Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-03-05

ton heavily. Crime has increased In
the territory. The Hawaiian race is
suffering from the evils of intemper.
anee and the sole question is, what
immediate and effective relief can be
applied that is practical at the present
hour. ] have prepared bill that is
within the power of the legislature
to pass and enact and which, IL
passed and enacted, will, after the
first Of July, leave only five retail
bar rooms in Honolulu and on this
island. Five hotel licenses and five
restaurant licenses may be granted
under this act. This makes 10 in all
and that Is plenty. The bill also pro-
yides that before any license can be
granted to sell liquor by retail in these
islands, the mayor and chairmen Of
the several boards of supervisors of
the several counties must first recon-
mend the issuing of such licenses so
that If the chief magistrate Of the city
and county of Honolulu for good rea-
sons, decides to withhold his consent,
there will be no bar rooms on this is
land and SO also IL the several chair
men of. the boards of supervisors
son, do not recommend in the writing
the issuing of any retail license there
will be no bar rooms on the other is.
lands. Congress has not passed a
prohibitory law. When they will, no
body knows. The prohibitory bill in
troduced by Senator Chillingworth
and read first time In the senate is
contrary to the provisions of the Or
eanic Act and beyond the power OF
the legislature To pass and enact. In
my opinion, it is worthless piece OF
paper over which time and money will
be expended in vain and no results
will follow except litigation and end
less confusion. The legislature of the
territory of Hawaii, under the grant
OF legislative power, either expressed
or implied, has no power to prohibit
by law the importation. manufacture
and sale of intoxicating liquor but the
legislature has power to regulate the
sale thereof which l have done in this
bill. It is remedy for existing evils
and | have forwarded the same to the
leaders in the senate and house and
1t Is upon them that throw the re-
sponsibility for the continuation of the
things complained Of The issue Is
paramount issue to any platform
adopted by the Republican or Demo
cratic party. If crime increased to any
greater extent than 1t did a few
months ago, the people themselves
would close UP the bar rooms by force.
which no one desires-so that, the
argument that a useless liquor law
can not be amended is no answer or
excuse for the Republican party or
the legislature. They must do some
thing to prevent the indiscrimInate
sale Of intoxicating liquor in these Is
lands. Five bar rooms are enough on
any one island, In fact, too many.
am not a prohibitionist and never will
be unless the Republican leaders forcs
me to take that position, and IL the
legislature does not act and reduce
these saloons so that they can be con-
trolled In the best interests of peace,
order and good government. then total
prohibition will follow and the con-
gress of the United States Will wipe
out the liquor traffic and the entire
use or the legal use of booze, liquor
and the fine wines on these islands.
Now is the time for the legislature
to act; If they do not, the people will
rebuke them at the polls commencing
at the county election TO be held
shortly.
Pardon me for writing this letter. ]
am out of politics and it has been a
long time since | have Interested my.