The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-02-16

ernor Carter to the Legislature
Gentlemen of the Senate and House:
At the dawn Of an industrial era,
bright with hope and full of promise
for the future, you are assembled here
| to consider the welfare of Hawaii Nei,
whose loyal people you represent.
Devoutly grateful to Him who holds
our destiny in His hand, for the bless
ings vouchsafed us in the past, let Us
| discharge the duties now devolving up
on us in such manner as viii prove us
worthy of continued favors in the fu-
| ture.
The biennial period now closing has
| been eventful. 1t was marred by an
industrial depression. the crisis of which
| has fortunately passeu. During its ex-
/ istence there has been a change in the
| executive, a special session of the Leg
! islature. the appointment to the Su-
preme Court of new Judges, and larg-
| er number of minor changes than usual
! Precealng the last election for the
| first time In our history as a Territory,
a campaign was made with three politi-
cal parties in the field and hence the
result seemed more pronounced than at
| former elections. The overwhelming
success of any political party should,
moderation and caution, and prevent
overwhelming confidence from carrying
it to excuses. The check or balance of
strong minority is necessary for the
| permanent advancement of any self
governing community.
If your work at this session is/to
stand the test of time and meet the APP
proval of the future, it must be done
thoroughly The volume of legislation
is no indication of its value!
The principal work of .any Legisla
ture may be divided into two classes:
The amending and repea1ing of existing
| laws, and the enactmsht of new laws.
Too much law is<as bad for a com
munIty as too little law. You should
first be thoroughly satisfied that any
and next, that the law making a change
is clear ip| it's expression, and as con
else in Rs language as it can be made.
In some legislative assemblies there
is a/committee appointed to which all
biHs are referred before they are print
sd, and it pass on the necessity of
measure; sometimes a joint committee
of both houses $ appointed to rectify
clerical errors and insure the intent of
the bill by the correct use of words and
punctuation.
The record made at the special ses
sion for businesslike dispatch of its
work and economy in its expenses can
not easily be euualed. Credit for part
of this commendable record has, by
some, been accorded to me, but, in jus
tice It beicpes entirely to the members
of that Legislature, who recognizing
the critical financial situation of their
country, devoted themselves exclusive
lv to its immediate needs and thereby
gained the confidence of the whole com
munity.
ELECTIONS.
The whole structure of our Govern
sment depends upon the will of the vot-
.er. We build according to the degree
3Of intelligence used in casting the bal |
lot. The character of Government de-
pends upon our valuation of this privi |
lege. An honest erection, expressing |
the free Will of those who vote, IS es-
sential as a foundation for our edifce. |
Our old election laws, re-enacted by |
the Organic Act, were not devised with |
party organization in view. While, |
perhaps, suitable for individual con
tests, they are no longer adequate.
The most modern method, possessing |
the greatest simplicity and insuring the |
greatest CELEBRITY and liberty with the |
least opportunity for the accusation of |
fraud, is machine voting. 1t eliminates
all those questions which produce con
tests concerning the legality of the bal
lot. Its cost Is not serious in consider
alton of its satisfactory results and the
certainty with which it expresses
the intention of the voter New
York and New jersey were the
pioneers in the adoption and use of vot-
ing machines, which have steadily won
their way in the face of much opposi-
tion. California tried the experiment
last year to its satisfaction. The new
Governor of Massachusetts. in his first
message to the Bay State Legislature,
recommends the adoption of the voting
machine. Our people should not be sat
isfied to use those latest checks and
which experience with the
ballot has devised. while the more
states are discarding the
whole ballot system. Let Hawaii profit
by the experience of others and adopt
the most modern methods.
The adoption of new election laws to
be submitted to Congress for approval
earnest consideration.
FINANCE.
With constantly growing demands up
IN the Territory for the exercise OF
new functions of the Government and
he extension of those already in exist
nee, the problem of limiting the outgo
md increasing the income without O. ,
he one hand curtailing the efficiency OF
he Government or. on the other hand. / :
f laying undue burdens upon the tax :
,aver, becomes one of increasing i'm
,ortance and difficulty