The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-03-03
THE PRINTING OF THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE

Il III
l copies This is very small number of copies Of
Governors message to be ordered printed. but
the Legislature probably thought a message so in
consequential and indefinite that Of Governor
Dole vas not worthy of wasting money If So it
is not to be wondered at As pointed out by this
paper few days ago, the Governors message was
more notable for what did not say than for any
thing that it did say
Probably in Territory that ever existed in all
history the United States were there so many
important matters to come before the Legislature
as confront the present Legislature of Hawaii, and
yet not one of these questions was there any
recommendation by the Chief Executive of the Ter
ritory BY the Organic Act large number of the
laws of Hawaii were amended, making the present
civil and criminal code almost worthless Three
pages of the Organic are devoted to enumeratiug
the amendments to the civil and criminal laws of
Hawaii This very naturally suggested much new
legislation and among other things the Importance
Of the creation of code commission to prepare and
codify civil and criminal code for the use of the
Territory. Such commission should be provided
for by the present Legislature and required to re-
port the result of labors the Legislature
Notwithstanding the Importance of this work, not
one word or suggestion with reference to it was
made in the Governors message.
At the time of the election last fall particular
attention drawn to the loosely worded election
law of Hawaii and the need of immediate reform
in regard the establishment of additional election
precincts Following the registration it was found
that nine hundred voters were registered in pre-
cinct in this city 1t was conceded by all that the
election law should be amended and provision made
for the division of large precincts after regis
tration had closed if it should be shown to be
necessary Notwithstanding the Importance OF this
question affecting the franchise of the people. Gov
ernor Dole could nothing in the present
diton of the election laws to be worthy of any
concentration in his message
The present exemption law of Hawaii is a dis
grace to Christian civilization. 1t provides that the
only articles which shall be exempt from execu-
ton forced sale shall be the family bible fami-
y pictures. school books. two swine or six goats
piece of land where kao is growing provided the
does not exceed one-haf acre actually cultiv-
ated for family use, house lot provided the
same does not exceed onequarter of an acre. and the
house thereon does not exceed two hundred and
fifty dollars in value Never in any community sup
posed to be dominated by English laws and English
customs. such infamous exemption law en-
acted this which disgraces the statutes of
Hawaii Yet did Governor Dole in his message see
fit call attention to this disgracefu statute and
recommend any change in it? Not word did
he say about the matter.
1t is important that Hawaii should have home
stead law by which a husband or wife could pre-
homestead free from execution forced sale
and free from alienation In California man can
retain homestead of the value of $4,000 and in
Washington. Oregon Colorado and number of
other western states he can retain a homestead
of the value of $4,000. Many men in the States
who would like to became residents of Hawaii fear
to come here because of this condition of affairs
tn,
and should meet with any misfortune would be
sold out of house and home and left as badly off
as though were a slave" May be the Governor is
like good many others in this community he does
not want to progressive American citizens come
to Hawaii. hence he would prefer to see this in
famous law remain upon the statute books. rather
than modern and progressive laws enacted
Tie Organic Act provided that and after its
taking effect all charged with serious crimes
should be indicted by grand jury The Act ex
pressly declared that until the Legislature should
otherwise provide grand juries should be drawn
in the same manner trial jurors in Hawaii. This
brought about entirely condition of affairs in
Hawaii and it is of the utmost importance that leg
islaton in compliance with this condition should
be enacted yet Governor Dole seemed to be utterly
unaware of the fact he failed to call the Legis
ature's attention to il in his message
The criminal code of the Territory is medieval
in its classification of minor crimes and in the pen
aites it provides. ofenses of the most petty sort
are made heinous by the very nature of the punish
ment provided Petty larceny Is looked upon every
where a crime of but little moment and the pen
atty is not to exceed 800 fine and not TO exceed six
months in JAIL the usual punishment being three
months in Jail or workhouse. Here in Hawaii the
punishment is Imprisonment hard labor not to
exceed two years. fine not TO exceed $1,000 II
the fine We're imposed to its limit a would have
to serve in the penitentiary for FIVE and one-half
years. at the fftycena-day rate allowed prisoners
in Hawaii in order work out his me- If the limit
of the law imposed for his ofense. Under this
law an offender must be indicted by the grand jury
and then tried by petit jury in the circuit court
Only the first of last week a man was arraigned
in the circuit court the charge of petit larceny
The grand jury wasted least day in considering
his case. and some time wasted in the circuit
court in reading the indictment and in the subse-
quens plea When the case was finally called for
trial one day was consumed in selecting jury and
hearing the case. with result that the man was
found guilty and to three months in jail
Ii cost the Territory over $500 to try man for an
inconseQuential ofense of piifering some triiing
article valued at about eleven dollars All this
could be avoided il the proper laws were enacted.
There is reason why these petty oifenses should