The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1900-02-27
CULLOM BILL
Various Amendments
May be Added.
Beet Growers viii Attempt to Hove
a Duty Placed Upon Ha-
waiian Sugar.

WASHINGTON Feb. 1G.-Compara-
lively few changes will be made In the
Cullom Hawaiian bill which is now
under confederation in the Senate.
This measure, which will be the Or
ganic act of the new Territory of Ha-
wall, was framed by the Hawaiian
Commission, consisting of Senators
Cullom. Morgan and Representative
HIT, which visited the Islands in the
summer OF 1898. In one respect, how
ever. the Senate has already shown a
disposition to amend the bill. AS II
now stands the acts OF the Legislature
except by the veto of the Governor and
a review by the courts, are final. This
gives to the Territory of Hawaii a
much larger measure of self-govern-
ment than the Territories of New Mex
leo, Arizona and Oklahoma and the
territories which have been admitted
to statehood in recent years have ever
enjoyed, for. in all of those territories,
the acts of the Legislature were sub
ject to ratification by Congress.
The feeling of many Senators is
in the Pacific so much greater control
of its affairs than New Mexico, for ex-
ample. which has been a territory for
half century, enjoys, and it was in
timated this afternoon by Senator
Platt of Connecticut that when the
proper time arrived he would move
for the insertion in the Cullom Bill OF
a provision similar to that which OBJ
tains In the organic acts OF the exist
ing territories.
One other amendment has been sug-
gested by Senator Warren, but there is
reason to believe that it will be the
subject of some debate. The. Cullom
Bill provides for property qualifica-
ton for voters, but Senator Warren
proposes that the Legislature of Ha-
wall, after January /, 1903, may sub
NIT to the lawfully qualified voters of
that territory such changes and modi-
fications in the qualifications for elect
]ors as 1t may see fit, and upon the
adoption by a majority vote of such
notifications they shall become valid
and binding.
There is also disposition to shorten
the terms of the Judges of the Supreme
Court of Hawaii, which the bill fixes
at nine years. These Judges are to be
appointed by the Governor, who in
turn is appointed by the President In
the territories now existing the Chief
Justice and Associate Justices of the
Territorial Supreme Court are all APP
pointed by the President
The judicial system in Hawaii will
consist of a Supreme Court for the
Territory and a separate and distinct
United States District Court presided
over by Judge appointed by the Pres
ident. Some Senators believe the judi
cial system of Hawaii should conform
more closely with the present territor-
ial system, although members of the
Hawaiian Commission are of the opin-
ion that 1t is best to leave conditions
in the Islands as nearly as possible
like those that prevailed before annex
alton.
1t has become known in the last few
days that the beet sugar interests rep
resented by the OXnards of Nebraska
and California will try to secure the
imposition of 25 per cent duty on Ha-
waiian sugar as protective measure
for the benefit of the beet sugar grow
ers of the United States. They have
taken their cue in this matter probably
from the reports of the House and Sen
ate committees on the Puerto Rican
bill, providing for levying of 25 per
cent duty both ways on imports and
exports between Puerto Rico and the
United States. Hawaiian sugar has
had free access to the markets of the
United States for the last fifteen years
under the reciprocity treaty, and such
a step as the beet sugar men propose
would be radical departure.
The question also arises whether the
United States, having acquired the Ha-
waiian Islands under the treaty, and
the Cullom Bill expressly extending
the Constitution of the United States
to the Islands, 1t will be possible to
impose any customs duties upon trade
between the Islands and the Main
land. Nevertheless, 1t is known that
Senator Burrows of Michigan is pre-
pared to offer such an amendment
when the proper time arrives.
The Republican caucus of the Sem
ate this morning decided to add the
Alaska code bill to the party program
of legislation contemplated at this ses-
sion next In order to the three meas
ures already decided upon-The Ha-
waiian Bill, Foraker Bill for Puerto
Rico and the Spooner Philippines Bill.
Senator Chandler attempted to secure
right of way for the Quay case, and
claimed that 1t was privileged matter
under the rules. That much was con-
oeded, but the friends of the Alaska
code bill prevailed, and the Quay case
may be indefinitely shelved.
There are two bills before the SEN
ate providing for general code for
Alaska, one introduced by Senator
Perkins OF California and another by
Senator Carter. The bill that will be
passed will doubtless be composed of
the best features of both, but as both
are very vOluminous much time will
probably be required for their consid-
GRAFTON.