The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1905-02-16


Governors Message of interest and m-
porlouce which were mot published GOO
yesterdays edition of the STAR
The duties of the Governor. as pros-
cribed by law. require that he shall. ou
the converting of the Legislature. and
at such other times as he may deem
proper. inform such body. by message
ion writing, of the condition Of the Ter
ritory and concerning other matters OF
public interest and recommend the
consideration of such measures as to
him shall seem best.
I'm accordance with the foregoing
have the honor to respectfully submit
To the distinguished members who
compose the two houses of the regular
session Of the legislature Of 1905. the
following message.
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 i'm such manner as will prove
us worthy of continued favors i'm the
future.
The biennial period now closing has
been eventful. 1t was marred by an
| industrial depression, the crisis of
which has fortunately passed. During
| it's existence there has been a change
| i'm the executive, a special session of
| the Legislature, the appointment to
| the Supreme Court of new judges, and
| a larger number of minor changes than
usual.
Preceding the last election, for the
first time in our history as a Territory
campaign was made with three po-
litical parties in the field and hence
the result seemed more pronounced
! than at former elections The over
whelming success of any political party
should, among it's representatives,, make
for moderation and caution, and pre-
vent overwhelming confidence from
carrying it to excesses. The check or
balance of a strong minority is neces-
sary for the permanent advancement
of any self-governing community.
The adoption of new election laws to
be submitted to Congress for approval
is, therefore recommended for your
| earnest consideration.
CODE COMMISSION.
This Commission hopes to have on
| the desk of every member of this le-
| gislature at the opening of the session
| a printed volume of the laws as they
exist today.
The task has been greater than an
ticipated, exceedingly intricate, and
much praise is due for the painstakinng
care which these Commissioners have
brought to their work.
| If the very first bill passed by this
Legislature can be one to enact this
work as the sole statute law of the
Territory, then from that moment there
is obtained a starting point for the re-
mainder of your work, as you will then
| each possess a single volume showing
| just what statutes with their amend
ments, are actually i'm existence 1t is
obvious that such course would great
ly facilitate the work of this session
of the Legislature.
FINANCE.
with constantly growing demands
upon the Territory for the exercise of
new functions of the government and
| the extension of those already i'm exist
ence, the problem of limiting the Outgo
and increasing the income without on
the one hand, curtailing the efficiency
of the government or, on the other
hand, of laying undue burdens upon
the taxpayer, becomes one of increas-
| ing Importance and difficulty.
Notwithstanding the many merito-
rious demands upon the Territory, we
ishould devote our attention to retrench-
ment rather than to an increase of
taxation to economy rather than to
| liberality. An excess of running eX-
penses over receipts, in the conduct of
public affairs, indicates bad finance,
and it should be our constant aim to
balance the account by securing the
reduction of expenditures rather than
by an increase of revenues.
We have. with one exception since
annexation, expended more money each
year than our revenue. In January
1904, we were without funds, and Oblig-
ed to register warrants. The County
ACl ndu Deell ueCldI6u llltSdl anu Jul
appropriations were in a chaotic state.
notwithstanding the economies put
into effect and since maintained the
year 1905, will find us without funds
i'm March and again obliged to register
all warrants, borrowing from the peo-
pie, as it were, who have served the
Territory, or sold something to it.
BY carefully economizing, a reason
able margin of revenue over eXpendi-
lures can be produced, and, i'm a few
years, it will be unnecessary to regis
ter warrants. The only other course
that would reach this result is the sub
lection of our people to an extra tax to
pay for past expenditures.
There has been no great variation
in the laws regarding licenses and the
revenue obtained therefrom since 1896
Conditions have changed to such an
extent that some are now no longer
appropriate and there seems no good