The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-03-31

the government to sell at auction land
which it would otherwise have to ex
change at appraised values. The com
mittee believes that appraised values
are sometim very faulty and the re
port states that Glands have been sole
shortly after exchange for several times
their appraised value, showing great
loss to the Territory In reply to g
question from President Smith, Senator
Knudsen said that there was no con
fiiet between the provisions OF the bill
and the Organic Act.
Debate on Wages.
The Judiciary Committee majority
reported favorably on House Bill No
50. bearing the official title of " An
Act to amend Section l of Act 9S, Ses-
sion Laws of 1907 to designate the
pay of laborers engaged in construct
ing or repairing roads, bridges or
streets. waterworks or other works for
the Territory of Hawaii. Senator Ma
kekau did not concur in the report, and
in the course of the ensuing debate ne
stated his objections at length.
AS received from the House of Rep
resentatives, the measure specified that
a minimum wage of $50 per diem
should be paid to laborers employed by
the Territorial government. Senator
Mccarthy moved to insert an amend
ment ''or of any Political division
thereof
President Smith called Vice Presi-
dent Kalama to the chair and he pro-
eeeded to state his reasons for object
ing to the amendment that would bind
County Supervisors to minimum wage
rate of $3.50 day in the payment of
daborers engaged in public work. Sen
ator Harvey wanted to know If per-
sons taking contracts for public work
would be forced to adhere to the pro-
visions of the bill. Senator Kalama
gave as his opinion that contractors
would be bound by the $3.50 minimum
rate, Senator Mccarthy observing that
they would have to take it into eonsid-
GRAFTON when figuring on public works.
81 am not in favor of this amend
ment," said Senator w. O. Smith. q
do not believe that the County Super
visors should be restricted to a mini
mum figure of $3.50 per day in the
employment of labor. / do not say
that less than $3.50 a day should be
given to able bodied men. If this bill
becomes law it will prevent boys and
others not able to do full days labor
from getting work, when, If the Super
visors could exercise their discretion,
they could employ needy persons who
are unable to compete with able bodied
laborers.
Mccarthy Explains 1t.
Senator Mccarthy defended his
"This is a bill that has
been in the Legislature BEFORE" he
said. cit is a subject that is of great
interest to the laboring people. There
should be uniformity in the wage pay
ment and $50 day is little enough
for any man. AS the bill comes from
the House it would not be worth any
thing in its practical operation, because
the counties have control of nearly all
the work named
81 agree with Senator Mccarthy
that the laborer is worthy of his hire
said Senator Moore,'' but | doubt
minimum rate could be en-
forced in the matter of public con
tracts. ] support the general object
of the bill and amendment, but do not
think contractors could be held to a
minimum rae in the payment of en-
ployes."
Senator Smith said that the spirit of
popular government was to leave more
to county authorities, and that they
would be the best judges of local ques-
tions. He declared that they should
possess some discretionary control in
the matter of public expenditures.
Wants It Tabled:
Senator Makekau declared that the
present law was sufficient and far to
everyone concerned. He said that
bill fixing a $3.50 minimum wage was
vetoed at the last session and that
The law now in force was passed as
4 substitute The Senate from Homo
1aa argued that to raise the minimum
would bring in the competition of the
Young and would prevent old men from
finding "a place in the public work
specified in the provisions of the bill. |
81 believe that such a bill as this
would bankrupt the county of Ha-
vail said Makekau. ave have the
confidence of the people. Let us go
ahead and decide this question on bust
uesS principles. luoNt 10 lduic the
BILL
Senator Robinson declared that he
considered the bill just one and that
s1.50 day was little enough for any
man under any circumstances.
Senator Smith said that he realized
that it was not popular to oppose such
a measure, but insisted that he did so
simply to prevent hardship upon worthy
persons who would fail to obtain en-
ployment under an enforcement of
Si.5O minimum clause.
Senator Knudsen offered to accept an
reducing the minimum to
$1.25 day but Makekau insisted that
the present law was sufficient for all
purposes.
Bill Is Passed.
Senator Harvey declared that the
wages of the road lunas could be re-
duced with profit and the surplus turn
ed over to the laborers.
On the vote being taken on the mo-
ton to lay on the table, Senators Smith,
Woods and Kalama were the only ones
that came to the support of Makekau.
The bill was then passed on second
reading.
The Judiciary Committee recommend
ed that the Senate concur in the amend
ments made by the House TO Senate
Bill No. As, repeating the section IF
the Revised Laws relating to covenants
for renewal at auction of certain gov