The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1907-03-05
FIXING PAY
OF LABOR
sENATE-NINTH DAY.

cepting the thlrty tnousanu leueTa GA
pense dollars that impelled President
Bishop to say it was "like swallow
ing dose of castor oil" or whether
he was expressing, what he believed
to be, the experience of the opponents
of the resolution is not known but the
fact remains: There is a sore spot
on the Senatorial body.
In the past, when the expense of
the session of the Legislature was paid
from the pockets of the local tax
payers, there was no special care taken
as to the amount of economy to be
exercised. Now, it is said, there will
be difference, for it is not the wish
of the Hawaiian legislators to have
Congress intimate at any time in the
future that they were extravagant dur
ing the 1907 session. And as all
of the money has to be accounted for,
with bona fide vouchers. there is to be
an effort made to keep out of the
list anything bordering on wilful ex-
travagance or luxuries.
One item of expense that has already
caught the eye of those members who
would make good record, is the print
ing of bills that are frequently in
troduced as policy measures, for the
purpose of making good campaign
pledges. The introducers of such bills
have no idea they will pass but on
the contrary are morally certain their
death will occur after they have left
the Printing committee. This opinion
is strong enough, in some of the men,
bers, with leaning toward con-
servatism, to warrant the belief that
there will be change of the rules
guiding the conduct of bills in the Sen
ate. The desire is to have all of them
go first to committee, to be passed
upon, then, when reported back, go
before the Senate for action. 1t is
not until bill has been reported upon
favorably that the members have auy
particular concern in it nor any use
for a printed copy.
Another matter relates to clerk hire.
The stenographer of the House receives
ten dollars day for his services, which
is not a whit too much, if he transcribes
his notes free of charge. On top of
this he is to get, it is said, ten dollars
a day for his services as clerk to com
mittees If this be true he will be
winner of, approximately, thirty dol
lars, some say forty odd, day, which
is easily twice the pay of the Governor
and three times the pay of the genial
Secretary. A member of the lower
house said on Saturday that it was
too much to give one man when there
are so many other capable men look
ing for employment, so that aside from
the tremendous expense there seems to
be an apparent objection to the I'M
Just distribution of the biennial plums.
In the Illinois Legislature such posi-
tions carry five dollars per day and
no extras.
These were subjects for buttonhole
conversations on Saturday which may
develop into bones to pick over before
the end of the week.
Saturday was short day and con
sequently the Senators contented them
selves with the introduction, rather
than the passage, of bills. Those men
toned for the first time were:
By Senator Lane, an act providing
for the appointment of tax collectors
and assessors, by the Governor, with
the consent of the Senate. At present
the appointment of these officials is
made by the Treasurer by and with
the consent of the Governor.
By Senator Hewitt, an act providing
for the exemption from taxes for five
years from January !, 1908, of all
lands used in the cultivation and pro-
duction of sisal fiber, castor oil, vanilla
extract, Hawaiian starch and manioca
starch.
BY Senator Lane, an act incorporat'
ing the City and County of Honolulu.
This has no relation to any other bill
bearing the same brand.
Following the reading of the journal
the clerk read communication from
the House announcing the passage of
the amended resolution covering the
acceptance of the stringed appropria-
tion.
1t was this that occasioned the re-
mark by Senator Coelho that the mem.
bers were being held up and that the
string was tied to the resolution In
order to make the Legislature ayaila.
BILE only to those with money.
With the passage of tho bill came
motion from Senator Brown, guardian
of school interests on Hawaii, that Il
recess of five minutes be taken in or.
der that the clerk might have time
to get the resolution to the Governor.
There is suspicion that the Sphinx
of the Senate knew the approximation