The Hawaiian gazette., 1900-04-27
THE DEBATE
ON HAWAII
-.aa
Described as Heard by
W. N. Armstrong.
AS TO THE AMENDMENTS
That About the Saloons Dead Letter
for Want Of Penalty
Clause.

WASHINGTON, April II. - The
House at 1880 on Tuesday the I'd, re-
solved Itself into committee of the
whole. and took up the Senate bill for
the government of Hawaii. Mr.. Knox
in charge Of the bill, came to an agree
ment with Mr.. Richardson, the leader
of the opposition, that the time given to
debate should be equally divided be.
tween the TWO parties; that Tuesday
and Wednesday should be devoted to
the general debate, and that on Thurs
day amendments should be offered, and
vote taken at 4 p. IN.
The general debate" continued for
two days, during which time members
blew themselves Off" on any subject,
from that of post Office in Oklahoma
to the government of Porto Rico. Peo-
pie in the gallery hardly heard the
name of Hawaii mentioned during
Tuesday and Wednesday. The bill it
self was ignored Mr. Lane, one of the
friends of the bill, made long speech
on the tariff upon goods imported from
Porto Rico. because his constituents
wanted to hear from him on that sub
ject and he had been away when the
Porto Rico matter was discussed.
Mr.. Robinson of Indiana, Democrat
and a forcible speaker, attacked the pc
nal contract laws of Hawaii. He de-
nounced the provisions of the bill,
which he SAID put money above man
hood, contract slave labor above free
labor" He declared that the Republic
cans had designedly refused to pass,
last year, bill abolishing penal con
tract labor. He was interrupted by Mr..
Knox, who told him that the bill be-
fore the House expressly abolished pc
nal contract labor, and charged Mr..
Robinson with ignorance of the
contents of the bill. Mr. Robinson sud
denly found himself in the awkward
position of delivering a speech against
contract labor, when 1t was abolished
by the bill. But he had prepared his
speech against such labor, and insisted
on getting 1t off He stood before the
Nation, barking up the wrong tree. So
the House listened to a TRADE against
n condition of things which the bill
terminated Mr.. Robinson, with
flourish, sent to the clerks desk and
caused to be read an extract from Mr..
II. NJ. Sewalrs report on labor in Ha-
wall, printed in the Consular Reports
of February, 1900. His object in pub
fishing this was to bring odium upon
the planters. This extract Is spread on
the Record. Mr.. Robinson grew rather
frantic towards the close of his speech.
when he shook his head raised his
hands aloft and shrieked What Is to
be expected from a government Of slave
drivp"s. slave owners, slavery apollo
gists?"
At this time there were not seventy
members of the House visible, and the
most of them were writing letters.
Mr.. Mondel of Wyoming, followed
In well prepared speech, which show
ed that during his visit to the Islands
he was close observer, and held clear
views of the situation. He was at one
time in the United States Land office,
and with all of his experience behind
him, fully approved OF the Hawaiian
land laws, and spoke against any super
vision by the Federal authorities. Dur
ing the debate the attendance of mem
bers diminished until there was no
quorum, but no one raised the point,
as no business was in hand. At one
time there were only twenty-seven
members present. and most of them
were writing letters. But the orators
We're reaching the people through the
Record
On Wednesday, the debate was re-
sumed at 12;3 80 p. m. and still no one
discussed the provisions Of the bill Mr..
Boreing of Kentucky. young man, got
the floor and suddenly introduced
Kentucky politics. He denounced the
"Goebel law" for elections in that State,
and he was followed by Mr.. Wheeler of
the same State, who represented the
Democrats. He eulogised Goebel and
contradicted Boreing.
Mr.. Push took a hand in the debate
and he contradicted Mr.. Wheeler. Mr..
Wheeler sprung to his feet and asked II
Mr.. Pueh said that his statements We're
false Kentucky storm center arose
at once and there was a sugge on that
Kentucky ways of dealing with men
who gave the lie, might be resorted to,
But the House will not tolerate per-
sonal encounters and there was n sat
isfactory explanation made,
At one time there were only twenty
seven members of the House present.
1t was understood that no business
could be done until Thursday, and no
ore cared to hear the men who were
talking only to their constituents,
through the Record. Assent was asked
and given that any member might
print his remarks in the Record, with
out taking the floor. This relieved the
The Hawaiian contingent sat in the
ladies' gallery in order to hear the de
bate. and occasionally the friendly"
members would look up smile, and
point out those patient creatures to
other members.
On Thursday, the real business began
by the offering of amendments to the
bill. Mr.. Newlands was in favor of
limiting the real estate holdings of re-
lielous or charitable association TO-
$4,000 each, hereafter, Mr.. Snodgr IS
offered an amendment to that effect.
II was voted down by "a to 20.
A long debate took place on the pro-
vision for abolishing contract labor.
There was general suspicion that the
people OF Hawaii would in some way
maintain that system. 1t was settled by