
the fee pro rata, according to the size
of the claim. Persons who have
claims for $15, 900 should not be includ-
ed with claimants, poor people, who
have only S25 or $50 claim. He has
got to pay a lawyer; If he has to pay
$50 for a claim of $40, he had better
not make any claim at all. By. this
time We have discovered that the poor
people have suffered a grea- deal more
than the rich ones"
Dole: The Council of State have no
power to change these rules, but they
have the right 10 recommend changes"
KaulukOu: II also wish some infor-
nation in regard to the Court OF
Claims. / see tnat Mr.. Magoon has
been appointed as President Of the
Commission. / believe Mr.. Magoon
owns much property in Chinatown;
Who is going TO take his -lace when
his claims are considered. He owns
lots of land there. | don't think he
would have any right to cit on his
claims"
Dole: He cannot sit on any matter
he is personally interested in. The
rest viii sit, however"
Kaulukou: Il would like to have
this act referred to the Council TO con-
slider carefully"
Kane: 1T seems to me that the bill
must take some course OF investigation
in the Council. II is a new matter al
together. | move that the bill oe re-
ferred to the Finance Committee"
Damon: The bill has already re-
ceived the authorization of President
Mckinley for the expenditure of this
sum OF money, and requires only one
reading."
KauiukOu Il claim the Council OF
State should pass this bill on three
readings instead of one, because It is
entirely Independent of expenses OF
plague"
Mott-Smith: Il do not remember the
exact words of the telegram from
Washington authorizing the appoint
ment of the Court, but the purport of
it is that the Executive appoint five
commissioners to adjudicate fire losses.
and to have the Council OF State make
an appropriation OF money for ex-
penses in conformity with Hawaiian
law"
Achi moved that the bill be referred
TO the Judiciary Committee. In answer
TO a question, Mr. Dole replied that the
Supreme Court had no authority under
the Hawaiian law to entertain these
! fire claims.
1 Robertson: President Mckinley
having authorized the appointment OF
the Court of Claims and provided that
the Council OF State should appropri-
ate money for the Courts expenses, ii
seems to me as a natural consequence
! IL intended to provide the Court with
ways and means to carry the work on.
1t could not do without funds. / do
not say, however, that l have agreed
| with the policy of the Executive alto
| gether in suggesting to President Nc
! Kinley the appointment of a Court of
/ Claims. It will be great hardship up
on a number of people in the commu-
nifty who have lost property through
the suppression Of plague, and | can
/ not see where the money is coming
| from to pay for these losses. The fig
ures will run up into millions OF dol
lars. ! don't think this government
an compensate the losers for what they
have lost. In consequence, / am not
IN favor OF the Court of Claims at all.
1T seems to me the proper thing
! that the bill should go to a committee
for investigation. / don't think it ad-
visabeto go to the Judiciary Committee
/ for the reason that lawyers are inter-
ested in the appointment OF the Court.
1t seems to me the Finance Committee,
as suggested, would be the more appro-
pirate committee. and / make a motion
4 TO that effect"
| The first motion being put, to refer
the bill to the Judiciary Committee.
was lost. The motion to refer the
same to the Finance Committee was
carried by a rising vote.
j Young stated that Mr.. Ouderkirk had
made an estimate of the cost OF making
] needed repairs to the Judiciary build
ing, amounting TO $4,000. This included
repairing Of plaster inside the building
and tinting IL; painting and granting;
doors and windows, new mating need
ed in nearly all the rooms, floors were
/ in bad condition; on the outside the
| cement work was In need OF repairs
and new paint, and repairs were need
ed on the roof and tower. He moved
that the estimates be referred n the
Committee on Interior Appropriations.
Gear moved that the estimates be
laid on the table and taken up with
the bill. Carried.
j Mott-Smith read the action taken by
the Executive Council in regard to the
| petition from japanese Consul Mi
;, Saito relative to the reque-t to be
relieved from taxation for the present
year. He said the Attorney General
was opposed to granting the petition.
on the ground that the Council of
State would have to repeal the law be-
fore the petition could be granted,
and furthermore the Council OF State.
in his opinion, had no such power.
Achi moved that the report be ADOPT
J. ed. Carried.
The report OF the Executive Council
proceedings upon the claim of Henry
Zerbe was read by Mr.. Mott-Smith
A The vote OF the Executive Council vas