The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-12-30

WASHINGTON. D. C., Dec. ga
sharp contest VIII occur in the house
over the legislation for the government
Of Hawaii as the majority and minor
lty OF the. committee on territories do.
not agree as to the form Of bill. Nell
ther do the majority agree with the
report Of the senate committee on.for-
elgn relations. although the differences
ere not such as to cause great diHicul-
ty, The majority report Of the house
committee changes the bill introduced
by Mr. Hit only slightly with the ex-.
ceptlon OF the qualifications for sepa-
torn and representatives. The property
qualifications are stricken out and any
citizen who is voter and has been a
resident OF Hawaii for three years q ell
igible
Those who were citizens OF Hawaii on
August 19, 1898, aremade citizens OF the
United States. One house viii not be
allowed to constitute the legislature IN
case the other adjourns, NOR VIII Il be
necessary to have the sanction OF three
members to introduce bill In the Leg
islature. The delegate TO Congress shall
possess the same qualifications as vo-
ter.
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 to be proved
to obtain divorce.
The minority report was prepared by
Mr.. II. B. Ferguson, delegate from
New Mexico, who Is q member Of the
subcommittee. Mt. Henry OF Texas,
iS also minority member ana Is now
absent
The report says the minority IS ulir
able 20 agree to some prominent fea-
lures OF the bill as introduced and as
approved By the majority Of the sub
committee and continues:
Minority Disagrcements.
at Is important to emphasize the
fact that new territory as acquired
should be governed as other territof-
les OF the United states have been from
the foundation OF the government with
the view to ultimate, admission to
statehood. Upon this theory we believe
that Hawaii should be given substan-
tally the same form Of government as
has heen In other territories OF the Uni-
ted States: and the Importance OF this
View Is Increased rather than diminish
ed by the Immediate Philippine ques-
tlon, New territory which we feel IS
MATTED. a From the character OF ltB
populatlou. or because OF It's distance
from our shores for statehood in the
union ought to be left alone entirely
I'VE therefore, objected to the pro-
vision OF the bill making the supreme
court Of the territory OF Hawaii Judge
OF the membership OF the house Of the
territorial Legislature Of Hawaii We
believe that each house should 70 the
final Judge OF the qualificaticn gfsf its
members. The innovation not qlIly
falls to preserve the constitutional In
dependence OF the three great branches
OF government. executive. legislative
judicial. but tends TO degrade the court
to the level OF political squabbles and
partisan bias. It tends also to increase
the already dangerous power Of the
courts in our system OF government.
I'VE also object to the property quail
iAcatlon for members Of the senate OF
the Legislature OF Hawaii. This dis
qualification also extends to the voters
for members Of that branch Of the leg
stature.
An Innovation.
This Is an innovation recognizing By
law the right of wealth to govern and
is certainly dangerous tendency in
republic already threatened by the too
great power OF concentrated wealth.
A residence OF three years in Hawaii
Is also necessary for one to become
qualified voter. AZ our desire is or
should be to Americanlze those Islands,
we think a residence of even less than
one year would be preferable.
I'VE think also that too great power
Is given TO the governor; especially we
object to his being empowered TO noru-
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-fdo
resident bar OF the territory. for term
Of four years. II life judges are TO be
appointed at all, they should be app
pointed by the President"
There are other minor points OF DIFF
ference between the minority and ma
jority Of the subcommittee, but the
shove are the principal ones.
The minority make no objection TO
the educational qualification for cltl-
zenship as they believe this 70 have
worked well IN the south.