The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-06-08

of the House and its daily proceedings.
There is no coherent policy, one thing
is urged today by a majority, and an
other thing is urged tomorrow diane
trically opposite to what was urged to-
day. Discussion or loose talk takes
place daily, but one never sees sound
argument brought forward. Prejudice,
ignorance and folly are displayed con-
stantly and the few voices among the
Independents which are raised to at
tempt to guide the party towards some
definite aim, are lost i'm the chatter of
the joys masquerading in peacock
pumes.
That we should be any nearer what
we need if an extra session We're grant
ed is not only uncertain, but it, is al
most certain that we shall not. We
have had a session of sixty days which
resulted in accomplishing nothing.
There was a loan bill up before that
session, but it was cholled to death in
the House. There were other impor-
tant measures, but they We're either
killed or they were so chopped about
that when they came into the hands of
the executive for signature, they We're
unsignable.
Many O the proposed measures of
the Home Rulers were good enough in
their essence, but they came before the
Legislature in such crude form that
they had to be opposed in the shape
that they appeared. Take the county
,,,I,; ,1, oh boe cot al
and which it is claimed was turned
down by the Governor because it was
the county bill. When it first came in
to the House it was utterly unintelli-
gible. There was a desire on the part
of a section of the House to pass it,
without reading, in it's pristine purity
But better counsels prevailed and the
bill went to committee. The commit
tee consisting of both parties worked
upon the bill hard. Much was Topped
away, much was changed. 1t was by
no means in proper condition, however
and the House knew it. 1t was passed
however, with the idea that the Senate
would make amendments. When it
reached the Senate the Republicans
were ready 10 go 10 NOIh upon II III al
good faith, but the Home Rule majority
would have no work done on it, 1t
was a county bill and it must pass.
So with all its glaring anomalies and
faults it passed, and was not signed.
No man who studied it's anomalies
could sign it, The fault of its not being
signed lies with the Legislators and not
with the Governor. The county bill as
passed would have caused endless liti
cation. Perhaps that was what the
seventeen new made lawyers We're
looking for.
The Legislature has already cost the
Territory $4,000 in hard cash, besides
a loss in business which cannot be at
present realized, but it is very prob
ably from three to four times that
amount. Not only has it been the most
expensive Legislature that we have
ever had, but 1t has been the most
ruinous. There has been no return for
the money expended, and there has
been distinct injury to business pros |
poets. That we shall all realize this in
time is certain, though only a few |
realize it now.
That the territory will be at a stand
still may be true, though means may be
found for overcoming such condition
in part, but that we shall ever be bene-
fitted by an extra session of this pres
ent Legislature few except the blindest
of business men can believe. The Ter
ritory, THROUGH its Legislature, has lost
a golden opportunity. Capital which
would have stayed with us, had we had
any kind of safe Legislation, has gone
abroad, Capital which was ready to
come in, has become timid and has
sought other channels. These facts are
known to the financial men, but they
are utterly ignored by the mass of our
present Legislators Indeed it is doubt
full if they understand how capital is
affected by their vagaries, or the rea-
sons upon which financiers base their
calculations.
The great thing that the Territory
needed was capital. With money easy
many enterprises could have been start
ed and carried on probably. These
would have given employment to all
who were willing and had the ability
to work. The industries would have
increased, and would have employed
still more people, and such would have
come fiocking down to the Ell Dorado.
But the ooose with the Golden coos has
had its neck sorely twisted and if
great care is not taken, it will be brok-
en- altogether. Then it will be dscov-
cred that the golden eggs are quite
gone, never to return.
A country may be the most fertile in
the world but a crack Drained Legisla-
ture can wreck it. 1t is about time
that the business men took a stand and
looked after their interests. An, extra
session will injure them more than