The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-04-25
EXTENSION NECESSARY.

To j. not the Home hulr party. out
the people Of the Territorysat large.
who would be injured BY Governor
DoIa's resentment exercised in refusal
70 extend the regular session The
Governor should. one would tnink. feel
anything but grateful TO those who
are defending his reported determin-
alton IN this regard. Their imIutation
Of motives OF political revenge to him
in the premises is anything but com
plimentary TO his character as the
head Of the government OF a Territory
OF the United States possessing, by
the good win OF the National Congress.
all the privileges Of popular self gov
eminent
II the legislators have been remiss
in the dispatch OF business, that fact
cannot be helped now For the past
few weeks. a controlling majority mas
largely redeemed the record Of the
first half OF the session. Especially
In the House much earnest and a
good deal OF creditable work has been
accomplished The whipping into
fairly prcsentable shape of the County
bill. a measure demanded by the unit
ed voice OF ali parties in the elections.
has been no mean achievement Less
important work has taken much more
time In former legislatures of these
islands Then. as to necessary meas
ures that are belated, there has been
a large amount OF work done on such
OF which the public has not been made
aware. In every legislative body it is
comparatively few that have part in
the preparation OF the weightier mat
tiers requiring to be legislated. The
small contingent OF workers in the
present Territorial Legislature is no
exception 10 the rule and those com
posing il have overworked themselves
between the daily sittings. but the
time has really proved all too brief
for the task in spite of the industry
and energy put forth.
What the Governor should consider
is the needs of the Territory. 1t can
do him no good. but the people meal
culable harm. 70 take first and chiefly
into account the alleged shortcomings
OF the Legislature or the attitude of a
majority Of its members toward his
administration. The Congress Of the
United States in reality discounted
the possible shortcomings OF the best
Legislature that could have been elect
ed. when il provided the safety valve
OF an extension OF the regular session.
It is due 10 the people that the full
limit OF time be given their duly
chosen representatives. less than
the full limit prove not to suffice
TO make provision FOR all the public
needs OF the Territory. II is also ex.
pected by the people that certain
measures approved by their votes
should be made law. There are laws
absolutely necessary for raising rev.
enne. Systems OF taxation have form
ed n bone OF contention in every com.
monwealth of the Union from time
immemorial They are being chang
ed. in one State or another, nearly
every year. In those older commsn1.
ties, too. the changes are made in
time-honored systems. Yet so impor
tant is the subject deemed that resort
Is had 10 the deliberate process Of
commissions With somewhat sym
metriosl systems in operation the,
can afford to proceed thus leisurely
Here in Hawaii. however. the cas-,
does not admit Of delay. The eoun
try has Just entered upon an entirel,
new and untrodden path. 1t finds II
SELF with its oldtime sources OF rev
enue wiped out by one-half at on,
fell swo0p. The necessity is upon tn
Territory OF providing an entirely new
fiscal economy.
Cavillers may reply 10 the foregoing
reason for granting more time to III,
Legislature. by asking why have no
the necessary revenue measures beer
forthcoming at an earlier stage. Tn,
answer may De in part that the cues
tions involved are new to the bull
OF the members and. wha.S4er els
may be said Of the Hawaiian legisia
Tor, he is cautious in committing him
self 70 propositions before fally IN
derstanding their nature and probahl
effects Il takes time in any Legs
latare to bring a majority into lin,