Ka Leo o ka Lahui, Volume II, Number 307, 22 October 1891 — Page 4

KA LEO O KA LAHUI.

"E Mau ke Ea o ka Aina i ka Pono."

KA LEO O KA LAHUI.

John E Bush.

Luna Hooponopono a me Puuku.

THURSSDAY, OCT. 22, 1890

Disqualified as Judge.

A decision of the Supreme Court in Banco, was given by Justice Dole, in the case of the Hutchinson Sugar Plantation Company vs. The Hawaiian Government and O. T. Shipman. This case was brought forward on a bill in equity to vacate the decision of a Tax Appeal Board. The question agreed upon to be submitted to the decision of the Supreme Court was "whether" or not the facts presented by the record the proceedings of the tax appeal court in this matter were in validated by said C. Meineche's sitting and acting as a member. And that if so invalidated the prayer of the petitioner shall be granted.

The circumstances of the case, in brief are as follows: The plaintiff assessed the value of the Hutchinson Plantation Property in Kau, Hawaii, in a certain amount; the Tax Assessor improved upon the plaintiff's valuation and, and made the corporation $250,000 richer than the owners thereof through their agents, were willing to acknowledge the property to be worth, at least for government taxation.  Upon this difference an appeal was taken to the Tax Appeal Board, composed of C. Meinecke and others. The plaintiffs very properly protested against the said C. Meinecke sitting at the hearing before the said Court on the ground of being a government official drawing a salary and thus was not a disinterested judge in the matter, and was therefore disqualified. It also appeared that Mr. M. was in litigation with the plantation.

The Court held, that under the law and testimony, Mr. Meinecke was not qualified to sit as a Member of the Board of Appeal. and that its decision was illegal and must be @@@ aside. This decision of the full Court makes the duty of appointing Tax Appeal Boards clear, and should be a lesson to the Minister of Finance to be more guarded and judicious in selecting members for @@@ Appeal Board not disqualified by law. Under the present circumstances, by the illegal construction of the Board, it is very evident that the difference of opinion between the Tax Assessor and the Plantation Company as to the value of the property is still an open question, with no course left to the government to test its correctness.

A Marriage.

We give the following letter publication because we believe it will do no harm, and may indeed help a young wife to set aside her timidity and boldly avow her changed life, and thus enable her to seek her liege lord without further delay, for it cannot be very pleasant to be living in constant fear of publicity for no good cause and delayed hope of future bliss.

DEAR MR. EDITOR:

Here is a little romance which may interest the public.

Our society friends may not be aware that one of its most popular "Misses" is a "Mrs." and has been for a period of some five weeks or so. Shortly before the departure of that most formidable war-ships the "Charleston" one of its interesting and fascinating officers took unto himself a wife from our midst.

Dispensing with the usual bridal veil and orange blossom, our bride stood in a plain white gown wearing a large black hat. It appears the young lady had one or two ardent admirers among our civil workers which made the "young un" from the briny deep feel a little restless until he had secured full possession. It is understood that the young Mrs. will join her rightful lord as soon as she can Summon enough courage to surprise the community with the information. We assist her in her task. As it all took place an hour before she sailed we sincerely hope it will not be a case of "marry in haste and repent at leisure."

We write this to the KA LEO as it is the only paper that dares to print what it likes.

Meeting of the International League.

The usual weekly meeting of the National League was held at their Hall. President Wilcox in the chair supported by Vice President Wolters. After the routine business, Sections 5 and 6 of the Platform was declared open for discussion. Mr. R. S. Scrimgour was the first speaker, and commenced by pointing out the analogy at present existing in the new constitution, illustrating the fact as follows. Suppose for instance one set of ministers accept office, representing the views of the political dominant party, and after the lapse of a month they decided to resign, their successors may be appointed regardless of party the popular vote is thereby ignored and for two years must grin and bear it. It might indeed be possible for the moneyed power to secure the resignation of corrupt ministers. This the speaker contended was a pretty solid reason why ministers should be elected to office.

Then in regard to the public servants, the speaker produced strong argument showing the necessity of electing chiefs of bureaus and departments; under the present system the incumbents are a supercilious set and act more like our masters than public servants. The speaker resumed his seat amidst geat applause.

Loud calls was now made for Hon. J. E. Bush, who came forward and made a stirring address, pointing out the inquitous system of monopolies, land fraud, and predicted the serfdom of the entire Hawaiian and foreign working men unless they united beforehand and at the polls, to have themselves justified. He, the speaker had no hope for the future welfare of the masses without they @lid.

