The Hawaiian gazette., 1909-02-02
To LICENSE
QUINTET CLUBS

An effort is being made to frame
up a bill for introduction in the Leg.
islature to put Hawaiian musicians,
quintet clubs and singing boys in gen
eral on the license list.
just what the reason Is for this
move is not altogether clear, except
that it would have the effect of put
ting most of the business of supply
ing quintet clubs into the hands of
very few persons, giving them the
contfol over the supply and demand of
Hawaiian musicians, and the prices
could be regulated according to the
whim of the ones in control.
At present there are few Hawai-.
ians who control most of the business
of furnishing music for balls, recep.
tions and entertainments Of all kinds.
They recruit their quintets from all
parts of the city. Some musicians re-
main steadily at the work, but the
supply is varying. The matter of sup
ply and demand appears TO be carried
along by the whims and moods of the
singers.
Those in control can reckon on at
least sixty good instrument players
and singers in town, although there
are any number of young Hawaiians
who could easily be taken into quintet
clubs and make good. Many are
young men who have not had the OPP
portunity to receive the best educa-
tion, and their occupations often do
not command big wages. The oppor-
tunity to play and sing in quintet clubs
opens the way to earn all the way
from $3.50 to SO a night, affording
fund with which they can almost sup.
port a family.
The matter has been kept rather
quiet, but lately leaked out, and there
is a good deal of indignation among
singers and players that this occupa.
tion, one of Hawaiis chief attrac-
tions, should be put on the license
lists. If such bill ever gets as far
as an introduction into the Legisla-
ture, those opposed to it propose to
fight it out.
~ " - " ~ - y y " " ~ ~ ~ ~ " " -
should be carried over as the basis of
the municipal legislation of .he city.
The effect of this ordinance would be
to destroy that basis, to create chaos
and uncertainty. 1t is not pretended,
/ apprehend, that the members of this
Board or anyone else, possibly, has any
clear or precise idea of the various acts
of legislation this ordinance attempts
to repeal, or their relation to each
other, or what the ultima,c effect of
this ordinance may be in many par
ticulars.
"It is beyond question that the
Legislature intended in the Municipal
Act to give the Mayor the power to
appoint the heads of the various de-
partments of the municipal service, in
much the same way that The Governor
of the Territory has the appointments
of the heads of departments in the
Territorial service. The Legislature
intended this power to irhere in the
mayoralty. This ordinance : one step
in the clearly revealed purpose of the
majority of this Board to usurp that
power. would not be true to my oath
of office, Therefore, if j did not op-
pose that purpose by every legal means
the Municipal Act has placed in my
hands. For, however willing / might
be personally to acqpiesce in such
usurpation, l have no right to SUI rem
der rights or powers which my success
sors in office, whoever they may be, will
be equally entitled to in their turn, as
myself.
"'This ordinance will serve no pur-
pose of public good. 1t is destructive
and not constructive in its purpose As
/ have said, it is an effort to thwart
the will and purpose of the Legsla-
ture.'