The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-03-20

further confirms and ratifies all
changes of name made by decree of
the Governor, or by the President of
the Republic of Hawaii, or by any king
or queen of Hawaii. The bill passed
first reading.
LEGAL LIGHTS CLASH.
Sheldon's bill providing for the en-
ployment of a court counsel for per-
sons charged with felony was brought
up, having been left on the table
pending the introducer's return. The
| Judiciary committee had reported fav-
orably, with Rawlins and Long refus-
ing to concur. Rawlins explained his
| opposition, which was to the effect
that except in cases of murder he
thought it unwise for the government
to help those under trial. The people
had to pay to enforce the law and he
saw no need of having also to pay to
help those who broke it.
Kaleiopu thought it clear on the
face of the law that only the attorneys
would benefit, who would get the peo-
pies money for defending the violators
| of the laws.
Sheldon said that he was an attor-
ney himself and at times cases other
than those of capital offenses had had
counsels for the defense appointed for
/ them. The limit of $50 for a fee, as
set by the bill, would not be so much
of a. bait for attorneys. who kept out
of sight now when there was an as
signment to be made with a low fee,
but who hocked around when a fat
fee was in prospect.
Long, the other dissenting member
of the judiciary committee, said that
it was on his suggestion that Judge
De Bolt had recommended the passage
of a bill making an assigned attor-
ney's fee 800 in a capital charge. He
had been assigned to case in the
courts and learned that it took money
to make a defense in a murder trial,
and in that case the money had to
come out of his own pocket or not
come at all He had secured mitiga-
ton of sentence but came to the opin-
ion then that defending murder in the
first degree was not a paying business.
He opposed the adoption of the re-
port as it had the effect of creating
a lawyers trust. He would rather see
the bill go to the waste basket than pass
in it's present shape. AS it stood a
judge or magistrate could appoint his
particular legal friends to all cases and
Of criminals.
Sheldon closed the debate. He was
surprised at his very learned friend. |
How about his little anti BILL which |
says a man cannot treat another in a |
bar and now he says this bill should |
go to the waste paper basket. The |
speaker was wroth and showed il.
A show of hands tabled the COM |
mittee's report and took the bill along |
with it.
ANOTHER LEGAL BILL.
Long introduced a measure amending |
Section 1861 of the Revised Laws, re-
Iating to arrest of judgment and stay
of execution in any action when an
appeal has been duly taken and per-
fected.
THE SALARY GRAB.
The House went into Committee of
the Whole to consider the amendments
to the County Act fixing new salaries
for all county officials. This bill was
looked upon as a good thing for the
payment of debts to county friends and
the play was made in the very first
item, that of the salary of supervisors,
which Kaleiopu moved be made $500
a year instead of $500.
Rice said he had noted no hesita-
ton on the part Of any supervisor to
keep out because of a low salary.
Kahana seconded the raise, citing the
big travelling expenses OF the Hawaii
in excuse. Akau thought
that as the Hawaii men paid them
selves mileage they had done all right
by themselves.
Correa wanted the raise He thought
that a raise all round would be a good
move and in the right direction
Rice believed a man was worthy of
his hire, but $50 for two or three days
work was pretty good. This was three
or four times as much as the legisla-
tors got. In some instances. such as
the sheriff of oahu. he would support
a raise as he thought the office worth
more money. If the raising business
kept on there would be no money TO
pay the laborers, whose pay had also
been raised.
Alawa favored the raise. Hughes
moved to amend the item to $500. He
had never heard before that the super
vsors worked so hard and he had had
the idea that about $25 a month was
enough. He had heard the present
supervisors promising anything and
everything to get elected, even know
ing they We're to be worked so very
hard and paid so very little. The pres
ent state of the county finances did not
justify any raise. The members owed
TO the county besides going
into office for the sake or the pay.
kaleiopu made a, warm appeal for {
support for his amendment. The coun- I
~ finances would be helped by the in
come from licenses and other things
and will be able to pay the extra mont
ey. At present the supervisors were
the lowest paid of all county officials. If
their pay is TO be decreased, let the
pay of all other officials be decreased.
The speaker compared the salaries of
the supervisors with those of road su- !
pervisors, police officers and others on ,
the county pay roll.