The iron heel of tyrannical capitalistic pressure is upon the neck of the people. The capitalist wants much, but is only willing to pay starvation wages. It is a scandalous fact that to day our land, and we ourselves are controlled body and soul, by an unholy band of some sixty capitalists. They own our broad acres and the Hawaiian as a class is a poor homeless wanderer in his own country, while the missionary who @@@@ here to teach other things has devoured their wealth; and their @@@@ of so called Christian Chinese are stealing what is left. What is the difference whether the stealing of land goes on at the mouth of a gun or by virtue of a mortgage deed? They get get there all the same.

The speaker did all in his power to purge the fetid atmosphere of the public service. But did not receive the support he expected would have been forth coming. However the seed was sowed and with the cooperation of the voting power of the kingdom will bare good fruits in the Legislature of 1892. the speaker upon resuming his seat received quite an ovation.

Under the heading of monopolies Mr. Huntsman in a fluent manner showed that the Hawaiian nation was on the road to @@@, on account of a system of landlordism. The net is gradually tightening around the people; unless they decided to help themselves at the coming election opportunity would be gone forever. The planters according to the Bulletin and Advertiser are willing to overrun the country, with Asiatics. The moneyed power will take care of itself, only give them cheap labor and it matters not where it comes from, Hades, India, China or Japan.

Mr. Wolters the next speaker, also condemned monopolies, and as a matter of fact $100,000 was asked to be voted by the last Legislature to enable our late King to pay off his debts. The money was already paid out of the National Treasury not to the king, but to some hungry creditors who deviled and dunned the unfortunate monarch until his life was a burden to him, and it is only by uniting hands for one common good, that we can down the gigantic scheme of the moneyed power to corral everything. Stick together during the coming political campaign and at the polls; this is our oily hope.

Mr. J McVeigh and Mr. Geo. Cavenagh also addressed the meeting cordially endorsing the sentiments of the speakers of the evening.

Mr. Goldstien, said he learned something of politics on Maui, last year. He was asked to use his influence for the National Reform, thought it was straight business coming from a Duke; after securing the votes of his friends as requested, the Duke and his party said now Goldstein have i $500 and 50 bottles of whiskey; we want you to transfer yourself and friends to the Reform Party.

Mr. G. now got mad and told the Duke to take a walk, and the nationals would yet rid of the Walled-bridge. Mr. Goldstein's account of the affair caused great amusement, as showing the way that is dark, @@.

THE CROWN LANDS.

The doctrine that the Crown Lands are inalienable, is an argument always urged by the favorites of royalty, whenever a discussion or a proposition is advanced to do away with what is termed the Crown Domain. Of course, acts of the Legislature have been passed twice or three times to alienate a portion of this vast estate, which disproves the validity of any argument that has been or may be advanced in support of the invalidity of alienating the  Crown Lands. The ground upon which the claim is made in favor of the undisturbed possession of the Crown to the Crown Land is, that the sovereign owned all lands of the Kingdom originally, and the Government, the Board of Education, and the People received their portion or division of lands from the King. this right was derived through the feudatory system, which, existed more or less throughout the group until the conquest of the group by Kamehameha, gave him and his heirs, the right now claimed by their successors on the throne. The right of possession by force, never can give substantial security to the possessor. The title is based upon a usurpation and its claim to an inalienable right to it is unjust.

In 1688 the doctrine that the Crown Land and permanent taxes of Great Britain belonged to the sovereign were done away with. William III sought to make grants of crown lands to some of his Dutch favorites, but was promptly checked by a Resumption Act, in which it was laid down that the title of the Nation to these lands was inalienable, and for successive reigns remained unquestioned until by a trick of Lord Bute upon the accession of George III., a renunciation to the alleged hereditary revenues of the crown lands was made by the insertion in the preamble of the civil list. The argument put forth in support of the vote for Queen Victoria's civil list, includes also a renunciation on per part to the crown land revenues.

Thus it is obvious from principle that usurped rights are inalienable, a@d that ts the position of the crown lands. They are alienable, and it seems very proper that they should be made so, and redistributed for the purpose of encouragi@g an industrial agricultural population in the country.

ON DIT.

That the Southern States with slay labour and after the war with free labour, ought to teach the sugar planter, which is the cheapest and most profitable kind of labour to have in the country.

