The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-30
THE HAWAIIAN BILL.
Two Reports Will BE Submitted by the
House Committee on Territories.

Two Reports Will BE Submitted by the
House Committee on Territories.
WASHINGTON, Dec. ga sharp contest
will occur in the House over the legislation
for the government of Hawaii, as the ma
1ority and minority Of the committee on
territories do not agree as to the form of
a bill. Neither do the majority agree with
the report of the Senate committee on for
eign relations. although the differences are
not such as to cause great difficulty. The
majority report of the House committee
changes the bill introduced by Mr. Hit only
slightly, with the exception of the quaifica-
tons for senator's and representatives The
property qualifications are stricken out and
any citizen who is a voter and has been
resident of Hawaii for three years is eligible.
Those who were citizens of Hawaii on Aug.
II. 1885, are made citizens of the United
States. One house will not be allowed to
constitute the Legislature in case the other
adjourns, nor will 1t be necessary to have
the sanction of three members to introduce
a bill in the Legislature. The delegate to
Congress shall possess the same qualifica-
lions 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 Mr..
II. B. Ferguson, delegate from New Mexico,
who is a member of the subcommittee. Mr..
Henry, of Texas, is also a minority member,
but is now absent. The report says the
minority is unable to agree 20 some prom
inent features of the bill as introduced, and
as approved by the majority OF that sub
committee. and continues: 1t is important
to emphasize the fact that new territory as
acquired should be governed as other terri
tories 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 substantially the same form
of government as has been in other terri
tories of the United States, and the i'm
pOrtance of this view is increased rather
than diminished by the imminent Philippine
question. New territory which we feel is
untitled, either from the character of it's
population, or because Of it's distance from
our shores, for statehood in the Union ought
to be left alone entirely. We. therefore, OBJ
1ect to the provision 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 be the final
Judge OF the qualification of its members.
The innovation not only fails to preserve
the constitutional independence of the three
great branches of government, executive,
legislative and judicial, but tends to de-
grade the court to the level of political
squabbles and partisan bias. 1t tends also
to Increase the already dangerous power of
the courts in our system of government
I'VE also object to the property qualifica-
ton for members of the Senate of the Legis-
lature of Hawaii This disqualification also
extends to the voters for members of that
branch of the Legislature. This is an in
novation recognizing by law the right of
wealth to govern. and is certainly a danger
GUS tendency in republic already threat
ened by the too great power of concentrated
wealth. A residence of three years in
Hawaii Is also necessary for one to become
p qualified voter. AS our desire is or should
be to Americanize those islands think
residence of even less than one year would
be preferable. We think also that too great
power is given to the Governor; especial
" we object to his being empowered to nom
mate part of the judiciary of that island
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 Ter
ritory, for term of four years. If life
judges are to be appointed at all they should
be appointed by the President"
There are other minor points of difference
between the minority and majority of the
subcommittee, but the above are the prin-
cipal ones The minority make no objection
TO the educational qualification for citizen
ship as they believe this to have worked
we'll in the South.