The Anaconda standard., 1899-04-18
THE OATH IS OBSOLETE
Hawaiian Electors Cannot Be Re-
quired to Take It.
EVIDENCE OF A WRECK
A Lumber-Laden Bark on the Rocks
Japs VIII Be Tried for Murder.
Contract Labor Law VIII
Be Abolished.

San Francisco, April 1.-THE follow
Ing advices from Honolulu under date
of April II were received tonight by
the steamship Coptic:
Honolulu. April n.-Henry Smith,
chief clerk of the supreme court, has
addressed a note to the board of regis
tration giving it as his opinion that
the constitutional oath to the republic
of Hawaii is obsolete and that persons
applying for registration for the Sep
3tember election cannot be required to
take it in its present form. Hawaii's
constitution expressly provides that no
person can become an officeholder, an
elector or a juror until he has taken
THE 1898 oath to support the republic
of Hawaii The requirement does not
mention the United States in any
way.
Immediately following the flag rails
ing last Auguest all the government
officials took an oath preferred by the
judiciary department under the direc
tion of the supreme court judges, pre-
scribing allegiance to the laws of the
United States and of the Hawaiian ISL
ands.
Mr. Smith says: Eve have admins
the flag went up last August. The
constitution Of the United States pre-
scribes that officials and voters must
take the oath to the United States. The
two constitutions 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
1<ilauea the sea is covered with wreck
age. The news was brought by the
Waialeale, which left there on the 9th.
Purser Fernback says:
From the wreckage the indications
are that it was a wooden bark or d
schooner. or at least a sailing vessel
of some kind and not steamship. APP
parently. too she was lumber laden. as
there was great deal of lumber among
the wreckage. We make every en-
deavor 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 wreckage may
ly wrecked near Honolulu"
Twenty-three of the japanese who
took part in the recent riot at Kahkuga
plantation will have to stand trial. Six
of the men are charged with murder
and Il with rotins.
1t Is not Known Inat llllukalanl VIII
return to the islands from the tenor
of her last letters. 1t is not thought
that she will at this time, though it is
not known what influence the news of
Princess kauilani's death may have on
her plans.
The Italian cruiser Piemonke arrived
April 10 on her way to China. She has
been cruising around South America,
visiting nearly all the principal ports on
both coasts.
The transport Cleveland and City of
Puebla both sailed for Manila on the
9Th. The Puebla reported 90 deserters,
principally among engineers.
The transport Zelanda arrived from
San Francisco on the 9Th and sailed
three days later.
Just previous to the departure of the
Coptic, II is learned that the executive
of the Hawaiian government has de-
cided to abolish the contract labor law
1t is understood that word came from
Washington to do away with the law.
The immediate cause of the nullifica-
Iion of the contract labor law Is the
fact that such a large number of plan
tatiOns have been started within the
past two months. It would require at
least 10000 additional Japanese for the
ne wenterprises. This number with
the men already here, would practically
flood the country.
The contractors for deepening the en-
trance to Honolulu harbor have ar
rived. A big dredger with pontoons
and scows is now on it's way out from
the East
The government will expend about
$300000 in the work.