The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-09-16
HAWAIrs sPENDTHRIFT LAW.
A Measure Designed Il Protect the
wealthy Natives.

HONOLULU. Sept. I6.-Hawaiiaus read
the sensational accounts iu the mainland
press Of rich mems GebauChcries and Of
fortunes sqUandercd IN "A fortnight and
smile. Particularly TO the more intelli-
gent and the wealthieT natives the sub
jet is one which affords considerable
amusement They passed through the
same stage at one time Wine suppers,
carousals with actresses lavish gifts 10
friends, al these many years ago were
as frequent in Honolulu as I'M New York
city. That was before the SpeudthriN
law. also relic Of the missionaries. but
stilI GA the statute books OF the island,
held many a rich native in iron bondage
nrmer than "a prison cell. Needed though
il may have been in its day. the spend
thrift law is one which next may be called
10 run tIe gauntlet Of cOHsUtutloHaiity, for
II GepTiyCs the victim not only Of his
property. but OF ais liberty, with little Tc-
gard for due process of law
This statute has ever Leen a tender
point with the natives VINO have long
since learned. 70 their surryw. that they
cannot trifie with fortune, even though IL
De their own, as do the SClogS OF million
airc families OF New York and Chicago
such PRODUCTIVITY as has characterized
some of the weather citizens OF the
states would mean Iu Hawaii the appoint
ml NJ Of guardian. who would moi only
control the property. but also the person,
of the liberal spender.
The HawaiianS are not thrifty people.
Many acquired fortunes by the enormous
increases in the value Of land and from
the extensive sugar plantations In the
early days. Their money, easily acquired,
+ WAS put into circulation again in the
. same free and easy manner. and the wild
festivities Of some Of the natives threw
the good missionaries into CONSERVATION.
They saw the work Of long years wrecked
[ unless they could put a stop 10 the mad
fFr frrrff Ia "a
is the result. Ii was a good law, perhaps.
in the hands Of good people. but unfOrJu-
ndtely IL did not remain IN such hands
The wild extravaganza and lust OF the
natives was checked A ildn who spent
more money than his income permitted
was promptly placed under the control Of
Z a guardian. who limited his expenditures
as he saw fit The law gave the courts
authority 10 place in a guardianship trust
any man who was drinking more than he
should. or spending "a greater amount Of
money than his income permitted. The
[ law was made 10 cover almost aGy case
{ Of rZtrdTaEdnCe or FOOLISH expenditure,
and hundreds OF men were forced into a
'Speulthrlit trust which now crowds eE-
/ cry court docket. The estates under this
control amount 10 hundreds Of thousands
| Of dollars No one was exempt from the
provisions Of the law. II man was
drunkard, or spent more than his income
on the application Of an interested party
he could BE- restrained
/ Misconceptions guardians Of these estates
have Wdxed fat and rich, while their
wards are stlu living No one was eX-
! CmDt, even the kings Of the old monarchy
/ were liable t. be placed uude- restraint,
| and old Lunalilo was permitted TO reign.
] bat his royal expenditures for wine were
! limited by the guardian who controlled
/ his fortune
| The reaction has now come. The court
/ d0czets are beginning 20 be filled with ap-
/ pIlcatiCus from men who want their guar
! diauship terminated and tueir keeper dis
/ charged. that they may be allowed 70
! spend the remaining portion OF their for
/ tune themselves. Americans and people
/ Of other nations are not included in this
] law one case. that Of a SCotchmau nam
/ Cd Love, was particularly strong. His
| guardian. an attorney. had been getting
I more from the estate than did his ward
I This ward had &nasScd a competence Of
| nearly SO 30. which he expected to enjoy
1 iu his old age. Six years ago he was
/ placed iu guardianship because ne had
/ been drinking. and now he has applied 20
] the court for relief which has been grant
/ Cd. There are numerous cases OF great
] similarity on the court dOCkcts- The
! Judges now show am inclination to dis
] solve tie gpcudthrifJ trusts when proper
/ showing ig made and the corrupt UTdC-
/ tees engeudsred by the peculiar law seem
/ likely 20 be- stopped