The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-03-05
Against Moore Bill.

Senator C0eIh0 presented petitAol
from the Lahaina Improvement Asso
citation, in which it is declared that the
citizens of Lahaina are opposed to any
change in the existing liquor laws. The
full text OF the document IS as follows;
SAT meeting of the Lahalna I'm
movement Association, held at Lahaina
courthouse on Wednesday, the 3rd day
of March, A. d. 1909, for the purpose
of making recommendations 70 oui
legislators, Senators and Representa-
aiges. in the matter of public improve
Inents and appropriations, and other
matters affecting the welfare OF the
district of Lahaina, and matters of pub
lie policy effecting not only this dis
tricf bat the Territory at large, it was
resolved:
First. That this association does
hereby go on record as unalterably OPP
posed to any change or amendment to
be made, or sought to be made, IN the
present law governing the granting OF
liquor licenses.
Second. That this association is un-
aIterably opposed to the change of
court terms for the Second Judicial
Circuit. as proposed IN certain bill
now before the Legislature, which in
effect takes from Lahaina the one court
term which it is now entitled to.
Third. That this association favors
the granting by the Legislature of an
appropriation for the hospital for La
hama district, as provided for in bill
now before it, and for any further pro-
visions for the same which the Legis-
Iatnre may allow.
Fourth. That this association favors
IiIe.ai appropriation for the support
of Lahainahna Industrial Schools.
Fifth. That this association favors
the appropriation of an amount suffi-
eient TO erect new government build
ing a. Lahaina, and failing which,
literal appropriation for the repair of
the present building, which Is IN sad
state Of neglect.
Sixth That this association strongly
recommends the provision of an armory
building for Lahaina.
That this association further respect
fully request the Honorable House of
Representatives and the Honorable
Senate to take the matters herein rep
resented under consideration. All of
which is respectfully submitted.
Dated at Lahaina, March 3, 1909.
>
tho liquor law be unchanged and the
Republican members reminded of their
solemn promise to refrain from tamper-
ing with the laws, which they must do
by favorably considering the Moore
amendment, was read by Clerk Savidge
in full. The petition shows very
plainly the evils that will follow in
the wake of any change in the present
law The petition in full is as follows:
To the Honorable Senate and House
of Representatives, Territory of
Hawaii:
.Greeting.-Th Civic Federation of
Honolulu respectfully petitions your
honorable body that Senate Bill No. %,
entitled IAN Act to amend Act 119 of
the Session Laws of 1907, entitled can
Act to regulate the sale of Intoxicating
liquors, repeating Act 81 of the Session
Laws of 1885,, be not passed for the
following reasons:
"G) The present liquor law has
worked well in most sections, causing
a marked decrease in drunkenness. 1t
has heen complimented highly by many
prominent visitors to the Territory. If
should have a fair show to prove itself
by being left unamended for another
term.
s.(2) The proposed law takes from
the Commissioners their discretion in
issuing licenses, making it mandatory
that the license issue if the consent of
adjacent property holders has been OBJ
tanned. This revives the similar fea-
ture of the law of 1905, to which great
objection was made. The discretion
of the Commissioners is the most valu-
able feature of the present law and
should not be eliminated.
.(3) The bill proposes to reduce
the amount of the license fees. This
should not be done. An ample number
of licensees have paid the present fees
and there is no call to reduce our rev.
ennes.
go The bill provides for an ap-
peal from all decisions of the board by
the saloonkeeper under bonds. This
would enable skilful lawyer to delay
the hearing of the case by interposing
teehnicalities so that the entire term
of the license would elapse before the
final determination, thus defeating the
Law. The matter should be decided at
once in order to protect the rights of
the citizens.
.st5) The bill allows the sale of
liqner in restaurants without meals.
This opens the door to any saloon to
sell liquor after hours, Sundays and
election days, by simply hiring cook
and running restaurant on the same
premises The Commissioners of Oahu
have practically decided that the pres
ent law did not allow liquor to be sold
by restaurants except at and with
meals.
(6l Pending an appeal the bin
allows the applicant to go ahead oper-
ating his saloon until the appeal is de-
eided. This would render the whole
matter a farce. He would only be out
his lawyers fee in case the appeal
went against him, as the case could be
prolonged by eontinuanees, etc, as
above stated
80 The Republican party plat
form declared for the course that the
present liquor law should not be amend
ed at this session. A majority of DO h
Houses were elected under that plat
form.
"(sl The bill, if it becomes law,
will greatly increase saloons and drunk.
enness and consequently misery and
distress of women and children.
a(9) The law as framed drops out
the only local option feature of the
4