The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-04
HAWAII NEEDS GOVERNMENT.
DEBATE UPON THE MEASURE be-
.t1 GUN IN THE HOUSE

the Committee ON Territories.
Tells of Conditions in the Islands.
and the Necessity for Early Action.
Contract Labor System Denounced
and Some Sharp Charges Made.
Vote VIII he Taken Thursday.
Washington, April S.-The House to-day
entered upon consideration of the subst-
tute for the Senate Hawaiian territorial
bill under a special order which will bring
the question to a vote on Thursday afler-
noon at O'Clock
The debate was in Committee of the
Whole, and only three of the six speeches
were pertinent TO the bin
Mr.. Knox of Massachusetts, chairman
of the Committee on Territories in charge
of the measure, delivered carefully pre-
pared speech in advocacy of its passage.
THE Hawaiian Islands are the Gbral-
tar of the Pacific in war, the key of the
Pacific in peace, the paradise of the Pa
citic ever. Hawaii is now American ter
rNory by the solemn agreement of two
independent nations. But while Hawaii
is United States territory, it does not pos
sess a United States government, only
skeleton of the republic of Hawaii re-
mains. The government provided by the
annexation resolution was but temporary
intended to be of brief duration, to last
until Congress should establish a gov
eminent 1t made no provision for local
government or for any expressions of pop
ular will. There was entire absence of
representations government entirely UNI
American and in derogation of all the
principles of a free government. Its only
justification could be that its endurance
would be brief.
what Hawaii Needs.
This government has been exercised by
the continuance of those in office who
held under the authority of the republic
of Hawaii, with the exception of those who
had charge of foreign relations. No new
legislature has been elected. No courts
| of United Sta jurisdiction have been
! established. This method of governing
Hawaii has proved inadequate, expensive
and cumbersome. Doubtful questions of
admiralty jurisdiction have arisen to re-
main undecided; the Indictment and pun
ishment of criminals have been uncertain
of validity; all sales of public lands have
been prohibited although the proceeds OF
such lands were to be for the benefit of
Hawaii; public improvements have been
| stopped, and other embarrassments have
accrued. large number of contract la
/ borers, numbering at least %, coo, has been
/ brought into the islands since the adop-
ton Of The resolution of annexation. IL
is time that this reproacIh upon America
should cease and that its territory should
be free from the influx of labor long since
denied by the laws of the United States.
The duty is immediate and plain 10
provide government for this rev terri
tory of the United States, framed to meet
! the needs of the Hawaiian people not OF
another people. No questions of general
policy toward other insular possessions
should have weight No constitu. i0nal
question is involved. The spirit of The
Declaration of Independence as well as
that of the constitution, gees with the
present measure, for il is with the con-
sent of the governed"
People of the Islands.
Regarding the people in Hawaii, he said:
More than half of the people are Asiat-
les, largely temporarily there-but they are
not citizens of the United States. They
are not and will not be entitled TO the right
of suffrage. There is a controlling class
made up of Americans, English Germans
and a few other Europeans, guiding and
directing legislation and social develop
ment. They will largely shape the future
of Hawaii.
For all the voting populace the bill
provides an educational qualification.
( There is to be an intelligent ballot.in Ha-
wall. This is the great and perhaps the
only ultimate safeguard of institutions.
7 his bill provides for the Hawaiian people
a
territories of the United States 1t is
founded on justice and equality and sup
ported by those who henceforth shall bear
the name of American citizens"
Robinson Makes Charges.
Mr. Robinson Of Indiana denounced the
contract labor system in the Hawaiian
Islands, which he characterized as prac-
teal slavery. and which he said the tenth
section of the pending bill continued in
force.
1T MEANS" said he, that you would
cruelty labor on the cross of landlordism
and money in Hawaii"
He charged the American commission
ers (Senator Cullom and Morgan and
Representative HIT. with having been
seduced and buncoed by President Dole
and Judge Freer, the Hawaiian commits
sioners. But IL must remain for Con-
gress, he said, to determine whether
money was to be placed above manhood
and contract slave labor above free labor
Mr.. Knox interrupted to deny that the
penal statutes regarding contract labor
are distinctly repealed by this bill.
Mr.. Lane, Republican. of Iowa, dis
cussed the Porto R!can tariff question.
He declared himself unequivocally In
favor of free trade and warned his Re-
publican colleagues thst no party could
violate the innate sense of justice of the
American people without going down to
defeat. He urged ex ending the constitu-
ton to Porto Rico by law
Mr.. Mondell of Wyoming advocated the
form Of government proposed. Mr. Thorn
as Of Pennsylvania and Mr.. Williams OF
Mississippi made anti-expansion speeches.
Mr.. Boutelle of Illinois replied TO Mr. VIII
liams in the concluding speech of the
day.
At o'clock the House adjourned.