The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-06-26
THE SIX MONTHS
SALARY BILL
THE HOUSE FIGHT oN THE JAP
ANEsE INTERPRETER FOR THE
FIRST CIRCUIT COURT

items Of the japanese Interpreter for
the First Circuit Court TIPS is a
renewal o fthe fight that was made
earlier in the session to compel the re-
instatement by Judge De Bolt of HAIKU
ole A number of lawyers were active
this morning with the members of the
House seeking a sufficient salary for
the position to secure a competent man.
All the judges of the circuit court are
strongly in favor of such a salary. The
bar has expressed itself in favor of
Chester A. Doyle, against whom the
fight in the House is made.
Judge Gear says that in his opinion
it would be "a very serious matter to the
administration of justice if the salary
We're re luceI TO a point that would
rievent competent men from accepting
the position. He expresses very
high opinion of Doyles capacity.
II have not yet found the services Of
translator of japanese necessary"
said Judge Robinson, though there
might be cases where it would be
necessary to read some japanese docu-
ments. The trouble with Mr.. Hakuole
though l had no trouble in cases I
tried with him,-is as l understand it,
that he does not know the Hiroshima
dialect which is spoken by most Of the
Japanese in these islands. Mr.. Ha-
kuole can talk and read fluently the
Japanese which is taught in the Royal
College, but most of the japanese here
speak the other dialect, and l have
been told that this is the principal
trouble.
II do not think the legislature should
| a. OH In, wit
the courts. There are certain officers
which 1t is customary for courts OF
record to have, to aid in the transact
ton of business, and it is customary for
legislatures to provide them. A court
could do without them il it were de-
sirable. A judge could do without a
courtroom in fact and hold sessions In
the street. He could do without bail
| IFS and clerks and stenographers, and
take down the testimony himself in
! longhand. But time would be lost and
expense increased. do not believe in
five-cent policy in dealing with courts
| of record"
II consider Mr.. Doyle" said Judge De
Bolt ito be a most competent inter-
prefer. In fact 1 believe that he IS
about the most competent interpreter
|
hope that he will continue to act in the
capacity of japanese interpreter to the
| courts.
THE members of the House who
have opposed Mr. Doyle, have claimed
that he is not a Japanese translator
and they have argued against his con-
tinuing in the office as interpreter be-
cause he is not translator. 1t is true
hat r. 10 FRO clof httf 10
not in my belief, any hindrance to his
acting as the official interpreter OF the
courts. Tire an, a number of far
more important points to be considered
in the matter of this position, than
that of being able to translate.
During all of my experience here as
an attorney and during the eight
months that 1 have been on the bench,
I do not think that there has ever been
| an occasion that came under my notice.
where the services of Japanese trans
lator were necessary. While there
may be a few notices drawn up in the
Japanese language between Japanese,
the English or Hawaiian languages are
almost in variably used by the Japa-
nese, in preference to their native tom
que. A demand for a translator is
made.
Il have known Mr.. Doyle as a Japa-
nese interpreter before l came on the
bench and since l have been Judge, and
l consider him to be a first class man.
He seems to have the faculty to grasp a
situation and as a result OF this ability
can facilitate the progress of trials. BY
this, l mean that his acquaintance with
courts and with court procedure, en-
ables him to grasp the essential point
OF any question. That he Is able to
do this is shown by the ready and
fluent manner in which he immediate
ly translates a question put by the at
torney or the court, to the witness. He
seems able to present the points clear
ly to the mind of the witness, for there
is seldom any delay in the reply OF
the witnesses. showing that the point
was readily understood by him. There
ia no delay in explaining and repeating
questions.
This ability to conduct the inter-
preting with dispatch, is gratifying
to the court and the attorney. In no
small degree it facilitates the business
OF the court, and indirectly, aids the
other itigants, delays are not occa-
stoned by reason of the inability OF the
interpreter to make himself understood
by the Japanese witnesses, or to inter-
pref their replies. At best, the busi-
ness OF interpreting is not as satisfac-
tory as II all persons could speak in the
official language. The questions and
evidence must come second hand, and
II is therefore, necessary that a tho
roughly competent man should be Sc
cured for the position of interpreter.
Another very essential point to be
considered in the matter OF the Japa-
nese interpreter, is the fact that the
interpreter should be well acquainted
with the English language which Is
the official language OF the courts Ha-
kuole the former interpreter laboreI
under exactly this difficulty. While
perhaps he might have been able to un-