The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-04-04
THE p1spENsARY BILL.


The Dispensary bill came up yester-
day and received it's first check The
former committee on Intoxicants pre-
scented it's report upon the bill, which
was distinctly adverse to it's passage
at the present time. This report was
signed by Senators Kaiue, Crabbe and
White. But since the report was made
Senator Russell resigned the Presidency
of the Senate and Senator Kaiue took
his place in the chair, Dr. Russell TAX
ing Senator Kaiue's positions on COM
mittees. The bill is Senator Russels
bill and, as Senator Kaiue's successor
on the Intoxicant Committee, he has
been accorded the courtesy of making
a minority report in three days, in
which he will be able to bring forth
arguments against the majority.
The arguments advanced by the ma
jority of the committee are worthy of
consideration, and to many will APP
pear to be cogent. 1t is always well
however to stick to the old motto
AUDI alteram partem," hear the other
side, before coming to decision. DR..
Russell in his minority report will GER
tainly have much to say. The question
is, will his arguments prove better than
those of the majority.
One of the strongest arguments
against the bill is that it is "cinch"
measure. 1t formed no portion of any
party's platform. 1t was sprung upon
the Home Rule party by a man who
thought he led that party by the nose,
whom the Home Rulers were disposed
at one time to follow blindly, but who
came to such utter grief in attempting
to preside over the Senate that he lost
the confidence of a majority of. his
party, If he could not guide the SEN
ate. how could he be a good legisla-
tive guide,
In a measure of this sort which un-
doubtedly restricts the liberty of the
people at large, the opinion of the peo-
pie at large should be obtained. The
Car of Russia, it is true, can issue
an ukase and restrict his subjects in
any liberty he pleases without consul
tation as to their wishes but our sys
tenn of government is based upon an
entirely different footing. With us the
idea is that the majority rules and not
only the majority in the whole Terri
tory, but the majority in each subdivis-
ion when we get county government
and municipal government. Our people
can have open counties, and open cities,
or they can have both closed" as the
phrase is.
Upon this subject of the Dispensary
bill the opinion of the voters has never
been asked. The only way in which
the public has been able to express it
self either pro or con is by meeting and
petition. But neither petition nor
meeting, though they may show the
general trend, in a measure, of public
feeling, have really any exact value.
The polls can show opinion exactly es-
pecially under the Australian ballot
system. Let one or other of the parties
make a dispensary bill a plank in the
party platform, or if neither will touch
it, let there be Dispensary Party in
Hawaii, as there is a prohibition party
in most states, and let the votes tell
the tale.
In matter of this kind it is unjust
to throw upon Senators and Repre-
sentatives so grave a responsibility
without giving them the opportunity
of knowing what the majority of theil
constituents think. Several Of Sena-
tors and members are strongly in favor
of such a measure but not having beer
elected to deal with such a measure
they feel that they must oppose it, moi
because they consider the measure bad
but because in such radical work they
want to know what is the opinion OF
their constituents :,
AS to the details of the bill that is
quite another matter, The pivotal OBJ
lection to it is that the people of the
Territory have had mo opportunity OF
expressing themselves upon a radica
change, which restricts the persona
liberty not only OF those who belong