The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-03-29
House Votes Not to Increase Its
Own Membership.
SPEAKER CAST DECIDING VOTE
Senate Postpones Action On Re-
gistry Bili to Await An
Amendment.
SENATE.
Thirty-first Day, March 2S.

Thirty-first Day, March 2S.
Communications were received from
the House announcing the passage of
and transmitting House bills relating
to the release of dover, in relation
to bicycles and encouraging the culti-
vation of grapes. The House Com
mittee on Passed Bills stated
that they were dissatisfied with the
report relating to bills rejected by the
Senate. The matter had been referred
to a special committee.
Senator Rice presented a petition
from SO of his constituents from the
Hawaiian district of Kauai asking for
appropriations Of $4,000 for various
road and bridge improvements. The
petition was referred to the Committee
on Public Lands.
The Senate Act. to extend the time
for the construction of the Oahu Rail-
road passed third reading and was sent
to the Committee on Passed Bills.
On motion of Senator Waterhouse,
the third reading of the registry of
vessels bin was deferred to Thursday.
The Senator said in making his mo-
ton that he had an important amend.
ment to make. He believed it was
time for Hawai- to consider her own in
terests, that is the reciprocity treaty
He said his amendment would cover
some points not before mentioned.
Minister Cooper, under suspension of
the rules, introduced the loan act,
amounting to 1871, 500, and the sundry
Improvement bill, amounting to $263,
800 Both bills passed first reading
and were sent to the Printing Com
mittee.
The Senate bill relating to the cleo
ton of Senators passed third reading
without discussion and went to the
Committee on Passed Bills.
The substitute bill brought in by the
Judiciary Committee to exempt only
the Sailors Home Society from tax
alton and omitting the Y. M. c.. A.
called from Senator McCandless an
earnest protest. He said that if it was
a church it was exempt as the Consti-
tuition made provision for them, if it
was a school it would be consistent
with the tax act of 1896 to exempt it.
Senator Baldwin stated his position
in opposing the bill. 1t was not that
he objected to the Y. NJ. G. A. Quite
the contrary It's work he fully appre-
ciated, as did everyone else in the
community. He subscribed to it's
funds, but he believed it should not
any other sectarian institution. The
churches were exempted by the laws
already. He believed that such exempt
ions encouraged the sending to the
Legislature of men pledged to secure
legislation favoring some religious
body. The total disunion of church
and state was to be desired. The ex-
perience of other nations had proved
this. He classed an exemption some
what in the nature of a grant.
Senator Brown opposed the bill. To
his mind there were strong arguments
in favor of refusing to exempt even
church property and all other that re-
ceived it's protection from the Govern
ment They should be made to pay
their proportionate share to support
and maintain the finances Of the Gov
ernment.
The amended bill was then rejected
and the original passed second read
| ing.
| Senator Holstein moved the indefin-
| ite postponed Of the bill to provide a
park in Aala. He said that the land
which it was proposed converting into
| park was valued at from 100000 to
| S75, 900. For the Government to make
such a disposition of valuable property
| he considered piece of extravaganza
and the country districts ought not to
be called upon to pay for such insti-
| tutions at that rate which would bene-
| fit the city of Honolulu alone.
Minister Cooper supported the Ha-
waii Senator. He said the Executive
Council had discussed the matter
thoroughly and, while they favored a
park for that section of the city, were
now opposed to giving UP such valu-
able site, a site which might bring
large revenues into the Government.
The President, he said, also op-