The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-07-20
BETWEEN THE HORNS

Legislature. There was no necessity,
save political noe, which protracted
the passage of the appropriation bills
till the very last days of a sixty day
session. Cut out all the gas and hot
air which has been daily let off in the
House and Senate, and the actual
working time might have been brought
down to fifteen or twenty days. At the
very outside thirty days would have
done everything that was required and
the question of the loan could have
been discussed during the later half of
the session.
But this was by no means the desire
of our solons. those founts of wisdom
that have alternately spouted forth
venom or gas. They wanted an extra
session and they wanted it for a very
distinct purpose. il was not a burn
ing, patriotic desire to do good to the
Territory or to their fellow citizens that
inspired them. Of course they would
like to have everyone think so. 1t was
and is the very prosaic desire to re-
ceive two hundred dollars as pay for
the session and what perquisites and
emoluments might fail in the way of
an honest yet acquisitive legislator.
There is, however, no necessity for
an extra session, the present session has
been extended for fourteen days by the
Governor, and the Legislature has used
up two days of the time in saying what
it would not do. 1t is not ignorant of
what is required by the Territory but
1t practically says, as far as the Terri
tory is concerned, we don't care a hang.
Give us two hundred dollars apiece and
you shall have all you want but the
debts of the Territory and the public
works of the Territory are nothing to
US. Territorial credit is a matter of in
difference, and as for public works they
can wait for another two years.
However, the opportunity for
strengthening the things out has been
given them, and they have failed to
take advantage Of the opportunity
That they reco- lize that they have had
that opportunity is shown by the fact
of their meeting and doing business on
Il.
They have not challenged the right of
the Governor to extend the session.
They have acquiesced in it. But they
say we will do nothing in an extended
session, we must have an extra session
and-two hundred dollars. 1t is really
dirt cheap, a whole Legislature for
$4,000. Prices are higher on the MAIN
land.
How can the Governor believe that
these men would do anything more dur
ing the extra session of sixty days than
they have done in the two sessions of
one hundred and twenty days plus a
set of caucus meetings which occupied
sixty days more. He would be a very
credulous Governor indeed. The Legis-
lature might promise what they pleas
ed, might make any agreement that
they pleased but he would know that
no such agreement need be kept. The
Governor can not make an illegal con-
tract with the Legislature, He would
only meet with obloquy if he did.
The whole blame and the sole blame |
in the matter lies with the Legislators, !
or with the majority of them. They
hoped that the Governor would veto
portions of the appropriation bills ,
They circulated stories to that effect |
and were most grievously disappointed
when he only vetoed one item, which
was distinctly illegal, and which veto
they were obliged to- support.
Superintendent Boyd in speaking of
this matter practically says that the
Legislators have cut off their noses to
spite their faces. Were the loan bill !
passed our regular revenue would be
increased. He cited the building of
wharves as an example. The wharves
projected would soon pay for them /
selves in revenue which would be added .
TO the money available for current ex-
penses, while we would only be paying
small rate of interest upon the mo-
ney expended for construction. But the
concluding words of Mr.. Boyd's inter-
view are the strongest indictment. He
said:
IF there is no loan bill, it win be
simply because of a desire upon the
part of the legislators to vent personal
spite. If they are willing to stop all
progress for two. years for this pur-
pose, they must do it,"
There could not be a stronger indict-
ment than this. The purpose of the
majority of the Legislators is laid bare
and the responsibility for public works
coming to a standstill and Hawaiian
credit being shaken, lies where it
should, at the door of the Legislature.
Before many months are over the peo-
pie will realize the fact