The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-06-13
a PRACTICAL PROTEST

writes Senator II. L. BALDWIN, and II
does not seem likely that the Senator
will return to his seat unless the Legis-
lature develops streak of working
spirit which it has not shown itself
capable of up to the present This is a
practical comment upon the actions of
the Legislature.
Senator Baldwin is a strictly conser-
vative man. He is a man who COM
mands not only the respect of his own
party but he has the respect and con-
fidence of those who are politically OPP
posed to him. His influence in the Lee
Eislature has always been for harmony
and the advancement of the Territory,
and he has been willing to neglect his
own large private interests for the
public good. But even a man of such
conservative thought and such unset
fishness, finds that there is a limit to
endurance If there were anything to
do even if there We're anything to COM
bat and reason over, Senator Baldwin
would be on hand but to sit day after
day, and adjourn from morning till al
ternoon, and simply waste time, ac-
complishing nothing, revoIts man of
the Senator's active mental habits, and
drives him to the course he has taken.
When one looks back to February
when the Legislature met, and the fair
promises that were then made, and then
considers that this is the middle of June
with absolutely nothing accomplished;
it does seem a very melancholy pros
pect. The interests of the Territory
have been utterly neglected. There is
very nearly a business depression in
stead of a business boom, which there
would have been had the government
finances been put on the basis that
they should have been, and it is only
the grand natural resources of the
country and the energy of the COM
mercial community which make it rise
above the legislative tragedy which is
being enacted at the capitol. For it is
tragedy though many of the scenes
are absolutely farcical.
Senator Baldwin"s protest naturally
makes one think of the amount of time
used, up to the present The Home
Rule party had a clear n ajority in the
two houses. In the Senate the party
block the Governors veto, and have
the entire Legislature absolutely at the
mercy of the party. AS it was the pow
er of the Republicans was nil. This
was shown by the way in which any
measure emanating from the Repub-
licans was promptly knocked on the
head.
For two months before the Legisla-
ture met, the Home Rulers held daily
and nightly caucus meetings These
meetings We're strictly secret and no
one was supposed to reveal the deli !
berations. During those sixty DAYS the
mem ,ers of the party were supposed to
be preparing their bills and as soon as
the Legislature opened these bills
would be put through with a rush. the
appropriations would be made accord
ing to the previous plans of the Home
Rulers, and the Governors figures
would be put entirely to one side.
One would have thought that sixty
days of caucus must have brought some
result. But when the Legislature open-
ed' there was no appearance of any re-
suits from the sixty days chattering.
The time had apparently been taken up
in considering what they might do. not
what they would do. Not single bill
of those which We're so much Wanted
and so much needed, made it's appear
ance. Instead came frivolous mea-
sures from the taking off of the three
dollar tax upon lady-uogs TO the reg
uIatlon of the strength of coffee in
Chinese restaurants.
Inc tax bill, the county bill, the new
election law, The anti-liquor bill, the
municipal act. and dozen Others ".,,I"'.
should have had instant consideration
upon the opening of the Legislature
We're none of them ready. Only two of
them really made their appearance on d,
the scene, and this well on in the SEES
sion. DR.. I,ussels Dispensary bill came
before the Senate and was there knitted
by its own party. 1t was an honest
bill and strove to carry out the Doctors
rather Utopian ideas, nut it was fore
doomed, though it's progenitor did not
know it. Its death knell was rung when
the Caucuses We're going on.
The county bill made its appearance
=
on the scene somewhat late in the ses-
sion. 1t was fearfully and wonderful
ly made. 1t was absolutely unintel
ligible in many parts. 1t was illogical,
ungrammatical, right down crazy. 1t
was travesty of a bill. A committee
took it in hand and pared away more
than one half of it, and even then left
1t in such rotten shape that though
1t passed the houses, no sane man in
authority could sign it. The story of
how it passed the houses must never be
forgotten. 1t passed the lower house
in immature shape with the idea that
the Senate would prune out the crudi-
ties. The Home Rulers in the Senate
would have no. advice or discussion,
and the bill was passed crudities and all
10 Onapt a naeapxraH fafa r. |