Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1901-02-19
THE LEGISLATURE.

No Legislature of Hawaii has ever
approached more serious problems of
public administration and finance than
the body that will be called in session
tomorrow.
No legislative session in these ISL
ands has ever been held with the peo-
pie in the Islands and on the Mainland
more keenly watChful of the results or
more in the dark as to the eventual!-
ties by reason of the detailed policy Of
the dominant party not being given
to the public. II Hawaii were under
its old time form Of independence the
ante-legislative atmosphere OF today
would presage an old time revolution.
II is true that revolutionary move
ments are pending but It will be law
and order revolution with batteries Of
oratory and volleys OF votes. with
the tax system. the liquor traffic and
general decentralization of government
pending vested interests are naturally
very much aroused, and Hawaii has
always had a way of being stirred
deeper by radical measures touching
such interests than It has by watchful-
ness for the rights Of the individual.
Individual members of the dominant
party have said that these measures
will all go through with a rush. the
necessary votes having been assured
and the whole topic thoroughly dis
cussed in caucus. With what authority
these statements are made Is not
known. Common sense reasoning does
not suggest that any measure will he
railroaded through without ample time
being given for thorough discussion by
all members and full understanding
of its details by the people. Vested in
terests have the right of hearing and
II our legislative pendulum swings too
far from its previous direction the p.o
people will finally suffer in conse-
quence and the party responsible go to
ignominious defeat.
Radical assertions of individual
members have set former controlling
minority by the ears. The people mere.
ly await results believing that con,
servative sentiment will dominate al
final acts.
or all measures on the tapis none Is
more radical or revolutionary than
the establishment of town. county ant
city governments, an absolute deCer
tralization of administrative power
That this should be deemed revolutions
airy demonstrates how far short of Am
erican ideals Hawaii had fallen in It's
days Of national independence. The
Organic Act passed by Congress was.
Judged by former Hawaiian standards.
revolutionary, but II Is the over.
turning that assures a more concerted
and more progressive people. The Or.
ganic Act not only authorizes the con.
tinuance Of this American develop
ment Of independent self rule, but
every American sentiment and basic
principle of government points thu
plain duty of those placed in authority
to do the peoples business. Every par
ty candidate elected to the Legislature
Is pledged by party declarations to ad-
vance the cause of independent NUM-
cipal administration. Civic duty dc.
mands positive action, civic pride
should assure support for II.
Measures bearing on taxation. the
liquor traffic, the official personnel. en-
pense Of departments and administra.
tlon OF public institutions will doubt =
less take on party phase that will be
thoroughly discussed and dealt with
upon their merits. Any party indiffer-
ent to its responsibility, moved by i'm
pulse of the moment or fierce preiu-
dice OF any kind will merely work its
own undoing. The country will go
forward by reason of its American as
ISOLATION and beneficient control. Those
who would turn the wheels backward
will merely be bowled over and left be-
hind.