The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-01-13
NEW EXEMPTION LAws.NEEoeo.

In an article calling attention TO the importance
of inducing emigration Of intelligent white man
TO these Islands last Sunday. The Republican
called attention to the need of amending the pres
ent infamous exemption Law of Hawaii Every State
west Of the Allegheny mountains has enacted liberal
exemption laws in order to induce the emigration of
Intelligent white men The states farthest west have
more liberal than those of the Mississippi
but in none OF them mas the amount held free from
execution and forced sale been less than $500. in
California homestead TO the value of $4,000 is
empt and in nearly all the Rocky Mountain states
the value exempt is not less than $1,000.
When one investigates the laws of Hawaii and
sees how they were made solely In the interests Il
the rich and against the poor he does wonder that
visitors Hawaii have gone away charging that the
missionaries robbed the natives The exemption
clause of the law judgments and executions is
simply Infamous in Its harshness- Read it:
Sec. 1883. The following property when
owned by any person being housekeeper,
and having family, shall be exempt from
levy and sale execution
THE family Bible, family pictures and
school books two swine six goats, and air
necessary FISH, meat, flour and vegetables,
and piece Of land where kaio is growing,
any other vegetable, provided the seme
cultivated for family use, likewise house
lot not to exceed onequarter of an acre, and
the dwelling house and other buildings
thereon situated providing the value there
of shall not exceed two hundred and fifty
dollars. But this exemption shall not apply
to mechanics and material for labor
performed and material furnished in the
erection of such buildings All necessary
wearing apparel mats beds, bedsteads
bedding for such person and his family.
One poi board TWO caiabashes, one 90. one
table, six chairs, six knives and forks. six
plates, six teacups and saucers, sugar
dish, one milk pot. teapot, coffee
pot and six spoons. The tools and nipple
rents of any mechanic necessary for
rying his trade business, not exceed
ing fifty dollars in value"
The liberaty of this exemption law will strike
the average American about the most iniqutois
piece of legislation enacted by white men, even
where they ruled so-called inferior people. A
native would very naturally feel nike reading the
Bible after being sold out of house and home On
execution under the laws of Hawaii With such legis
lation it is TO be at that the natives did
not arise and drive the ruling into the sea
houselot not to exceed onequarter of an acre and
house not exceeding $3.50 in value. What sort 4
house can any one purchase in Hawaii for $3.50,
we would like to ask? Perhaps in the early days a
grass hut might have been purchased for that
but today cannot build howell of one room for
that and supply the necessary plumbing as re-
qured in this city
hat sort of white settlers can Hawaii expect
to induce TO come here long as she has such in
famous laws this upon her statute books? Not
that all white settlers swndlers and would come
here expecting to take the benefit of any exemption
law after running into debt, but the most careful
man is likely to become embarrassed some time in
his life. Former Vice-Presdent Levi p Morton
went to the wall many years ago. but he recovered
today multimillionaire.
Imagine the inducement there would have been
for Levi p Morton try rehabilitate himself in
the world il the statutes of New York had only per-
mitted him to retain houselot not exceeding one
quarter of an and the dwelling and other build
ings thereon situated. provided they did exceed
in value two hundred and fifty dollars: and in ad-
dition thereto he had only permitted to retain
his family Bible table. six chairs six knives and
forks six spoons, six plates, six teacups
and the few other little things enumerated in the
exemption law of Hawaii And yet the men VINO
enacted that law called themselves Christians Out
on such Christianity; twas devsh it was worse
than devilish
The first act of the coming Legislature should he
to repeal this seston and provide for the exemption
OF homestead to the value of not less than SO 900