The Hawaiian gazette., 1909-04-06

hUl had been before the Legislatures
If 1903 and 1905 and had failed TO
pass in both instances the $4,000 being
the amount paid by Mr.. Cummins as
fine imposed following his plea Of
guilty To a charge of treason in the
year 1895.
Senator Fairchld was excused from
voting upon his own request. He ex-
plained that Mr. Cummins was rela.
tive Of his wife and because Of the re-
latiOnship he did not want TO cast his
vote on the bill.
House Bill No. 10, relating to the IL
censing of foreign corporations, rcceiv-
ed the final Endorsement mt the hands
of the Senate. Senator Baker asked
for some enlightenment on the provision
of the bill, and the explanations of
Senators Mccarthy and Fairchild were
sufficiently lucid to convince the legis-
lator from Hawaii that the bill was not
intended to reduce the amount of cor
porate license and tax
Pass Minimum Wage.
House Bin No. 80, fixing the mini
mum pay of public laborers at $50
per day, was finally passed despite de-
termined attempts that were made to
table il or amend it in such a manner
as would leave sane discretionary
power with the Boards of Supervisors
of the various counties. Senator Fair
child first asked to have the bill de.
ferred. He declared that while condi-
tions in Honolulu were such as to war
rant the fixing of $3.50 as the minimum
wage, that different conditions pre-
VDi led in thp nt hpr COMMITTEES
'The cost of living is higher in Ho-
nolulu," he said, "and l do not ques-
tion the justice of fixing a $1.50 mini
mum wage here. But in the outside
districts il will defeat its object, main
ly by throwing n number of deserving
people out of work. The supervisors
have limited amount of money to
spend, and if they are not allowed some
discretion in the payment of wages it
stands to reason that they will only
employ the most efficient and able
bodied labor, while the equally worthy
but less efficient would be weeded out
through the operation of such law as
this bill intends to enact"
Senator Chllingworth supported the
views expressed by Senator Fairchild.
He declared that the fixing of $50
mipimum was proper as far as the
County of Honolulu was concerned, but
that it should not apply to the country
districts
- think it should be left to the
Boards of Supervisors he said. "By
the passage of this resolution with some
power left in the hands of the county
the intent of the Legislature would be
shown and would in all probability
have the effect of holding the minimum
wage at the highest possible figure"
Fairchild moved for an amendment
inserting clause cat the discretion
of the Board of Supervisors, but the
motion was lost.
Mccarthy Objects.
Senator Mccarthy moved an obiec-
tion to the bill being deferred, stating
that the bill might as well be killed at
once and be done with it. This brought
forth Il reioinder from Fairchild that
he had only asked twice for a post
ponement during the course of the ses-
SION and both times had encountered
opposition upon the part of a Demo
| cratic member.
The Senator from Kauai tried another
| amendment this time to fix a minimum
wages of ID cents an hour. Senator
Robinson objected to the suggestion,
! stating that the legal days work was
of only eight hours. The motion to
amend was then put to "A vote and lost,
and the bill then passed on its third
reading.
Approve Amendments.
The Senate concurred in the House
amendments 20 Senate Bill No. %, regu-
lating the law of compulsory vaccina-
| ton
House Bill No. "a, regulating the ex
ercise of the right of condemnation by
railroad companies, was referred TO the
Judiciary Committee, as were also
House Bills Nos, v and 1856, relating
to deputy sheriffs.
House Bill No. 100, amending the
existing statute on the crime of burg
larry was referred to the judiciary Com
mittee.
House Bill No. 165, relating to thu
treatment of leprosy, was referred tC
the Public Health Committee. Hons,
Bill No. III, amending the Municipa
Act, was handed over to the consider
alton of the judiciary Committee.
| p'hhtc iplll No. l-f, uTdlltu ny lnt
Judiciary Committee in accordanc,
with the demand for some salutary Law
TO enforce promptness and care upoi
the part of administrators and execu
tors, was taken up on second reading
and referred back to the committe
that had given it life.
Senate Bill No. l25, relating TO tn
regulation of water rates, was referre
! to the Ways and Means Committee.
Senator Makekau IS bill to allow poo
. persons to institute civil actions a
indigents, was referred to the Judieiar
} Committee.
Debate Land Law.
, When House Bill No. 30, providin
: for the building of roads in settlement
, lands was considered on second reat
ing, Senator Fairchild took the stan
, that the substitution of the wor
= "may" for "shalln weakened the Ell
tire bill. and would place the discr,
tionary power in the hands of the Con
missioner of Public Lands. Farchil
declared that the present land Law
were defective, and that they left to