The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1898-12-23


IN the unltsd siaufF
This 10 ths usual provision found ln
che arts oi CouFress prutidInE iuf thr
establishment of territorial govern
mcnts Ia the United states. bot tho
Commissioner regard the provision as
exceptionally important ln this bill Tor
many reasons, among which they men.
sion the continued importation ~ Chi
heso labor into Hawaii
Remarking on this point they say.
1T has been the policy OF The Govern
ment Of Hawaii, before ana since the
establishment % the Republic. 90 i'm
port men under labor contracts for a
term Of years, al the expiration of
which they are 90 naturn 10 the c0un-
tries from which they came. Those
brought In are mainly from China and
Japan. Since the act of Congress an
nexing Hawaii was passed prohibiting
Chinese immigration, Hawaiian sugar
planters have seemed 20 be making an
unusual effort In securing the importa-
tion of japanese laborers, fearing
trouble and embarrassment on account
of insufficient labor for the care and
carrying on Of their sugar plantations.
OF course. u becomes necessary to ex-
tend our labor laws over the Islands,
40 as to probit all kinds OF foreign con-
tract labor from coming to the terri
tory; first. because II is the policy OF
this country to keep out all kinds OF
cheap foreign labor, including coolie
labor, and thereby prevent such labor
from interfering with the wages of
American labor: and. secondly. 10 pro-
sect our manufactured porducts from
competition with manufactured goods
produced by cheap alien labor The
general laws Of the United States will
place the people OF the territory on the
same footing as the people Of the
States and other territories OF the
United States IN regard 10 the foreign
labor.
The question whether white labor can
DE profitably used In the sugar plan
tations IL yet problem. but the plant
ers are preparing to give such labor
trial and some OF them believe Il will
prove superior TO the labor OF either
Chinese or japanese.
The Commissioners take pains to ex-
press their united opinion that the plan
outlined for the Government OF Hawaii
cannot be regarded as precedent for
Porto Rico and the Philippines, saying
on this point: Much has been said to
y
government for the Hawaiian Islands
will be taken and accepted as an index
or precedent 10 be followed in the plan
Of government for Porto Rico and the
Philippines. In view of this apparent
expectation or belief on the part OF
many good people In the United States,
the Commission deems n proper to OBJ
serve that the people OF Hawaii are
capable Of self-goyernment and have
proved this by the establishment Of the
Republic of Hawaii and the adoption Of
Constitution and code of laws which
would compare favOrably with those OF
any other government, and under such
conditions and laws have maintained a
stable government for several years
worthy OF free people. The people of
those Islands are more or less familiar
with the institutions and laws of the
United States. while the laws of the
little Republic are largely taken from
the laws OF this country.
at cannot be said that either the
Porto Ricans or the Fillpinos are at all
familiar with our system of govern
ment or with any other based on the
principle Of liberty. The underlying
theory of our Government Is the right
of self-gOyernment. and a people must
be fitted for self-gOveTnment before
they can be trusted with responsiDili-
ties and duties attaching TO free gov
ernment. These remarks are made 10
negative the idea that because the peo-
pie OF the Hawaiian Islands can. in the
judgment Of the Commission, be con-
sistently given self-goyernment 10 an
extent almost equal To that given the
people in the States. II can safely be
An IA.
which the United States have or may
acquire by treaty with Spain can be
granted equal freedom in government"
The report is unanimous except on
one point. on which President Dole
snakes a minority recommendation
This recommendation Is for board OF
advisers 10 the Governor OF the Terri
tory, ard he recommends that the
Treasurer. Attorney General, Superln-
tendent OF Public Works and Commits
sioner Of Public Lands shall be ConstI-
tuted special cOunseiOrs of the Cover
nor, TO be consulted by him concern
ing all matters OF public policy.
Mr.. Dole gives as his reason for this
recommendation the fear that without
some such provision the Governor may
arrogate to himself greater power than
Is contemplated, outlining his reasons
for this position. lie says: while with
some misgiyings have assented to the
provisions OF the majority report
which places the executive power OF
the Territory in the hands of one in
dividual and does away with the Ex-
ecutive Council. am unable to accept
those which confer upon the Governor
the appointment Of all the ordinate off
GERS and which, while giving him the
appointment of heads OF departments,
with the approval OF the Senate, permit
him to remove them without such ap-
proval, power not enjoyed by the
President OF the United States. Nor can
I agree TO the absence of any provis-
ions whatever checking the Governors
executive power under the laws except
ang as to the approval of the Senate, re-
quired in certain appointments
THE weight OF the objection will be
better understood in view of the rec
ommendation OF the Commissioners
that the Legislature shall hold regular
sessions but once in two years, as here
toiore, which circumstances would fur
nish the Governor with the opportun-
1ty, II ne should choose TO seize II, OF
removing all haa1a 81 Jano,t