The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-12-30
THE GOVERNMENT OF HAWAII
CONFLICTING REPORTS WILL CAUSE
 SHIRP CONTEST IN HOUSE.

The Committee om Territories VIII Pre-
 sent Majority and Minority Reports
 Report and That of the Senate Conn
 nlittee on Foreign Relations.
 Washington, Dec. 29-A sharp contest will occur in the house over the legisla- tion for the government of Hawaii, as the majority and minority of the com mittee on territories do not agree as to the form of bill. Neither do the ma jority agree with the report of the sen though the differences are not such as to cause great difficulty. The majority report of the house committee changes the bill introduced by MT. Hit only slightly with the exception of the quail itications for senators and representa- tives The property qualifications are stricken out, and any citizen who is a voter and has been a resident of Hawaii for three years is eligible Those who were citizens of Hawaii on August 12, 1898, are made citizens of the United States. The delegates to congress shall possess the same qualifications as a voter Bonds issued on the credit OF the public domain shall be payable in not less than five nor more than fifteen years. One years residence must be proved to obtain a divorce.
 The minority report was prepared by H. B. Ferguson, delegate from New Mexico, who is a member of the sub- committee. MT Henry of Texas has also minority memorandum, but is now absent. The report says that the minority is unable to agree to some fea- lures of the bill as approved by the ma jority of that subcommittee, and it continues: Tt is important to empha- size the fact that new territory as ac- quired should be governed as other ter ritories of the United States have been from the foundation of the government, with the view of ultimate admission to statehood. Upon this theory we believe that Hawaii should be given substan- tially the same form of government as has been given in other territories of the United States, and the importance of this view is increased rather than diminished by the imminent Philippine question. New territory which we feel is unftted, either from the character of it's population or because of its dis tance from our. shores, for statehood in the Union ought to be left alone en- tirely.
 we therefore object to the provision of the bill making the supreme court of the territory of Hawwai judge of the membership of the house of the terri torial legislature of Hawaii. We be- lieve that each house should be the final judge of the qualification of its mem bers. The innovation not only fails to preserve the constitutional independ ence of the three great branches of gov- ernment, executive, legislative and jul dicial, but tends to degrade the court to the level of political squabbles and partisan brawls. It tends also to in- crease the already dangerous power of the courts in our system of govern ment
 ! We also object to the property quail ification for members of the senate of Hawaii. This qualification also extends to the voters for members of that branch of the legislature. This is an innovation recognizing by law the r ght of wealth to govern, and is certainly dangerous tendency in a republic al ready threatened by the too great pow CT of wealth. A residence of three years in Hawaii is also necessary for one to become a qualified voter As our de- sire is, or should be, to Americanize these islands, we thing a residence of even less than one year would be pref erable.
 We think also that too great power is given to the governor; especially we object to his being empowered to nom? mate part of the judiciary of that is- land for life. We believe that all the judges, as in other territories of the United States, should be appointed by the president, and from the bona fide resident bar of the territory, for term of four years. If life judges are to be appointed at all, they should be ap- pointed by the president" There are other minor differences, but the above are the principal ones. The minority make no objection to the educational qualifications for citizenship, as they believe this to have worked well in the south.