The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1903-05-26
IN THE HOUSE.

IN THE HOUSE.
When the House had met the Speaker
laid before it the opinion of Assistant
Attorney General Weaver, that the
House was within its rights when it
adjourned from Saturday until Thurs
day, which was read in full. The APP
plication of Cushing's rules and the
reasoning of Mr. Weaver were brought
together to sustain the House, and
there were cited several points as to
what might result the contention be-
ing that should there be an illegal ad-
journment it would simply affect the
duty of the members rather than the
validity of their future acts, or in other
words had the motion been an Illegal
one it would have been without effect
and avoid, and the Speaker should have
called the session to order at the legal
time and minority could then com
pei the attendance of the absentees.
WHY PUMPS STOPPED.
Superintendent of Public Works
Cooper sent to the House the report
of Andrew Brown reciting the reasons
why the pumps We're shut down. and
precautions taken to protect the city
from fire.
Paele reported lne iAlilaid
claim committee and asked for further
time, which was granted.
AGAINST BOND ISSUE.
Kumalae reported for the special
committee on the Fire Claim bonds,
against the appropriation of $32,6 for
the making good of the holders should
they sell them at the discount now pro-
posed on the ground that the action
would be in contravention of the law
of Congress authorizing the bonds,
which provides that the Territory
shall sell the bonds at not less than
par.
Wright. in the minority, saying that
the opinion of f. I. Spalding, of
Spreckels bank. should be given con-
sideration, asked that the appropria-
ton be $4,000. Mr.. Spalding said the
bonds might be handled at ninety-five
per cent
On motion of Nakaleka the salaries
of the officers of the House We're made
the same for the special session that
they We're during the regular session.
HACKFELD WHARF AGAIN.
Taking up the Unpaid Bills appro-
priation measure the Hackfeld wharf
item was read. Vida, who as chairman
of the Public Expenditures Committee
during the regular session, had prepar-
ed a strong report favoring cutting
down the appropriation by some $1,000,
announced that the committees expert
had not informed the members that
the receipts from this wharf We're go-
ing to the government, and the adverse
report was made on the supposition
that Hackfeld & Co. were in receipt
nf ha ha ba,. .fa 10
therefore moved that the item pass as
in the bill He showed that the re-
ceipts of the wharf since August last
from this wharf were over $500 or
about 21a per cent on the cost price
while the Legislature will repay Hack
field 4 Co. at the rate of six per cent
for the money advanced. He praised
the public spiritedness of Hackfeld &
Co, saying that the firm was even now
paying salaries of certain officials who
were assisting the Board of Health in
keeping the city in a sanitary condi-
tion.
Chillingworth seconded Vida's posi-
tion and FernaneZ withdrew his motion
TO strike out the item and said that he
would support the item as he believed
the claim a legitimate one. Kaniho
urged an investigation by special COM
mittee.
BECKLEY WANTS TO KNOW.
Speaker Beckley took up the fight
saying that he thought there was
something shady in the matter alleg-
ing that Cotton Bros. had the inside
track. He called attention also to the
fact that Cotton Bros. now owes the
government for the old dredger lost at
Pearl Harbor. He began to scatter a
bit after this referring to the fact that
officials must be taught to not usurp
legislative functions; saying the six per
cent interest to be charged was in
great contrast to the revenues; that
while ii was easy to get slOS,OOO for a
wharf II was not possible to keep
pumps going for water for the city;
that while he wanted the government
TO pay all bills there should be inves-
tigation by committee. He asked for
all vouchers which was ordered and
after Vida had agreed that the pro-
cedure was irregular, but that the
amount was necessary to meet legiti-
mate bills, the item was deferred so
that there might be some further facts
discovered TO the House.
The committee rose and the House
L.