The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-02-09
Honolulu, February s, 1909.

F., Honolulu, February s, 1909.
Editor Advertiser.-I have been ask
ed to express my opinion as to the
measures proposed by the Republican
Territorial Central Committee, or sub
committee thereof, as published in the
Advertiser today. Before passing on
those matters pro and con, allow me
to congratulate the Republican party
for having taken steps for the first
time in the history of the party in this
Territory to carry out its platform
pledges. The close of the legislative
term will show whether or not those
steps are taken with any degree of sim
cerity Whether we shall ever have
Government by Commission depends
entirely upon the Republican party.
Democrats do not allow any such heresy
to even be whispered in their camp, and
yet such talk is constantly going on IN
this community Who is doing it?
If the Republicans "believe in the
extension of this principle Citizen
labor) to the Federal works. what
are they waiting for? Their Delegate
in Congress has not waited for the
Legislature to act in a great many
other matters before introducing bills
in Congress, then why should he have
delayed il this matter? No bill or
resolution to that effect, or even rider
on appropriations for Hawaii, embody-
ing this principle, has ever been in
troduced in Congress by the Delegate
from Hawaii Being a party pledge,
action by the Legislature is superfiuous
except as an excuse for delay.
According to the platforms of both
parties, Uncle Sam is expected to "dig
up'' money to buy the private fisheries.
We would suggest adding that "only
American citizens and those eligible
to become SUCH shall do the fishing.
That is another case where the Dele
gate in Congress need not wait for
action by the Legislature.
The Republican press has been I'M
sparing' in its criticism of county ex-
penditures, so it 'Ecomes as a surprise
to the opposition that the committee
favors legislation that shall "enable
counties to issue bonds for public inn
provements.' - What about putting
counties on the same footing as in
mainland Territories as to assessment
and collection of taxes and other forms
of revenue, and taking unto themselves
the duties now performed by the public
works, survey and other Territorial de-
partments? These are more vital issues
and of more profound import to elec-
tors than saddling posterity with un
necessary burdens.
Democratic legislators will propose
some changes along lines herein sug
gested.
The Delegate in Congress has al
| ready introduced bill increasing the
pay of legislators and cutting the jol
| short. Would it not have been more
| appropriate to allow the Legislature
to express itself first on that subject
The subject of land laws viii TAX,
more time than | can spare at this writ
! ing, but if permitted | shall be glad t,
point out wherein the legislation thu
far proposed by the Republicans is a
| fault and does not even conform t.
their platform promises. OF all tn
| counterfeit goods with which Repub
! iicans have been so often caught il
possession, / think the following is tn
most notorious:
They publish in today's paper a
| follows:
The Republican party is. there
fore, pledged to both the extern