Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1899-02-01
The CONTRACT LABOR LAWS
House Refuses to Extend Them 10
Hawaii Now.
Shipping Law Bill Passes by Good Majority
Disposition 10 Let Labor Law
Stand for a While.

WasnlngtOn, january 70. -
Twice today was the bill which
extends to the Hawaiian islands
the contract labor laws of the
United States knocked out in the
House. The first call was when
the bill was called up on an at
tempt of Chairman Gardiner of
the Committee on Labor to get
unanimous consent for its con-
sideration.
Knox of Massachusetts chair
man of the Committee on Terri
tories, objected on the ground that
this Legislation was covered in the
bill for the general government of
the islands. Despite the argu-
ments OF the Western members of
the House, that it was needed at
this time to keep out hordes of
Japanese who are being rushed
into the islands, Knox would not
allow the bill to come up.
The friends of the plan to have
it pushed through tried again,
when the bill extending the navi-
cation laws was put on passage.
The contract labor law was added
as an amendment, but as it was
not in any way germane to the
bill the objection of Knox, who
had been out Of the chamber AID
returned only in time to hear the
reading OF the amendment, again
knocked it off.
There was some fight upon the
navigation law, bat it WAS passed.
1t was stated by Chairman Payne
of the Com mittee on Merchant
Marine that there had been many
vessels bought and placed under
the Hawaiian flag since the time
when the resolution was passed
providing for the annexation of
islands. More than dozen ships
had been purchased, and of this
number it seemed not more than
three we're purchased in good
faith for trade. Despite the fight,
which was in no sense one for the
interests of the islanders, the bill
was passed.
This puts a hard fight in the
hands of Metzson and others who
have come on from San Francisco
for the purpose of having all yes
sells which have been given the
Hawaiian flag up to January lst
this year made for American re-
gister. 1t is not thought the
Senate will allow such plan to
become a law. Evidence which
has been collected here shows
there are now under the flag of
the recent island Government at
least Isl ships which were pur-
chased some of them since August
18th and all since July 7th. Under
the bill none of these will be al
lowed American register, and they
will have to return to the flag
they had before the last change.
Another attempt will be made to
bring up tho contract labor law.
The Senate committee which has
it before it will consider it soon.
Chairman Fairbanks is not yet
convinced that there is any reason
for legislation, and the California
Senators are at work with him,
Recent publications in the "Chro-
nicle" tell of the landing of many
Japanese in Honolulu, and these
fact have all been sent to Fair
banks.
The decision OF the Hawaiian
Supreme Court which prevents
the landing of Chinest who left
the islands before annexation has
aroused the Chinese Minister here
aud he will lay the matter before
the State Department at once. He
holds that residents OF Hawaii,
though Chinese, who left when |
the islands had separate sover.
Aigpty and who are now debarred |
from reentry should have redress,