The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-03-16
J, D, CARTER
IS THE MAN
He Supplied Pettigrew's
Ammunition.
CULLOM BILL IN SENATE
w. N. As Interesting Letter on the
Affairs of Hawaii at the
Capital,

WASHINGTON, d. C.. March 2.-The |
debate in the Senate during the last |
week, on the Hawaiian bill. shows |
again some of the curious aspects Of
ways. During the hours
devoted TO the debate on the Hawaiian,
as we'll as upon other questions, there
were often not more than twenty Sen
ators present. The work required in
the committee rooms, the cOnsulta-
tions, the time occupied in meeting
visiting constituents, draws the ma
jority out Of the Senate chamber and
leaves the debate to empty benches.
The questions asked of Senator Gull
lom. who has the bill for Hawaii in
charge, show that those who ask
them have had no time to carefully
study the bill. Much time is occupied
in giving information which is fully
set out in the reports, which have not
been read by the Senators, for want of
time.
During the debate on Friday last a
group of Senators gathered in the mid
die aisle and all talked at once, as If
at an old womans tea party. The rule
requires that II a Senator is speaking
and another Senator desires to ask
him a question, a certain form musr
be observed. The person interrupting
must ask the presiding officer of the
Senate If the person who has the floor
will permit an interruption. If the
one who has the floor yields, then the
presiding officer formally announces
this to the person who interrupts, who
then asks his question. When the de-
bate is calm this etiquette is strictly
followed, but when there is an excite
ment the rules go to the dogs at once,
and the presiding officer is left to
hammer his desk.
Few Senators have taken an active
part in the debate on the Hawaiian
bill. Senator TiIlman of South Caro-
lima has, however, closely watched 1t
and has created several storm centers
in the discussion. While he denOunces
the government of the Islands as an
Oligarchy, his real object in sharing in
the debate has been 10 annoy the Re
publicans. This he has done by COM
menting on the property qualification
for those who are to vote for Senator's
| in the Territorial Legislature. He has
repeatedly taunted the Republican
Senator'S with inconsistency in prOvid-
ing property qualification in Hawaii
and in refusing it in the South, where
the negro resides. He has constantly
sought 10 draw the Senate into a de-
bate on the subject. and in his decla-
nation has shrieked and hOwled and
shaken his fist at the Republicans. The
/ Republicans have avoided any debate
I relative 10 the negro. but have express
/ ed Willingness to do SO at the proper
/ time.
Unfortunately perhaps, Senator Vol
colt interrupted Senator Morgan, who
was discussing the bill. and read sta
tistics showing that the negro vote OF
South Carolina had been suppressed.
Tillman jumped up and attempted an
| explanation, but Senator Morgan re-
/ fused to yield. The following day.
when the bill came up. Tillman made
an explanation regarding the South
| Carolina vote, and, with insulting Ian
u
\ gan TO ask him a question. He taunted
and derided the Republican Senators.
and offered as an amendment TO the
/ bill the provision OF the South Caroli-
na law which permits any cOlored man
to vote, If he is possessed Of property
of the value of $500. He frankly de-
clared that his sympathies were with
the few Americans in Hawaii who de-
sired a property qualification. But his
chief object in the debate was 10 put
the Republicans in a hole and force
them 10 acknowledge that there ought
20 be a property qualification in the
Southern States. The Senator's from
the South do not follow Tillman. At
the same time they are not displeased
with his harangues.
Il became evident after the debate
/ had continued for several days that the
property qualification would be strick-
| en- out. Several Senator's said private
| ". and they expressed the general sen
timent. that "the property qualifica-
tiOn ought to remain but that their
constituents would not approve OF It,
BY a vote being taken on this provi-
sion. thirty-nine Senator's voted
against this qualification, and only