The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-04-17
HOUSE BUSHES NUMBER
Of THIRD READINGS To
BEAT THE POCKET VETO
important Measures Are
Endorsed by Upper
House---Approval of
County Control.

All of the bills now pending in the
Legislature designed to carry out the
idea of greater degree of local self
government by transfer of authority
and executive powers to the counties,
were taken up in committee OF the
whole yesterday in the Senate. At
torneys W. A. Kinney and A. G. NJ.
Robertson were present to assist in the
solution of any legal questions that
might be brought up during the con-
sideration of the measures. With
few amendments, proposed by the more
conservative members of the upper
house, the committee finally recon-
mended the passage of all the bills on
third reading, and, as far as the Sen
ate is concerned, the perplexing prob
lem of county control is settled.
Senator W. O. Smith advanced EN-
phatie objections to a provision that
gave the counties the specific and I'M
qualified power to discontinue
schools The granting of such power,
he argued. was contrary to the best
interests OF the Territory. He insist
ed that the time when the counties
could take over full control OK the
schools had not yet been reached, and
that it was essential that the Depart
nlent of Public Instruction should still
have a large portion of control over
all the schools. Senator Eairchild de-
tended the idea of county control dur
ing the sitting of the committee. He
maintained that it was not the inten-
ton to interfere with the curriculum
of the sehools-the main object being
to vest the boards of supervisors with
enough discretionary power to meet the
emergencies that were sure to arise and
which at the present time could only
be settled after vexatious delay.
For the first time Of the session, the
Senate passed bill over the veto of
Governor Frear The Chief Executive
could not approve the bill introduced
by Senator Quinn. making closed
season of FIVE months on deer, but the
Senate passed it over the veto by d
vote of fourteen to one, President
Smith casting the only dissenting vote.
The appropriation bill passed its see
ond reading in the Senate Yesterday
and viii be taken up on third reading
today. The total of the bill as it now
stands is $2,s4s, 595, exactly 1902, 1S5
in excess of the Senate bill and $780,
TO mere than the bill as it was re-
eeiHed from the House of Representa-
tives. Because of the application of
more responsibility and control for fhe
counties. the bill makes no provisions
for maintenance of eourthouses. hospi-
tails or waterworks. To meet the new
drain upon the county revenue they re-
ceive the full amount of fines and costs
instead of one-half, as at present
Defer Conference Report.
The report of the special joint con-
ference committee on House Bill No.
49, amending sections 1402 and 1908
of Chapter f02 Of the Revised Laws Of
Hawaii, relating to public shows, was
read, recommending that Cohen s meas
ure be amended so as TO make the II
cense 81 for each performance in
stead OF $3.50 per day. Senators ka-
lama and Makekau declared that the
conference committee had exceeded its
authority in changing the rate of IL
eense. Mccarthy moved that the bill
be referred back to the conference COM
naittee. Senator Knudsen said that the
change in rate was well within the
province of the committee. On the sug-
gestion of President Smith action on
the report was deferred.
Makekau's main contention was that
the report of the conference committee
did not deal with the points at issue
and fixed an ''arbitrary rate. -
House Bill Nc. 1913, relating to gar
nishment, was referred to the Judiciary
Committee.
House Bill No. 1876 was referred to
the Committee on Public Lands.
The House Joint Resolution on stamp
duties and licenses and establishing a
commission passed its first reading.
Senator Harvey introduced bill
amending section 1856 and 1877 of the
Revised Laws relating to the transpor-
tation of lepers.
House Bill No. l25 was taken up on
second reading and was indefinitely
postponed by a vote Of eight to seven
Senator Woods motion TO reconsider
being lost. The measure dealt with the
powers of the Board of Supervisors OF
Continued on Page Two.)