The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-02-27

Senator Kaiue filed his place very sat
isfactorily in offering prayer. The min
utes were read and approved.
A communication was received from
the clerk of the House stating that tn
House had unanimously adopted Sen
ator Achis statehood resolution, am
1t was ordered forwarded to the Pres
ident and other officials to whom 1t va
addressed.
LAND IRREGULARITIES.
Senator McCandless stated for thu
special session public lands COMMITTEES
that a thorough examination had beer
made of the books of the Land once
and apparent irregularities and ols'
crepancies were discovered, which coulc
not be verified because of the Illness
and absence of Land Commissioners
Boyd. A report from A. Barnes, the
expert who had examined the books
was also appended, giving in detail the
Irregularities, which, in the greater
part, were instances of failure to pay
for leases, etc, when due. A showing
was made of persons and parties who
| owed the government back rent, ac-
cording to the books. Mr.. Barnes stated
| also that a complete revision of the
| bookkeeping system of the department
was urgently needed and added, IN
| justice to the office, that this had been
| impossible because of the refusal OF
the last Legislature to give the appro-
priatiorr asked for necessary clerks.
| On motion of Senator McCandless the
report was adopted and referred TO the
regular committee on public lands for
further investigation.
Senator c. Brown reported the print
ing of a number of bills, which were
ordered distributed.
Senator McCandless stated that he
wished to explain in regard to the
emergency appropriation. He said that
he had understood that only the Public
Works appropriations had been referred
to his committee. He said, however,
that there would be a joint meeting of
committees from both houses, and an
emergency appropriation bill would be
reported within a few days.
KAOHE GOES FOR HEALTH
BOARD.
Senator Kaohe gave notice of the fol-
lowing bills: All act to repeal the
vaccination laws; an act to amend the
penal laws relating to the Board Of
Health: and an act amending the penal
laws relating to the regulations of the
Board of Health. Bills similar to these
have already been introduced in the
House
GENERAL FRANCHISE BILL.
Senator Kalauokalani read his bill
authoSi7lng any corporation owning an
electric light plant capable of furnish
ing light for 10000 lamps to have the
use of the streets. All wires within the
business districts must be laid under
ground, and the company Is required
to establish each year a uniform sched-
ule of prices for furnishing electricity.
The bill passed its first reading, and
was ordered printed.
TO PAY PILOTS.
Senator Crabbe introduced his bill
relating to the compensation of pilots,
and it was given it's first reading and
ordered printed. 1t provides for the
compensation of pilots by tonnage;
$3.50 per foot on boats of under 500 |
tons burden, and 81 for over. Provision
is made also for plotting boat from
outside, and for compensation in case
of detention on board a vessel for "a
hours or over. Vessels entering the
harbor without pilot are made liable |
for pilotage fees.
The bill does away with the compen- |
sation of pilots under the present sys-
tenn by which the Territory pays them, |
and it is Identical in form with the |
California law
Kalauokalani's bill increasing the tax |
rate to 2 per cent was given it's second |
reading and referred to the committee |
on ways and means.
DISCUSSION OF SMALL FARMING.
The second reading of the act for the !
protection of horticulture brought |
about discussion of small farming, |
sisal and other industries. Senator {. |
Brown stated that he was in favor of |
the bill, excepting as to Section 5, pro- |
viding for punishment for violations of |
the provisions of the law. He argued |
that to permit of fine of $500 and inn /
prisonment for two years for a viola |
ton. within the discretion of the |
magistrate, was too severe. especially |
in cases of this kind. where importation |
of insects. pests. etc, were not inten-
tional. but were likely to be brought in !
without the knowledge of the consignee. /
He said that the fine of $500 was suffi-
cient punishment without the prison
penalty, and if the law was found to
be insufficient it could be later amended.
Senator Brown spoke also of the sue
cess of the sisal industry, and of the /
shipment of fifty bales n month to San
Francisco. He stated that it wasn't
a good thing to place all our eggs in
one basket, that though the sugar in
dustry should be cared for. still not to
the exclusion of everything else. Sisal
did not interfere with sugar. anyway,
as it was grown on rocky ground, where
sugar could not be cultivated. He said
that in the Kouas there was lots of this
same kind of land, and that no pests
Bermuda. should be allowed to come
into Hawaii.
Senator Isenberg accepted the amend
ment, and stated that the bill is the
same as is in force in California, ex-
,epting the Objectionable section. which
had been put in at the instance of local
parties. He thought also that the small i