The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1900-03-02
.CULLOM BILL
The Senate Takes Up
The Measure.
Several Important Amendments, In
GLIDING One Against Contract
Labor Are Adopted.

Ton OF the senate THIS week VIII De
given largely to the relations OF the
United States to its insular possessions.
The bill providing a form OF govern
ment for the Hawaiian islands has
right of way, and II 1t should be so for
tunate as to be finally acted upon be-
fore the close of tie week, the Porto
Rlcan bill will be Immediately taken
up. The probabilities are that the Ha-
walian bill will be debated at consider
able length and that many amendments
will be offered to it, and 1t may be made
the basis of more or less general talk
on the question of the policy to be
pursued toward the new possessions.
Considerable time probably will be
necessary to the final disposal OF the
bill.
All admit the urgency of legislation
giving the Hawaiians a government,
but there are some points on which
there are radical differences of opinion.
The most important of these Is the
question as to whether the commercial
intercourse between the United States
and the islands snail be under tariff
or under the free trade system allowed
between the states of the Union. The
bill provides for free trade, but several
of the Senator's, under the leadership
of Senator Plat of Connecticut, are
making an effort to secure radical
amendment in this respect. Senator
Cullom, in charge of the bill, will re-
sist. and he will be supported by some
Republicans and nearly all the Demo-
cratic members. Practically the same
fight will be made on the Porto Rican
bill.
The Bill Taken Up.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-The bill
providing for government of Hawaii
was taken up today. Cullom of illinois,
in charge of the measure, explained its
provisions section by section, elab-
Grating the necessarily condensed Ian
guage of the bill.
Tillman was disposed to criticise the
bill, as indicated by his Interruptions
of Cullom, because property and d.ca-
tional qualifications for voters and
Office holders were required, inasmuch
as objections were raised in this coun-
try to Southern states demanding
similar qualifications of their voters.
Cullom said the matter had been
considered most carefully by the For
eign Relations Committee, and as a
means of protecting the interests of the
islands and their citizens from dis
| order and confusion the restricted
suffrage qualifications had been adopt
| ed No discrimination was shown
against any race or class Of people in
Hawaii. Under the bill all were treat
ed with absolute equality.
Cullom explained as a particular rea-
son for earlier action upon the pending
bill that the bubonic plague had Great
ed serious situation in Honolulu.
Thirty acres of the city were burned
by the authorities in order to prevent
the spread of the plague. Eight thous-
and persons, homeless and nearly nak-
ed. were in quarantine and were being
supported by the other citizens of Ho-
nolulu. The Hawaiian people had
made strong appeal for the ensctTent
of legislation that would give them the
the authority of permanent govern
ment, and he hoped the measure might
be given speedy but thorough consid-
Grafton.
AT the conclusion of Cullom's state
nent a sharp discussion arose over the
rieht of Congress to establish in ter
r'torv n constitutional corr' of the
United States. No conclusion was
reached before the Senate ut 5.15 D.
m. held an executive session, and at
5:25 p. m. adjourned
At Work On the Measure.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2O.-The bill.to
provide government for the territory
of Hawaii was laid before the Senate
and its cons.ue. allou resumed. To
section 10 of the bill providing for the
of existing contracts, Nell
son offered an amendment excepting
from such protection contracts for la
Dor entered into since August IL, 1885,
Cullom accepted the amendment and
1t was agreed with an amendment Of
fered by Vest of Missouri, provid ng
that no bonds should be Is aled or in
debtedness be incurred without the APP
prevail of the President of the United
States.
A long discussion resulted over
proposed amendment to extend to Ha-
wall the inhib ton against contract la
Dor importation which exists in the
United States. The Senators were ask |
ed to frame the law so as to eliminate |
absolutely contract labor in Hawaii. |
To this end the section OF the bill re-
ating to contracts was amended finally !
by the addition of the following par
agraph. framed by Hoar and perfected i,
by Spooner:
Provided, that no proceeding shall |
De maintained for the specific perform
lnce of any contract heretofore or here !
after entered into for nersonal labor or
service. and there shall be no criminal ,
proceeding for the breach thereof"
Spooner offered an amendment strik- '
ng out the section providing that the
Supreme Court of the territory should
,e the Judge of the election OF members
II the Hawaiian Legislature and con-
erring upon each branch OF the Leg
stature the power to determine the
qualifications of its members. After ),
'ome discussion 1t was adopted.
The general calendar was taken up
ind the following bills passed: Grant
ng to the State of Wyoming 10000
lcres of land TO aid In continuation,
and maintenance of the
wyoming State Soldiers and Sailors
Home: to amend an act entitled IAN
lct granting pensions to the survivors
II the Indian wars of 1892 tn 1912. In
.lusive. known as the BLACK Hawk war.