The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-03-29
SOME REASONS Why.
To the Editor Of The Republican.

To the Editor OF The Republican
Sir.-It must be apparent to all fair
minded citizens that tie work of the
Legislature drags on slowly The
responsibility must drop somewhere.
Some will say that it Is the fault of
the presiding officers and others will
jump at the conclusion that it must
be so.
Now is it true, Can the Speaker of
the House or the President of the
Senate perform his duties as pre-
siding officer and at the same time
make motions from the floor chat
will push business along, The rules
require OF him that he shall impair
tally pass upon all matters that are
properly presented. but IL nothing Of
Importance is presented, then is the
presiding officer to blame for it? Can
he give orders compelling commit,
tees to report? Can he make motions
to cut on useless and worse than
useless debate? Can he do business
which is not put before him by mo-
ton? Will some of the smart set"
answer some of these questions?
The presiding officer must patient
ly await the pleasure of members on
the floor to make and second motions
calling for reports which ,ae House
or Senate can procure by motion or
resolution. There must be some i'm
portant business, such as the passage
of bills, brought up for action and
pushed forward by members on the
floor before the presiding officer can
COMPEL obstructionists to confine
their remarks to the question under
discussion and limit time as provided
| for in the rules. II there is no Ques-
| ton of Importance moved by mem
| bers upon the floor it leaves room for
all kinds of obstructive tactics which
the presiding officer is powerless to
prevent II there is no question be-
| fore the body, any obstructionist can
move ANY old thing" and consume
| more or less time before he can be
shut of even under the rules. This
is no sooner done than another OBJ
structionist makes some other dila.
tory motion, again consuming some
time before he can De shut on. And
| thus continue indefinitely. Any mo-
ton must be entertained by the
| Chair if there is no other motion be
| fore the body for consideration. II
| makes no difference how much or
how little the presiding officer knows
about parliamentary law or usage
If there is no member upon the floor
ready and willing to move important
business, he cannot do anything to
| advance them.
There are other reasons why legis
lative work is DELAYED which. is no.
the fault of the presiding officer and
scarcely the fault of members The
executive department through the
Secretary of the Territory As required
to furnish suitable accommodations
for the Legislature Has this been
| done? In the first place tie Senate
was housed in a place unfit for its
business and even now there are nc
suitable committee rooms furnished
Tor the use of either house. This Is
purely a case of ignorance and in
competency on the part of the Sec
Rotary. Nor, are the members Of the
Legislature blameless in this matter
It was the duty of the Chairman oi
each committee to report to the res
pective houses that no committee
rooms were provided. Had they done
so each house could have ordered the
Secretary to procure such rooms
without further delay.
| Then again, in every legislature
where the members know their bust
ness. clerks are hired for each Of the
important COMMITTEES to assist in the
detail work of such committees that
the work may be expedited and re
ports promptly made. The Hawaiian
style of penny wise and pound fool
ish" would not be tolerated in any
State or Territory on the Mainland
In many States a competent lawyer
is hired at the first of the session as
clerk to the judiciary committee. He
| works all day while the members are
in session and when the committee
meets all legal questions have been
solved and the result presented to
the committee. In this way reports
are carefully prepared and promptly
| reported back for action A few
carpet baggers sent here who know
| something about conducting public
affairs on an up-to-uate plan would
be a great improvement on the pres
ent system. r.
Honolulu. March IS, 1901.
pook hSudiug from M In alvaya sat.