The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-24
IN THE HOUSE.
Navigation Laws Extended to the Ha-
waiian Islands.

Navigation Laws Extended to the Ha-
waiian Islands.
Washington, Jan. 23.-This was Dis
trict of Columbia day in the house and
the major portion of the day was de-
voted to local legislation. The only ac-
ton of public Importance was the pas
sage Of the bill to extend the nayiea-
ton laws of the United States to the
Hawaiian islands. One of the provis-
ions of the bill grants American regis
ter to all vessels flying the Hawaiian
flag, owned by Hawaiian citizens July
7, 1898.
Mr.. Clark of Iowa to-day introduced
bill providing that mo person living
in or practicing polygamy shall be ELI
gfble to be a member of either house
of congress, nor shall such person be
permitted to hold a seat therein" 1t
is further provided that evidence of
polygamy shall be of whatever nature
that establishes the fact; another pro-
vision makes the act take immediate
effect.
Nineteen local bills were passed The
floor was then yielded and Mr.. Payne,
chairman of the ways and means COM
mittee, called up the bill to extend the
commerce, navigation and merchant
seamen laws over the Hawaiian ISL
ands.
Mr. Hopkins, rep, ILL.,, who questioned
Mr.. Payne regarding the limits of the
measure, was asked whether the act
Of annexation did not extend the laws
of the United States over the Hawaiian
islands. He replied that the supreme
court held that it did not. He wanted
to know in turn of Mr.. Payne how far
the bill went. The latter replied that
1t related simply to the navigation
laws. 1t extended the laws of July Z,
1898. 1t was necessary to pass this bill
a G aaf nf
tinctly that the laws of the United
States should not by virtue of it ex-
tend over the islands.
MIR. Berry, DEM, KY, asked If this
bill would not allow vessels owned by
observation-disclosures register, while
denying such register to vessels built
abroad but owned by American cti-
zens. Mr.. Payne responded that Mr.
Berry could draw his own conclusions,
but he subsequently admitted that it
would. The Hawaiian islands are now
American territory.
Mr.. Knox, rep, Mass, thought the
provision should be confined to vessels
actually registered as Hawaiian YES
sells before the date of annexation. He
thought vessels had been bought for
the purpose of securing American reg
ister Mr.. Payne said he had a list of
seven vessels bought since July Z.
Mr.. Bailey asked how the bill could
confer this privilege to citizens of
Hawaii. as contradistinguished Ameri-
can citizens. There We're no Hawaiian
citizens after the approval of the act of
annexation.
Mr.. Hit called Mr.. Baileys attention
to the fact that the bill related to
those who were Hawaiian citizens
July T.
Mr.. Payne agreed to an amendment
limiting the operations of the registry
section of the bill to those who owned
vessels registered temporarily or per-
manently under the Hawaiian flag on
July 7, 1898.
Mr.. Underwood, DEM. Ala. asked
why the privilege was not extended to
all American shipowners; why in fact
all limitations We're not removed. Mr..
Payne replied that free ships would
turn over all our coastwise trade to
foreigners and destroy our shipbuilding
industry.
The house divided on the passage of
the bill--ayes So, noes 45.
Mr.. Underwood made the point of
no quorum and call of the house fol-
lowed. The bill was passed, SO to IS.
At f:4O p. m. the house adjourned.