That Hamakua Horner. is antiliquor, while other Horners are not so scrupulous. Many men of many minds make up the world.

That a man's wife and children is said to be a plea for excusing a crime.

That good wages is the only true remedy, for solving the labor question, and the laborer is worthy of his hire.

That the want of honesty in meeting the intention of the labor law has been the cause of a failure to obtain Chinese labor.

Platform of Principle

OF THE

HAWAIIAN NATIONAL LIBERAL PARTY.

PRINCIPLE OF GOVERNMENT AND CONSTITUTION.

1.   We deem that all Government should be founded on the principles of Liberty. Equality and Fraternity; we hold that all men are born free and equal before @@@@ and

@ unreadable

wealth, and unfair competition @@ believe that just government @@@@ only by the consent of the People @@@  when it becomes necessary for the public welfare, they may abolish existing forms and establish more advantageous and equitable system; and, as the present Constitution of the Hawaiian Kingdom never has had the approval of the People, but was established by intimidation and fraud for the benefit of a certain class, therefore we favor the adoption of a new and more liberal Constitution, to truly secure a Government of the People, by the People and for the People.

INDEPENDENCE OF THE COUNTRY

Out of consideration for the inherent rights and present opinions of the native population, we dersire to retain the independence of the Country and defend its autonomy, under a liberal and popular form of government; but our Treaties with Foreign Powers, and especially with the United States of America, should be revised, so as to better meet present necessities and to obtain more equitable advantages in exchange of those granted by us.

JUDICIARY REFORMS

3.   Our Judiciary system and Code of Procedure must be submitted to a thorough revision, so as to secure a cheap and prompt administration of justice, free of all sectarian or patinas spirit, and to render the Judges more directly responsible to the People; and we are in favor of a more liberal interpretation of Constitutional guarantees of the freedom of speech and the press.

TAXATION

4.   A more just and perfect system of Taxation must be inaugurated, to abolish the present inequalities, by which the property of the poor is excessively taxed, while much of the rich man's goods are under-valued for assessment or entirely escape taxation; we shall therefore demand the passage of laws that will more effectually subject the property of corporations and rich citizens to their just proportion of public burdens, while granting more liberal exemptions to the poor; and as a means of discouraging the locking up of large tracts of uncultivated lands, a differential tax should be levied in addition to the usual assessment on valuation. which should be in proportion to the fertility of the soil. We shall also favor the establishment of a graduated income-tax, and thus expect to obtain ample funds for conducting the government and attending to all necessary public improvements without any further calls on the masses.

MONOPOLIES

5.   We shall use our efforts to obtain laws by which all favoritism in the government and all monopolies, trusts and privileges to special classes shall be rendered impossible, by full, definite and mandatory statutes.

6.    Better laws should regulate the Civil Service. The principle of the election of officers of the government by the people should be established, and no man should be allowed to hold more than one office of profit, whilst salaries should be adequate compensation for the sarvices rendered. All excessive salaries should be reduced and all sinecures or superfluous offices abolished.

PROTECTION TO HOME INDUSTRIES

7.   We are in favor of encouraging all home agriculture and industries, andali our native products, like rice, coffee, wool, tobacco, etc. should be protected and fostered by proper tariff regulation; and also it must be the duty of the Govment, in its contracts and other operations, to give preference to national products over imported ones.

PUBLIC SERVANTS.

LOCALSELF-GOVERNMENT

8.   We desire a more liberal policy towards the different Islands of the Kingdom outside of Oahu: they should re@@@@  @ @@@@ proportion of the public moneys @@ @@@ development of their resources and@@@ sati@@@@@ of their @@@@. @@@@  the principle of @@@@ Self-governments should be extended, whereby giving @@@@@@ may choose the most important of their local executive offi@@@, and @@@ taxes for the purpose local improvements of a public nature.

PROTECTION TO THE LABOURING CLASSES

9.   We shall endorse all measure @@@@  @@ improve the condition of the @@@ @@@@ @@@, and consequently, without @@@@@ any @@@@@ rights, we will @@@@ @@@ to prevent all further im@@@@@@ @@ employment of contract@@@ of any had, upon conditions which will bring it into a @@@@@@ and @@@@@ competition with free Hawai @@@ or wh@@ la@@. We @@@@ @@@, @@ the interest of the better @@@@@@ @@ the @@@@ @@@ for more @@@@@  @@@@tions of their property from @@@@ @@@@@@ @@ @@@@ and from @@@@ in bankruptcy @@@@@.