The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-05-08
LEGlsLATIvE INDIscRETIoN.

Wednesday gave itself over TO an ex-
hfbition of pettishness which is seldom
| eouaIed. and as one OF the results il
may be expected that there will be nc
overmastering anxiety on the part OF
capitalists, to secure bonds of the Ter
ritory of Hawaii 1t has been recogniz-
ed, even by the Home Rule Legisla-
ture, that the bounty voted to the
Oahu Railway and Land Company
years ago, under which franchise the
road was constructed, constituted the
consideration in a contract which has
become binding upon the parties
equally.
The amount now due was placed in
the appropriation bin by the Finance
Committee in accordance with recon-
mendations, and in recognition of that
first business principle. that contracts
must be kept if there is to be high
standard of credit maintained. 1t was
reached in the House on the second
reading OF the bill providing for cur
rent accounts The clerk had not fin
ished reading before, with a rush,
there were a half dozen motions to cut
out the item, and without a word Of
debate the motion prevailed, the men
who voted for 1t laughing as though
they had done something for which flu
ture generations would arise and bless
their memory.
1t is impossible to predict exactly
the effects of this move. but it would
be more deeply deplorable than it is,
If It was not perfectly certain that the
same men will later take up the tactics
of the King of France. and march down
the hill once more 1t would be a seri-
Gus handicap with which to go into the
money markets of the United States
to sell bonds, already authorized to the
amount of $4,000. 900. the record that
the Legislature had repudiated a debt
incurred by the representatives of the
people. and recognized by preceding
legislative bodies
Quite in line with this was the care
with which the members cut out of the
bill small items for Honolulu, and es-i
pecially for the convenience of the De-
partment of Public Works. Not only
the other island members but as well
a faction of the Oahu men seemed to
outdo themselves in vitriolic enmity to
the department, trying TO cripple it in
every small way. The result can be
only to hamper the workings of this
office upon which so much will depend
for the next six months. The work of
putting through needed improvements
for the counties must be done speedily
and well. The preparations must be
gone over carefully, yet the members
seem animated by desire to cripple
the department. Showing how far the
enmity of the members goes, the item
for numbering houses in Honolulu,
81, 200. was stricken out after a heated
speech by Kumalae. Not even the !
of his fellows, that mail de-
iveries must depend upon the num- !
bering of houses, would influence the !
Fourth District man, and the out CT
town members were only too glad I'd |
reduce the Honolulu items.
There came change over the spirit
IF their dreams once the out of town |
figures were reached. The adding of
ia, 900 for fire engines for Maui brought |
shouts of glee from the Honolulu men
who had fought the items for their
own city; $4,000 for homestead roads /
IN Hamakua was voted with a Icadi- /
ness which pleased the members and !
every other district on the big island |
asked, except where it was found that |
some plantation might share in the
benefits.
1t was most interesting indeed to
see that the members have not even /
attempted to carry out the snirit of |
heir own resolution, passed on Mon
lay, declaring for pro rata appropria-
ions for the counties, on the basis of
values. If the present course /
S pursued it is easy to see that there
will be no money for the carrying !
through of the improvements author |
zed, nor will there be any sums to |
turn over to the counties when they
begin business. Care must be taken if /
the appropriations are to be kept with |
in the amounts that will be available
for their payment. and indiscriminate
wherever there is a de-
mand. viii mean that the work cannot
be carried out, and that the country
will find itself next year where it has
been for the past two years.
The coming of Mr. Sargent, which is
imminent. win give several people a
chance to explode bombs. Since the
Senatorial Commission was here things
have been uncommonly quiet, save for