The Hawaiian gazette., 1900-04-17
Newsy Letter From Mr.
W. N. Armstrong,
HAWAIIAN BILL TOLD OF
Some Strong Talk Against Delegate
To Congress Being Granted
This Country,

WASHINGTON, April Debate or
the Hawaiian bin, in The House, b gins
tomorrow, the 3rd, and concludes on
the 5th. For several days last week,
The special friends of the bill suffered
from cold shlyer when ii ba,am
known that the friends of the POr.C
Rico bill were making earnest efforts
to postpone The debate on the Hawai-
an bill until the Porto Rico matter
was settled. This proposition was
made not through any unfrlendline S
towards the Hawaiian BILL, but in order
10 prevent 1t, il passed, from gvanl.ng
as precedent for free trade. In The
present, but only temporary demoral
i2ation of The Republicans, owing to
lheir strong difference OF opinion OIL
lhe pclcy OF dealing with the new pcs
sessions. the leaders who are IN tAvo.
Of a tariff upon Porto Rico goods, are
counting every hoS1Ile influence, and
assumed as a maOter Of safety that the
Hawaiian bill should be put bel. md
legislation fer Porto Rico. But, this
trends of The Hawaiian bill, including
many who favor the tariff provisions
Tor Porto Rico, insisted that Hawai-
had the right of way, by unanlnou.
consent; that it would show wel6nos
on the part of the Republicans to de-
lay the debate on the Hawaiian mat
ter, and, moreover, 1T would show that
the Republicans were quite ready 10
enforce their policy of granting the
Constitution and free trade to one por-
ton of the new possessions.
and of denying these piivi-
leges to others OF the pos
sessions. The proposition to chang
up the Hawaiian matter was no.
openly discussed, ibut was a mavter OF
private conference. Speaker Hender-
son, who had so emphatically said at
the dinner given by the Hawaiian rep
reaentatives, Il am the friend of your
people, and shall do all | can to help
you,' declared against any delay.
Chairman Knox of the Commit !ee IN
Territories, insisted that Hawaii had
the right of way, and must keep IT,
and THAT 1t would disclose weakness to
allow even temporary side track
The result of the conference was to
tackle the Hawaiian business on the
3rd and finish 1t on the 5th. The
proposition for delay caused much
anxiety for few hours, especially
among those who realize the ease with
which any measure may be ''hung
up. The policy of those who have
charge Of the bill in the House is to
Ignore the Senate OIL entirely, pass
the House bill, and then ask for con-
ference with the Senate. This is in
the nature of Short cut" in parlia-
mentary proceedings, and, If success
full, will close UP The business on any
day from the 10Uh TO the 18th OF this
month. In the conference, there will
be many changes which will be ben
eiicial to the interests of the Isianus.
The Committee on Territories is dis
posed to abandon some of it's own
amendments, especially that regarding
the lend laws, and leave to the Ha-
waiian authorities the entire manage
ment of their own land affairs.
There has been disposition on the
part of some leading Republicans, to
oppose any provision for delegate
from Hawaii, on the theory that the
new possessions ought not 10 nave any
representative. 1t is strongly urged that
Hawaii, at least, should have one, be-
cause she is largely 'Americanized,"
while the other possessions are not.
One of the leading Republicans said,
without property qualification the
mob in Hawaii will not se0d trust
worthy or capable delegate" The reply
to this was that Hawaii must take her
chances, and If she sends an undpsir-
able delegate, she must take the con-
sequences.
The Hawaiians here, including Mt.
Cecil Brown. dined with several OF the
leading Democrats. last week. Among
them were Mr.. Richardson, the eader
of the Democratic party in the House,
Col. Berry of Kentucky, Mr.. Williams
of Mississippi ard Mr.. Griggs OF Geor-
eia. The silent influence OF Col. Berry.
who visited the Islands, several years
ago, has been strongly IN favor of the
best legislation for Hawaii. He Is ex-
tremely popular with the Democrats.
Mr.. Richardson remarked that Col.
Berry had never failed to assure his
Democratic friends that the govern
ment of Hawaii was remarkably honest
and conservative, and that 1t ought to
be implicitly trusted. The statements
made by the personal enemies of the
present government regarding pulls"
and Corruption" have been promptly
met and denied by Col Berry. OF his
own accord in his constant and daily
intercourse with his Democratic asso-
ciates. He has rendered good service
to Hawaii, and 1t Is safe to predict that
the Democratic leader In tie House will
make no opposition to the bill simDly
for the purpose of nagging the Re-
publieans. or In order to HAMMER the
Executive In dealing with Hawaii
Aside from the political questions,
, there Is matter Affecting the negro
character which is becoming promi-
nent In the District OF Columbia
There are nearly 30 900 negroes In the
district. WASHINGTON Is the Mecca of
these people. They hold the belief. de-
rived from much that has been said by
Northern friends of the negro. that the
Republican party is under obligation
to assist them. They beg and steal
their way to this city, but find little
| occupation here, because this city is