The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1913-05-02


STREETS of Honolulu.
To bring franchises of certain public
utility companies under the jurisdiction
CT the public utility commission.
Making IL n misdemeanor to use or
smoke opium or nave it in possession.
Prohibiting the uttering or making of
commercial paper in certain eases.
Under appropriation subjects: the
general salaries, school budget and loan
fund measures.
Providing for a mechanical, livestock,
agricultural and horticultural fair in
Honolulu during 1914, at cost of
/ $500.
Providing pensions for Judge Jacob
Hardy, X. j. Green and Henry Cockett.
Making 1t a misdemeanor to defraud
the proprietor of an inn or hotel; like
wise. those engaged in the carrying of
passengers.
| Regulating the taking of property by
railroad companies under the power of
eminent domain.
Providing for advances from current
funds of counties for school improve
ments.
| Providing a revolving fund of $780,
600 for reclamation of insanitary lands;
| $4,000 to be used on Hawaii and $20,.
900 on Kauai
Appropriating money for the con-
struetion of roads in Auwaiolimu.
A great many other laws were passed,
amendatory of existing laws: charging
the powers of the board of health and
increasing salaries of county officials.
The Legislature, in some instances,
claim some People failed to rise to the
occasion in the passage of certain laws
of a progressive nature.
Shameful Negligence
The records of the house bring out a
story of shameful negligence in
particularly two instances. In one case,
the refusal of the majority of the house,
led by member who was personally
and pecuniarilv interested in refusing
to accept the gift of Ainahau. The fail
ulr of the legislature to accept the
property. under the terms of the Cleg-
horn WILL has forever lost to the peo-
pie of Honolulu particularly and the
Territory generally, if not the world,
one of the most beautiful tropical parks
IN existence today anywhere.
Refusal of the house to carry out
the mandates of the Organic Act on
the subject of reapportionment of legis.
lative representation was fully expect
ed. Under the terms of the Wirtz
Bill. Maui and Kauai would lose repre-
sentation. While it does not seem pro-
per to some people that local matter
of this nature should be carried to con-
Dress, still it is held out that only in
this manner will the express direction
of the Organic Act on the subject ever
be called, for the outside islands will,
as long as they are permitted put off
the day of reapportionment.
Probably the most shameful side
stepping witnessed on the part of the
house during the past session was on
the Rellight Bill, a measure which
passed the senate by big majority
and hid the support of the thinking
and solid community here. The house
was alyo very lukewarm in taking up
Doctor Irwin s Eugenics Bills, two
measures of great necessity and import
ance for the health and happiness of
the people of not only Honolulu, but
the Territory at large.
House Conservatism. .a
OF the other big and important meas.
ures which failed of passage may be
mentioned the Employers Liability
Bill, 1t may be true, state some, the
measure required more consideration
and that this may be had in time to
have the bill passed at the coming SEES.
sion.
cone thing stands out very promi-
nent, | think. in regard to the respec-
time merits of the two houses,' stated
man pretty much in public life.
"This is that during the recent session
the house was by far the more con-
servative of the two, especially in the
matter of appropriations.
1.-The school budget was the work of
the house finance committee and it
passed and was signed by the Governor
practically in the manner the house
first had it, after forcing the senate
to recede as to certain items it had
added to the measure.
"The Loan Bill also showed the con.
servatism of the lower branch. 1t cut
down the total by million and half
in the first place, after the bill ar
rived from the senate, and, after the
latter house again boosted the. total
into the millions, the house once more
insisted on reducing it, As the meas
ure passed and is now law the figures
remain practically as the house finance
committee decided upon
"The General Appropriation Bill is
another example. The senate made
number of reductions in salaries, but
the house went it several better and
as the bill finally emerged from con.
ference and went to the Governor,
again the house figures, as a rule, pre-
dominated
"There is another thing in this con-
nection which | might mention, that
this is the first time in history, since
the Territory was organized, the Gov
ernor approved IA general appropriation
bill without vetoing a single item. This,
| claim, is due to the house and par.
ticularly to the painstaking and watch.
full work of Chairman Watkins and
the members of his committee on e.
nance
In the matter of expenses the present
session was by far more costly than
either the session of 1911 or the one
before that. The excuse given for this
state of things is that the present SEES
sion Just passed made a large number
of investigations which were very ex-
pensive. Still, claim some people, these
investigations were production of no
good and no remedial legislation of any
kind resulted from the findings or rec.