The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-04-18
Voters Must Swear Allegiance to Constltu-
ton and Laws Of United States.
Evidence on the Coast Of Kauai
Met With Disaster Near the ISL
ands-The Sea Covered With
Wreckage Near Kilauea, but
Nothing Discovered to Give a
Clue to the Name of the Craft.

SAN FRANCISCO, April 1.-THE fol-
lowing advices from Honolulu under
| date of April 18th were received to-
night by the steamship Coptic:
Henry Smith, Chief Clerk Of the SUI
preme Court, has addressed a note to
the Board of Registration giving it as
his opinion that the constitutional oath
to the republic of Hawaii is obsolete,
and that persons applying for registra-
ton for the September election cannot
be required to take it in it's present
FORM Hawaiis Constitution provides
that no person can become an office
holder, an elector or juror until he has
taken the oath to support the Govern
ment of Hawaii. The requirement does
not mention the United States in any
way.
immediately following the fiag-rais-
ing last August all the Government and
military officials took an oath prepared
by the Judiciary Department, undsl the
direction of the Supreme Court Judges,
prescribing allegiance to the Consti-
tuition and laws of the United States
and of the Hawaiian Islands.
Mr. Smith says we have administered
that oath and none other since the flag
went up last August. The Constitution
of the United States prescribes that
officials and voters must make the oath
to the United States. The two Consti-
tutions conflict, and the American must
prevail.
There is evidence on the coast of
Kauai that some vessel has been re-
Gently wrecked in the vicinity of the
islands, or in the range of currents
drifting toward the islands. Near XII
lauea the sea is covered with wreckage.
The news was brought by the Waia-
leale, which left there on the 9th.
Purser Fernback says: From the
wreckage the indications are that it was
a wooden bark or a. schooner or at least
a sailing vessel of some kind, and not
a steamship. Apparently, too, she was
lumber laden, as there is a great deal
of lumber among the wreckage. we
made every endeavor to find something
that would give a clue to the name of
the vessel. but were unable to do so.
There is a possibility that the wreclage
may be drift from the Edward O'Brien,
recently wrecked near Honolulu
Twenty-three of the Japanese who
took part in the recent riot at Kahuku
plantation will have to stand trial. Six
of the men are charged with murder
and seventeen with rioting.
1t is not known when Liliuokalani will
return to the islands. From the tenor
of her last letters it is not thought that
she will at this time, though it is not
known what influence the news of Prin-
cess Kaiulani's death may have on her
plans.
The Italian cruiser Piemonke arrived
April 10th, on her way to China. She
has been cruising around South
America, visiting nearly all the princi-
pal ports on both coasts.
The transport Cleveland and City Of
Puebla both sailed for Manila ON the
9th. The Puebla reported twenty de-
serters, principally among the engi-
neers' department. The transport Yea
landia arrived from San Francisco on
the 9th, and sailed three days later.
Just previous to the departure of the
Coptic it is learned that the Executive
of the Hawaiian Government have de-
cided to abolish the contract labor law
It is understood that word came from
Washington to do away with the law
The immediate cause of the notification
of the contract labor law is the fact that
Sucn large nudipel VI Plantations AdNe
started within the past two months, it
would require at least 10000 additional
japanese for the new enterprise. This
number, with the men already here,
would practically flood the country.
The contractors for the deepening of
the entrance to Honolulu harbor have
arrived here. A big dredger, with pom
toons and scows. is now on it's way out
from the East By May 10Th all the
machinery will be here. The Govern
ment will e3pend about 100000 in the