The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-03-14
THE CENSORSHIP THAT IS NEEDED,

One of the offices that is the sorely needed has
unfortunately, no existence This the position of CEN
to the legislature. Such officer actual neces
sy Several instances Of the need for his services have
occurred during the present Legislature There al
most daily occurrences during the previous session
much different individual would be required the pre-
sent session however than that at the last This time he
would have to be armed with blue pencil last time he
would have needed a club
The principal for having such officer during
the sessions of the Legislature prevent the ntroduc
ton and passage of measures that unconstitutional
That the time of The Legislature should occupied by
the consideration of measures that are built upon the
sand of uncOnstitutionalty is injustice to the
nifty 1t certainly reflects upon the Legislative and legal
sagacity of the who enact such OF what
merit is it that legislature should enact of laws
that afterwards declared unconstitutional none
whatever. Tie legislators are our law makers and the
good of the cOmmonWeal demands that they should make
good laws. -
AS illustration of the need of a censor measure
introduced lately in the legislature There is no
occasion to state in which branch it introduced The
bill sought to prohibit the employment of Asatics the
water front Of Honolulu The Japanese for the
designed to prevent the employment of Japanese as
stevedores have full treaty rights in the United States
so have other foreigners tlf7. '."P o.
The other day in the Senate bill was introduced on
behalf of the dental interests of this community. The
bill had been drafted by them it is understood and was
presented for Them the ntroducer of the simply
intending that it should be discussed The general OBJ
Jects Of the measure perhaps cOrrct for they
sought to protect the community from itinerant
competent dental practitioners bill however is
one clause providing effect that who had ever
been convicted of felony should be permitted to prac
hce dentistry in the territory Aside from it being I'M
just the provision is unconstitutional. Why should not
person be permitted to practice dentistry any other
business for that matter if he is able to show he is
petent to do SO? The fact that man might have
served term in the penentiary does necessarily
fit him for practicing his profession. The bill might
with more reason have said that who ate onions
could practice dentistry The average person would
greatly prefer to have his dental work done bv a COM
USp0 aIIy
petent man who breathed of onions or garlic.
Some other Legislature might in moment of resent
ment, enact law that nobody who had ever been mem
Der OF this legislature could engage in the grocery bust
ness or drive hack or pound poi for a living.
In fact the possibilities of this proposed censorship
so great and vast that it would be well for the present
Legislature take it up. the Senate Yesterday sup
gestion of this sort was made .,,
The object in having the censor is to check the intro
auction and consideration of foolish measures The
sion of the Legislature is at best long enough only to en-
able to devote its time to the consideration of rea
s0nable laws. Time can and should not be wasted
me censor would be able to keep the calendar of
clear of foolish measures that could stand legal test
even If they were passed. The members the egsla-
ture can not be expected to all possess legal training
They should therefore take legal advice when it is pro-
posed to enact laws for the government of their
tuents.
The suggestion Of censor will perhaps have sweet
sound i'll the ears of many legislators They see before
them another plum that be knocked into the hungry
nav OF some political brother The interests of economy
demand That no additional offices should be created The
attorney generals department might serve in this cana
city some representative of that Office be detailed
to wait upon the legislature and give to the various men
DcIs an expression as to whether their proposed bills
were cons ttutional If the opinion adverse the
member should discard his bill If however he were not
satisfied he might introduce the bill but it sbould he
made very apparent to the members of the legislature
Iat the Dill had been declared unconstitutional by the
censor The idea of having such official to cur
tan IN any way the proper prerogatves of legislature
out SIMPLY to put check upon the introduction of un-
wise DIS that can be knocked out. The time of the
legislature should not be wasted upon their considera
uon There are some who would favor extending the
duties or the censor to include all foolish freak bills like
the Lady Dog bllfor'instance. The most effective
censor for such legislation before people are ever
allowed to get into the legislature
800 Co.,
MR. DOOIEY ON MUNICIPAL TAYuC