The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-05-31
TIE CONVENTION TO-DAY,
ORGANIZATION AND rLTCrioN or
OFFICERS.
Discussions on rrelimiuartcs Resolution
Granting Mr. Thurstou Freedom
OF the Floor Lost.

The Constitutional Convention assem-
bled at 10 O'Clock this morning. All OF
the members answered to roll-call ex-
cept Messrs. Bolte and Horner.
The minutes Of last meeting were read
and approved.
Messrs. Brown. Suhr and A. S. Wilcox
were appointed a committee on creden.
tials. and reported all members en-
titled to seat in the convention. The
report was adopted.
Messrs. Baldwin, Era and Ablcs were
appointed committee to supervise the
expenses of the convention. On motion
of Mr.. Brown the house proceeded to
elect officers.
Mr. Wilder interrupted to know il
members should not be sworn in.
Attorney General Smith said that
there was nothing out of the way
in administering the oath. 1t had
been taken, was right, and
if there was any question, it should be
administered again to the members of
the body. A motion TO that effect was
made and carried. Mr.. Kalua thought
the matter superfluous as all members
had already taken the oath.
Minister Smith said taking the oath in
convention would forever set that i'm.
portant matter at rest. There could be
no question as TO whom may not have
taken the oath.
Mr.. Kalua said that he had his
doubts whether members of the conven-
ton should take the oath required of
electors. The purposes were different.
Electors had taken the oath so as to
vote, here it was different. When you
come down to the point every menper
of the Convention has taken the oath AS
records at the Interior office will show,
and if any one has not, he should leave
the Convention at once. He has no
right here.
Representative Jcsepa of Maui
thought that every member of the con.
vention should take an oath to faith
fully perform his duty as member of
the convention. The other oath applied
to his duty as an elector and had moth
to do with the present case.
Minister Smith presented the follow
ing oath which he thought would better
apply to present circumstances:
do solemnly swear in the presence
of Almighty God that | will support
and bear true allegiance to the Provis-
ional Government of the Hawaiian ISL
ands, and will oppose any attempt to
re-establish monarchical government in
any form in the Hawaiian Islands, and
will faithfully perform the duties of Il
member of this Constitutional Conven-
ton.
Mr.. Hitchcock remarked that the
clause to oppose monarchy was omitted
from the convention oath. This was
wrong and unfair to those who had
ia Ken the first oath, in case some had
not taken it.
| Mr.. Brown said that the object was
that it was the universal custom for
members in convention to take the oath
to support whatsoever objects for which
the convention may be called.
On motion the above oath was
adopted.
Mr.. Kalua moved that committee be
appointed to call upon Chief Justice
Judd and invite him in to administer
the oath to those desiring it.
The Chair appointed Kalua, Vivas and
Pogue.
The committee retired and promptly
returned with the Chief Justice, who
administered the oath in the usual
manner.
The following officers were elected:
DIR. c. Z. Rodgers, secretary; j. l..
Carter, sargeant-at-arms; w. Ii. Kahu-
moka, messenger and janitor; Rev.
Waiamau, chaplain w. l.. Wilcox,
interpreter.
On motion of Attorney General Smith,
seconded by Minister Damon. the
Finance Committee was instructed to
employ a stenographer to take the pro-
ceedings of the convention.
Secretary Rogers read resolution
| from the secretary of the American
Union party Central Committee, asking
that Hon. l.. A. Thurston be given the
freedom of the floor of the Constitu.
tional Convention. This resolution had
received the endorsement of the Cen
trail Committee and the various clubs of
the city.
Delegate Carter made an earnest APP
peal for the resolution.
Mr.. Brown opposed granting the re.
quest of the A. U. p. The discussions
and matters of business before this body
should be considered among the mem.
beers, and no outsiders should be admit
ted. If any committee or individuals
wished to consult MIR. Thurston upon
any matter of the Constitutional Conven-
information they might do SO. He
saw no more reason for admitting Mr.
Thurston to tine bodys deliLelations
than many other men in the country
Personally he would like to have him
but upon general principles he wonld
oppose the resolution.
w. o. Smith felt the need of Hon. l..
A. Thurston in the convention. He
was "a man familiar with the con
ditions of the establishment of the
Government, its relations to the United
States and the full political organism
of the country. The idea was not a new
one. In 1865 the judges of the Court
were called in to assist the body in
framing the constitution.
Judge Robertson supported the resolu-
ton as the convention needed all the